5th-8th Feb 2024

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The aim/intention

To use one location to explore a deeper side to your photography. We will help you to incorporate writing - be it poetry, short essay, quotes – and to make a small book at the end of the workshop. We will be making a book with a drum leaf structure with end papers and a cloth binding. All instruction, materials and tools are provided. No prior experience of book making is needed.

 

Details

Photography is experiential, it is deeply personal and expressive of a moment in time.

 

This is a unique photography experience. Paul Sanders, Adrian Beasley and Clea Beasley will help you explore a deeper side to your own photography and create something unique to capture the moment.

 

We will be based in one location for the whole of our workshop. This will give us time to explore and absorb the area as we work towards producing a short series of images that truly reflect your feelings and experience of this beautiful coastal location.

 

Our accommodation is a stone’s throw from the beautiful, sandy Budle Bay, with its stunning scenery and a short drive from Bamburgh.  Budle Hall has its own gardens including a ‘secret’ garden which is overgrown and quite eerie. The walk to the beach at Budle Bay is largely flat and takes only ten minutes, the curves of the beach are exposed at low tide with views across to Holy Island.

Bamburgh is a five-minute drive from Budle Hall and has the famous castle but also beaches with a beautiful dune system, rock pools and a lighthouse. At low tide the expanse of sand is decorated with patterns and rivulets that can make fascinating abstract compositions. 

We will encourage you to use mindfulness techniques as a new way to approach your photography. Mindfulness is essentially working with the present moment, losing attachment to preconceived ideas and working with and accepting what is available.

 

Paul and Adrian will guide you through a couple of exercises to increase your awareness, slow down your seeing and give you permission to experiment with contemplative photography.

 

As we progress, you will be encouraged and supported to make notes of your thoughts about the images you receive from the location, perhaps they may be just a list, a poem or a quote, maybe the words from a song keep floating into your awareness, all of these things along with the rest of your senses build up the experience and can be worked into the images you are making.

 

Photographs aren’t real until they are printed, and there is no better way of reconnecting with the moment you released the shutter than to hold your images in your hand, beautifully printed, whether that’s as a single image or a sequence contained within a book. We will help you to select and collate your images and edit them ready for printing.

 

On the final day, you will be taught how to bring together your images and words into a beautiful handmade book. Paul Sanders and Clea Beasley have many years of experience between them of making handmade books and they will lead this session.

 

We hope you can join us.

 

Location, Accommodation, Transport

The workshop is based in Northumberland. You will be staying at Budle Hall, Bamburgh on a single occupancy B&B basis.

 

We will use our feet for most of the workshop, but transport will be provided where needed.

 

The nearest train stations are Berwick-Upon-Tweed or Alnmouth, which are both about 25 minutes taxi journey from Budle Hall.

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Accessibility

There is some walking involved but mostly over level ground and relatively short distances.

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Start and End timing

The workshop will start at 2pm on the first day and finishes at 4pm on the last to allow for travel and de-stress. Accommodation will be available from 4pm on the first day so we will arrange an initial meet-up nearby for orientation.  The first session will involve personal introductions, introduction to the workshop and schedule, and an orientation walk without cameras, followed by an evening meal.

 

Meals*

Breakfast, snack lunch and two-course evening meals are included.

 

Pre-requisites:

• No previous experience is needed, especially for the editing, printing and book making elements. Training and tools will be provided during the workshop.

• You need to bring a computer for the editing and selection session. If you do not have a suitable computer, we may be able to loan one but please check with us before booking.

• Please make sure you have suitable travel and equipment insurance.

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Included

• Tuition by Paul Sanders, Adrian Beasley and Clea Beasley

• All paper, ink, book making materials and loan of tools

• Book making guide with recommended material suppliers

• 3-night accommodation on a single occupancy basis

• All meals listed above

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Not Included

• Travel to and from the workshop

• Travel and equipment Insurance

• Computer and editing software

• Alcoholic drinks

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Contact Details

Adrian Beasley 07785926738

adrian@abeasley.org

Address and travel details will be provided after booking.

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Booking and Cancellation Policy for Residentials: 

We require a 10% deposit when you book to secure your place, final balance will be due 4-weeks before the start of the workshop. If you cancel at any time, please understand that I may need to retain some of your monies to cover incurred costs that I cannot recover, unless I am able to re-sell your place. In general, if I can re-sell the place, I will refund you so please contact me as quickly as possible.