Rotorua & Waikato Landscape Photography Weekend

Explore the amazing scenery on offer in the Waikato and Rotorua regions with this weekend photography workshop that will teach you how to improve your composition, master your camera's settings and learn how different filters will enhance the images you capture. You'll also discover easy Lightroom techniques to turn your original RAW files into stunning landscape images.  

During the weekend we will cover an area that is incredibly rich in landscape photographic variety from swirling thermal areas to quiet lakes reflecting the starry night sky and lush waterfalls in hidden valleys. This will give you a range of opportunities to put into practice all the skills you will learn during our weekend together. 

Locations covered: Cambridge - Lake Karapiro - Lake Tarawera - Redwood Forest - Wairere Falls - Okere Falls - Hannahs Bay

Friday 2pm 

The weekend workshop will kick off at 2pm at Hidden Lake Hotel with drinks and nibbles and an introduction to the workshop plan. 

Friday evening 

There will be time to capture a winter sunset locally around Cambridge and after dark we will head out for astrophotography to Lake Karapiro if the skies are clear. 

Saturday morning 

We will meet at 5am to travel to Lake Tarawera for sunrise at one of the many beautiful jetties on the lake. A packed breakfast and lunch will be provided by the hotel. 

Saturday afternoon 

There will plenty of opportunities to capture a variety of scenery during the day at waterfalls in the region such as Kerosene Creek, Wairere Falls (Rotorua), Okere Falls as well as a trip into the Redwood Forest. We will end up for sunset at one of the jetties on the eastern side of Lake Rotorua or in Kuirau Park. 

Saturday evening 

If the skies are clear we will head back out to Lake Tarawera to capture the most amazing night skies you will see in the North Island before driving back to Cambridge. 

Sunday morning 

There are plenty of options for a local sunrise within a short drive so we will pick a location based on group preference before heading back to Hidden Lake Hotel for an indepth session on editing in Lightroom while enjoying a tasty breakfast provided by the hotel. 

Sunday 12pm 

The workshop officially ends and everyone is free to travel home. You will leave overflowing with a wealth of new knowledge, exhilarated by the weekend experiences and keen to try out all the new techniques and tips you have learned. 

• Mastering the manual settings on your camera
• The art of good composition
• Use of KASE neutral density and polariser filters while in the field
• Planning and executing a successful photography shoot
• In-the-field experience at a variety of beautiful photographic locations
• Valuable tips and advice on how to create stunning images in Lightroom
• Advice on using social media to showcase your photography
• Use of Sony cameras and lenses

• Mirrorless or DSLR camera and lenses
• Plenty of spare batteries and a portable charger
• Tripod
• Torch
• Laptop with Lightroom installed
• Memory cards and adapter to link with laptop for editing
• Remote shutter control
• ND filters and polariser (a selection of KASE filters will be available to use during the weekend)
• Wet weather and warm gear (waterproof jacket, hiking boots, a small umbrella or waterproof camera sleeve, hat and gloves)
• Snacks and water
• A willingness to learn and a sense of fun and adventure!