Blackpool

This immersive, challenging and intensive learning experience will help elevate your street photography to a new level. With a maximum of 6 participants, this street photography workshop is designed to help you become a creative, competent and confident street photographer. It will combine structured shooting with coaching from your course leader, Brian Lloyd Duckett.

This workshop is as much about the ‘art’ than it is about the technical aspects of street photography. As well as learning great new street photography techniques and creative approaches, you will discover how to produce stylish and distinctive images – not random pictures of people sitting in cafes or just walking down the street.

We will focus on three key styles of street shooting: utilising the ‘moment’, developing a narrative and understanding the fine art / aesthetic approach.

** The workshop in early August coincides with the Rebellion Weekend, where punks from across Europe descend on Blackpool for a long weekend of hell-raising. Street photography heaven! **

WORKSHOP STRUCTURE

Before the workshop

2-3 days before the workshop you’ll be sent comprehensive joining instructions with details of the meeting venue, start and finish times and a brief questionnaire about you and your objectives – which we ask you to complete and return in advance of the workshop. This helps us ensure that the workshop can be geared, as far as possible, to your needs.

Morning briefing / tutorial session

This is a critical part of the day, where we meet in a quiet corner of a café to explore such issues as:

• Exploring 3 creative approaches to street photography

• How to build your confidence as a street photographer

• Ethical and legal considerations

• Fieldcraft: the techniques we use on the streets

• Gear selection, camera settings and technical issues

Morning session: street shooting

We spend the rest of the morning out shooting, working on specific techniques and approaches, working both as a group and working on individual exercises.

Lunch

We break for lunch for 30 minutes for a rest and re-fuel!

Afternoon session: street shooting

We continue to build on the lessons learnt during the morning whilst working on some additional techniques; you will be undertaking a number of challenges and exercises throughout the day.

De-brief session

We will aim find a quiet corner in the pub for a de-brief, Q&A session and further discussion over a well-earned drink (if the pubs are too crowded or noisy, we’ll find a suitable street corner for this session).

What will you learn on the day?

• Develop a street photographer’s ‘eye’ and learn how to spot a photo opportunity in an everyday street scene

• Understand the various approaches to street photography

• Learn how to conceive and undertake meaningful street photography projects

• Start to develop your own style

• Conquer your fear of street shooting

• Become invisible and shoot your environment quietly and unobtrusively

• Learn the technical aspects of street photography: equipment, camera settings, composition, exposure, light and focus (including manual / zone focusing)

• Understand the key legal and ethical aspects of street photography

AFTER THE WORKSHOP

 Workshop follow-up

We will send you an extensive follow-up note with a recommended reading list, links to films and videos and other helpful resources. Critique is an important part of the learning process and you’ll be invited to submit images for constructive critique to help keep your development on-track. As far as we’re concerned, ‘the workshop never ends’ and Brian is always here for support and advice as your street photography journey progresses.

The StreetSnappers Collective

You’ll be invited to join the StreetSnappers Collective, the ‘virtual’ street photography club. Membership is completely free and is available only to those who have participated in Brian’s workshops. It’s a small, select and welcoming group of people with a shared passion: street photography. Benefits of Collective membership include access to a lively, active and very warm Facebook group where you can post images for critique, ask questions (about gear, techniques or locations, for example) or create debate about street photography. Members frequently arrange meet-ups and shooting days in their areas, form critique circles and organise their own events.

What level is this workshop?

This is ideally for people who are familiar with their camera and have a grasp of the basic exposure settings. You may be new to the genre of street photography or you may be an experienced shooter who wants to refine and improve your technique. The small group size means that everyone gets plenty of one-to-one attention.

What gear do you need?

Travel light! Any camera model / make is fine, whether it’s a compact, mirrorless or DSLR; we also warmly welcome people who shoot on film. You will ideally have a lens which has a focal length of around 28 or 35mm (full-frame equivalent) or around 18 or 24mm (APS-C sensor). If you don’t a have a prime lens, a zoom will be fine. You won’t need a flash or tripod.

Your workshop leader: Brian Lloyd Duckett

With a background in photojournalism, Brian is a London-based documentary photographer and professional street photographer. He taught as a visiting lecturer on photography degree courses and is a board member of the BPPA (British Press Photographers’ Association). He is an Official Fujifilm X-Photographer (ambassador). Brian has a relaxed and engaging teaching style and offers lots of individual, hands-on coaching. He has five street photography books, all of which are on sale worldwide. You can also see Brian’s street photography education videos on YouTube

You can see some of Brian’s own images on his personal website.