"Emil von Maltitz is an excellent lecturer with an amazing knowledge of cameras and photographic software, and is fanatical about photography. Just imagine sitting in front of a roaring fire in a cozy room, sharing your photos of the day's photoshoot with fellow photographers under the expert guidance of someone like Emil ... I can think of many less pleasant ways to spend a weekend! Accommodation was good, catering outstanding."

The Wild Mountain Photography Weekend offers a fantastic opportunity for photographers to develop their technique and eye in the incredible surroundings of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg. The weekend is geared toward learning and improving advanced techniques in landscape and nature photography. Photographers with a basic understanding of their craft and who want to further their technical and aesthetic skills will find immense value from this immersed weekend of photography. The long weekend workshop mixes theoretical seminars with actual photographic shoots under the assistance of professional landscape and nature photographer Emil von Maltitz. 

Topics covered:

• Advanced exposure technique: Learn to get the most out of the histogram while obtaining the very best pixels from RAW files.
• Photographing moving water: Understand the best ways in shooting water through balancing of exposure, use of filters and more.
• High Dynamic Range Photography: An introduction to the essential landscape technique of HDR shooting. This will include seminars and practical examples using Photoshop. Long Exposure Night Photography: Learn to photograph the night skies for star trail imagery as well as 'painting with light' techniques.
• Advanced Composition: Seminars based on Emil's 'Element Approach to Landscape Photography'.

Itinerary

Accommodation and delicious farmhouse meals will be based on a guest farm set in the stunningly beautiful Wartrail and New England district of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg, between Barkly East and Rhodes.

Due to the nature of mountain weather a set location itinerary is impossible to advertise, however the following is an example of a typical workshop:

Friday - arrive and do basic introduction and shoot in the late afternoon (dinner/braai in evening)

Saturday - pre-dawn rise and sunrise shoot followed by location shooting. Around lunch have lecture period. Rest in afternoon and process images for crit session in evening. Another lecture and, dinner and crit session star trail shoot/painting with light.

Sunday - pre-dawn rise and sunrise shoot followed by location shooting. Lectures over lunch followed by rest. Another location shoot. Dinner and process images. Last painting with light shoot.

Monday morning -  Long breakfast followed by crit sessions and lectures (wrapping up) Depart at 11:00ish.

During the 4 days various photography locations will be used to practise techniques that are covered in the seminar sessions. In the evenings opportunity is given to do basic processing of images and present them for critique and advice.

Equipment Recommendations.

It is highly recommended that photographers bring with them a sturdy tripod, cable release, and laptop computer. The tripod and cable release are essential for the night photography shoot while the laptop computer allows photographers to select images for a quick review for the critique sessions. Equipment that Emil will be using includes wide angle lenses, Neutral Density and Neutral Density Graduated filters as well as polarisers.  

About Emil von Maltitz

Emil is a professional landscape and nature photographer and instructor working out of Durban. His professional work involves shooting stock imagery for Gallo, Getty and Oxford Scientific image libraries as well as commissioned shoots for clients. He spends a large amount of his time as a photographic instructor, running workshops through various travel outfits in the Central Drakensberg, St Lucia and the Sabi Sands. In 2009 one of his landscape images was chosen as the annual second place winner in the prestigious Getaway Gallery Competition. Further information and examples of Emil's work can be viewed at http://www.limephoto.co.za/ 

Quotation and Bookings

Course fees R2,575 per person (additional discounts available for large groups). Excludes food and accommodation. For fully inclusive quotation and bookings, please contact us on 079 536 3996 or email wildmountain@polka.co.za.