Join me, Luke Tscharke, for the Tasmanian Adaptive Workshop Series, a unique photography experience that adapts to the best conditions Tasmania has to offer. These 3-day, 2-night photography adventures focus on the distinct opportunities each season provides while remaining flexible enough to capture whatever nature delivers. With a guaranteed departure regardless of numbers and a small group size of just three participants, you can book with confidence knowing your workshop will proceed as planned.
The adaptive workshop concept means we're not locked into specific locations. Instead, we'll chase the best conditions across Tasmania, moving to wherever the light, weather and photographic opportunities are optimal. While each season has its focus areas, we'll always adapt to find the most photogenic conditions, whether that's chasing dramatic light, clear skies for astrophotography, or even an unexpected aurora display.
Choose from the seasonal workshops below, each designed to capture Tasmania's photographic strengths during that time of year:
The adaptive workshop model reflects how professional landscape photographers truly work - putting conditions and photography first, rather than being tied to specific locations. As landscape photographers, we know that being adaptable is essential to creating exceptional images. It's about making our own luck by being in the right place at the right time.
Tasmania's weather can change dramatically from region to region. While it might be cloudy in the highlands, the east coast could be experiencing perfect conditions just a few hours away. Our small group size allows us to be completely mobile, moving to wherever the best photography conditions exist. Rather than being locked into one location and hoping for the best, we'll adapt our plans and travel to where the conditions are most favourable.
This mobility significantly increases our chances of finding ideal photography conditions. Over our time together, we might photograph in well-known locations or somewhere unexpected that the weather has guided us to. We'll make decisions based on weather forecasts, seasonal opportunities, and your photography interests.
While each workshop has season-specific focus areas, we'll always prioritize finding the best conditions. If an aurora opportunity arises, we might shift our plans entirely to capture it. If morning mist creates magical light in the rainforest, that's where we'll head. The adaptive approach means we're always seeking the best possible photography experiences rather than sticking to a rigid itinerary.
Potential locations include kunanyi/Mount Wellington, South Arm Peninsula, Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet/Coles Bay, Central Highlands, St Helens/Bay of Fires, Bruny Island, Huon Valley, Cradle Mountain, Stanley/Tarkine, and Southwest/Lake Pedder.
Tasmania offers distinctive photographic opportunities throughout the year. While our adaptive approach means we'll always chase the best conditions, each season brings its own unique elements. Here's what makes each seasonal workshop special:
Winter in Tasmania offers exceptional conditions for landscape and night photography. The mountains receive snow, creating striking compositional elements. These months provide our longest, darkest nights, ideal for astrophotography and Aurora Australis. The rainforests remain lush while waterfalls reach peak flow, excellent for long exposure photography. Look for fascinating fungi specimens around Cradle Mountain. The lower sun position creates soft, beautiful light throughout the day, extending your shooting window. Russell Falls and Liffey Falls are standout locations during this season.
As Tasmania warms up in spring, waterfalls and creeks run clear and strong, creating ideal conditions for water photography. The September equinox often brings increased solar activity, offering excellent aurora opportunities from southern-facing dark locations. The Milky Way remains visible through October, with the galactic arc beautifully positioned in the western sky during early spring. Milder temperatures make night shooting sessions more comfortable while still providing properly dark skies.
Summer delivers extended daylight hours and improved access to remote areas. The longer days allow you to capture diverse landscapes from coast to alpine regions. Many highland locations become accessible that remain unreachable in other seasons. While the Milky Way core isn't ideal during summer (visible mainly during daylight), the comfortable night temperatures make shooting more pleasant. Coastal locations like Freycinet and Bay of Fires display their best qualities in summer light, particularly during early morning and evening sessions.
Autumn features crisp, clear air and distinctive colour changes throughout Tasmania. The fagus (our native deciduous beech) turns brilliant gold across the highlands, particularly at Cradle Mountain and Mount Field. For night photography, the Milky Way becomes increasingly prominent, rising vertically along the eastern horizon in early autumn. The March equinox frequently brings heightened aurora activity. Morning mist forms in valleys and over lakes, adding atmosphere to sunrise images. Still mornings often create mirror reflections on lakes and rivers, enhancing landscape compositions. Moderate temperatures allow comfortable shooting conditions both day and night.
Each seasonal workshop has specific dates, but the itinerary remains adaptive to make the most of conditions. Here's how the workshop structure works:
* Sunrise shoots are optional and based on conditions and energy levels, especially if we were up late photographing the night sky.
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The adaptive nature of these workshops means booking accommodation with short notice based on where the best photography conditions are found. While my preference is for everyone to have their own private room, the short-notice nature of our bookings means this can't be guaranteed, twin share arrangements might be necessary depending on availability.
We'll discuss all accommodation arrangements during our pre-workshop briefing once we have a better idea of where conditions will be best. The goal is to find comfortable options close to our shooting locations, ideally staying both nights in the same place to minimise fatigue and maximise shooting time.
If you have specific accommodation requirements or concerns, please get in touch before booking so we can discuss options.
While photography is our priority, we'll always try to eat at local restaurants where possible. During our briefing, we'll discuss meal arrangements based on our planned locations. We might be eating earlier or later than usual to accommodate our shooting schedule, and sometimes we may need to be flexible, picking up supplies for a picnic dinner or preparing simple meals if we're in remote locations.
We'll work out the best plan together to ensure everyone's well-fed while maximising our photography opportunities. Being adaptive means sometimes our meal times need to be flexible too, adapting to the best light and conditions.
All skill levels are welcome on these workshops. You'll receive access to online tutorial videos before the workshop to help prepare, and I'll provide personalised guidance throughout our time together. Our locations are chosen with accessibility in mind, we may encounter some uneven terrain, but we won't be doing any serious hiking.
I'll be photographing alongside you throughout the workshop, which gives you the opportunity to see how I approach different scenes, read the light, and adapt to conditions. This hands-on approach ensures you not only capture beautiful images but also develop skills you can apply to your photography long after the workshop ends.
The beauty of the adaptive approach is that we can tailor the experience to suit your skill level and physical capabilities, ensuring everyone gets the most out of the workshop regardless of prior experience.
As an authorised Parks Tasmania tourism operator and experienced landscape photographer, I bring intimate knowledge of Tasmania's diverse landscapes to these workshops. I've spent years exploring and photographing the island in all seasons and conditions, developing an understanding of where and when to find the best photographic opportunities.
My experience with Tasmanian weather patterns and seasonal variations helps me identify where we're likely to find the best conditions for photography. The adaptive workshop model lets me apply this knowledge to ensure we're always in the right place at the right time.
By photographing alongside you during the workshop, I can demonstrate techniques in real-time and help you develop your own photographic vision. This active teaching approach means you'll learn not only through instruction but by watching how I work in the field - reading the landscape, finding compositions, and adapting to changing conditions.
Luke Tscharke Photography is an authorised nature based tourism operator with Parks Tasmania.
Deposit: AUD $500
Balance Payment: AUD $1,450 due three weeks before the workshop
Total Price: AUD $1,950
The price by the booking button above is the deposit to secure your place. After booking, I'll be in touch with additional information including balance payment details.
Guaranteed departure: All workshops in this series are guaranteed to proceed regardless of numbers. Whether you're a solo traveller or part of a small group, you can book with confidence knowing your chosen seasonal workshop will go ahead as planned. I'm comfortable running these workshops with just one participant, ensuring you'll never have your booking cancelled due to insufficient numbers.
Maximum group size: 3 participants per workshop session
Cancellation: If you need to cancel your booking for any reason you will only be refunded the total amount (less booking fees) if I can find someone to take your place, or if you transfer the booking to another experience run by Luke. Full terms and conditions can be found here.
A$500 deposit payable via Sony Scene to secure a spot.
Balance Due Date: 27/06/2025
Payment for the remaining balance should be made directly to the host. They will be in contact with you shortly to provide the payment details and further instructions.
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