Landscape Photography Courses and Darkroom Workshops

Black and White Landscape Photography Courses with Dave Butcher - from £150 per day

Click here for more information, prices and to book a place

Click here to see a selection of images from the course, taken by attendees

(images are downloaded from my Flickr gallery which takes a few seconds)
 

Dave Butcher runs courses, with his wife Jan, on Landscape Photography, in the Peak District and Lake District, for film or digital camera users of any standard. All courses have a strong bias to black and white but they are really about helping you to move on from where you are at the moment with your photography to a higher level or trying something different. If you can take good black and white photographs your colour work will be stronger too because you will be looking for more than just colours in the picture to make an image successful. Composition and lighting is key, as well as knowing what to look for, how to set up a photograph whether it is a big landscape view, trees, rocks or little parts of a scene. It doesn't matter what the weather is doing there is always something to be photographed!

We go to some of the best areas for photography in the Lake District and Peak District National Parks. Often to locations not in the guide books, so a lot quieter to let us get on with the photography. We spend as much time taking pictures as possible and with a pupil to tutor ratio of just 2.5 to 1 or better (5 places per course) you are sure of lots of attention.

The basics of composition and exposure, as they apply to black and white, are always covered. The use of filters on the camera for film users and filters on the PC for digital users are also included. I have a few lens filters to lend or sell you if you have none of your own. You will also learn some of the important basics for using digital cameras.

If you have been on a Photography course with me before I will try and make sure that we visit some new locations.

If you would prefer more personal tuition, either just for yourself or in a small group then this is also available from £300 per day for 1 person, more details below. I can also take out large groups but the amount of attention each individual will receive will be reduced. This is a good way to find some of the best locations for photography with guidance on image composition for black and white landscape photographs.

Ilford Photo and Harman Photo support Dave Butcher Photography by kindly providing some film and inkjet paper to all participants on landscape photography courses.

Some comments received after courses:

"Dave – A belated email to say thank you to both you and Janice for a wonderful day last Sunday – it’s been a busy week, and I’ve been rushing about doing things instead of following up things already done (a big pile of film waiting in the darkroom, for one thing!) Where to start is the problem. I’ve known a lot of the things you showed us for a while: the difference is that I now understand them experientially, and have seen an expert putting them into practice… That means that I am far more likely, in any given situation, to put my camera on a tripod and stop down to f/22 in future. I’m sure I’ll still do a good number of shots using the fast film, handheld approach, but you’ve effectively extended my range significantly! There’s an enormous difference between reading, and seeing / doing. I’d therefore recommend your course to others who (like me) have been around cameras long enough to have read everything! Also, it was nice to be with a group of diverse but photographic people for a day: I’m usually a pretty antisocial person when I have a camera in use, and avoid others: I haven’t been a member of a club for many years, and don’t intend changing – I like to go my own way too much for print battles. But you and Janice, together with Anna and Mark, made it an entirely enjoyable day, finding out how others approach things, and just chatting about picture and camera-related stuff. And, despite having decided she probably wasn’t going to enjoy the group time much, Janet really enjoyed chatting – the combination of your quiet technical competence and Janice’s ability to make everyone feel comfortable entirely won her over. Thank you both. I may yet have to sign up for the darkroom day to crack the split grade thing. I shall be looking at my prints very hard indeed, and also looking at your books! I’ll also be trying your developing technique: Ag Photographic will be selling me a new bottle of developer next week, and I’ll be giving SFX another bash, developing it in with the FP4. My son will be poring over your books this weekend, to see if there are places he wants to walk, and hasn’t yet! Finally… If Mark would be interested in playing with a 5”x4” camera for a day, please pass him my contact details, and we can arrange a day with my Cambo, so that he can find out for himself what using one is like… Best wishes for a fun and profitable year. See you again, I hope." JD, Walsall, 17-July-2010

Comment after a 1-to-1 course for 3 days: "These photographs were taken during a very cold weekend in December 2009 in the High Peaks, Derbyshire, during a black and white photography workshop with local landscape photographer Dave Butcher. All the photos are black and white, most taken on my Mamiya 7 medium format 6x7 rangefinder camera (which performed magnificently), some taken with my Leica M6 and Bessa R2C rangefinder 35mm film cameras. I can highly recommend Dave's work and courses. He is a first class photographer with an infectious passion for film and black and white. His tuition in dark room printing was as enjoyable and useful as taking the photos with him." NdM, London, 23 December 2009

I found last Saturday's field photography day most enjoyable and instructive. Thanks for a great day. RW, Oct 2008

Just a note to say that I really enjoyed the day yesterday. I would like to come again either in autumn or winter, depending on dates. Can you let me have latter sometime please? FO, Aug 2008

I really enjoyed the course on Saturday despite my dunking (duh!) but at least once wet I just went and set up the tripod in the river. Have just started with manipulating the images, very pleased with them although a couple lost to water droplets on the lens - it was that sort of day I guess. Can't believe the second person there was my old colleague Geoff with whom I had lost touch for a few years! I'm very interested in attending a summer course, please add me to your newsletter list. SB, April 2008

Thanks once again for a brilliant day out yesterday - it's really fired my enthusiasm for getting out and about more with my camera. Thanks Dave and please thank Jan again - it was really great to be ferried around and you were both very encouraging and motivating. PW, March 2008

Very many thanks to you both for making yesterday such an excellent introduction to the Peak District for me. I now see what a wealth of opportunities there are in all seasons and will be back for more. I also enjoying looking at your gallery - a real inspiration in the art of print making. MW, July 2008

Black and White Darkroom Printing Workshops with Dave Butcher - from £150 per day

Click here for more information, prices and to book a place

If you would like to learn the basics or improve your black and white printing techniques with an Ilford Master Printer I run 1 day Black and White Darkroom Workshops. The courses, all with 2 places, are £150 per person.

I learnt my techniques whilst working for Ilford Photo and still do ad hoc work for them in their Ilford Darkroom Masterclass scheme (see below) and exhibitions, etc.

I can tailor courses to the needs of each individual. For example, the easy way to make great prints is using split grade printing and will usually be covered in some detail because it is such a powerful technique. The use of masks and other dodging and burning tools will be covered as your negatives require.

If you have never been in a darkroom before I will concentrate on giving you a good grounding in the basics.

So far the youngest particpant was 15 years old and the oldest 81, so they are pretty much for any age individual!

I also run Briarwood Darkroom Days if you would like 1-to-1 tuition. You set the date and we will agree what topics and techniques can be covered. You will progress much quicker than on a group course. The cost is £300 per day.

Ilford Photo support Dave Butcher Photography by kindly providing all paper and chemicals used on darkroom workshops.

Some comments received after courses:

"Dear Dave, Thank you for a great day last week in the darkroom. I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. I loved seeing your photographs on the walls and now have 'Sandwood Bay' on mine! An inspiration. Thanks also to Jan for looking after us. You both make a great team and I can't recommend you highly enough. If you are ever in Sutherland please give a call. P.S. I love reading your blog about the Munro's and photos." CM, Bonar Bridge, 22 September 2009

Dear Dave, just a short note to thank you and congratulate you on an excellent course yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed it and truly learnt a lot. It has been a long time since I worked in a dark room. The last time would be in the 1970's when I was working in Canada. Wonderful. I have spent all morning searching for the below lens filter kit. Nobody seemed to have it. Eventually I found a firm called Second Hand Darkroom and they have it. I would be very keen to hire your services to do a 2 day course, part of the time learning more about printing and the other part on finishing photos, i.e.mounting, retouching blemishes, getting photos ready to frame, etc. If this is of interest to you I would try to find 2 companions. Also is your lake district course suitable for old men with vertigo and younger men who only take digital photos? My son and I could be interested. Once again thank you for yesterday. I will now go on your website and print off the printing notes. Best wishes. CB, Bradford, 8 November 2009

Thank you for a brilliant day and your hospitality - I can see you two work as a team and the whole day was very enjoyable. I've dusted my darkroom down and I'm raring to go! BS, Feb 2009

Many thanks to you for an excellent day on Thursday. Old paper now consigned to recycling - I found a date stamp: 1990 - so it was well past it's use by date! Restocked, and spent this afternoon practicing my newly acquired skills - result: four very satisfying prints. Thanks again. RG, Feb 2009

Many thanks for a super day yesterday. It was fantastic (as was lunch), LM Nov 2008

Personal Tuition with Dave Butcher - from £300 per day

The fastest way to learn is to have personal tuition. Courses can be tailored to suit you and can be a mixture of landscape photography including camera settings for both film or digital, scanning negatives, photoshop editing and darkroom techniques.

You choose exactly what you want to do and how many days you would like.

Expenses are extra but are kept reasonable, especially if you come to the Peak District where I live.

The cost is £300 per day for 1-to-1 tuition.

Alternatively, if there are 2 or more of you the cost is £500 for 1 day and £1000 for 3 days.

Ilford Darkroom Masterclasses with Dave Butcher - Free

Click here for more information

I do Ilford Darkroom Masterclasses, on behalf of Ilford Photo (Harman Technology Ltd):

I am one of seven Ilford Master professional darkroom printers who do such courses across the UK.

These are 1 day courses for Colleges and Universities, arranged and fully supported by Ilford Photo. Paper and chemicals are provided free of charge and Ilford Photo pay my fees and expenses, so there is no cost to the College.

Here is the Ilford Photo poster for the Darkroom Masterclasses.

Darkroom Masterclasses to Colleges and Universities with Dave - from £500 per day

Click here for more information

I also do similar Darkroom Masterclasses as private bookings, for example when the Ilford scheme is fully subscribed to.

These are usually 1 to 3 day courses for colleges and universities across the UK.

The cost is £500 for 1 day or £1000 for 3 days. Expenses are charged extra. Ask for details.

Ilford Photo kindly provide paper and chemicals free of charge, usually worth between £150 and £200.

The Masterclasses usually comprise a short lecture to show prints made using various techniques, then a demonstration of split grade printing (or another technique that is appropriate for the students) followed by students printing their own negatives with guidance from me.

If your photography courses include black and white darkroom printing modules and you would like me to come in for a day or two to help the students with their darkroom printing then contact me directly.

Dave Butcher Competitions

I run competitions on an ad hoc basis. The prizes can be a course, book, photograph or Dave Butcher voucher.

Currently, I am running an annual £1000 competition in association with Harman Technology (Ilford Photo) and Black and White Photography magazine. The prize is a one day black and white landscape photography course with me in the Lake District for 3 lucky winners. This is worth £500. The first prize winner will also receive £250 Harman / Ilford / Kentmere products. Second prize is £150 of Harman / Ilford / Kentmere products. Third prize is £100 of Harman / Ilford / Kentmere products. Photographs taken on the special course by the winners will also be printed in Black and White Photography magazine.

Look out for next years competition in February. Entry requirements are simply to send your name and address to Black and White Photography magazine and they choose the winners at random. You can enter by email or post so it needn't cost you anything!

The date of the prize course is usually in June or July.

To see photographs and more information from the 2009 competition click here. The 2010 winners will also be published on this web site in due course so watch this space!