Two-day Photography Workshop - June 2025

Features of Our Two-day Workshop

Photography That Speaks From the Heart: Immerse yourself in practical and inspiring lessons on lighting, composition, focus, and colour harmony. With decades of experience, Steve will help you refine your craft and infuse every image with emotion and meaning.

Unleash Your Inner Artist in the Sub-Tropical Rainforest: Discover the magic of lush greens and sun-dappled canopies as you explore nature's beauty. With Steve's hands-on guidance and personalised feedback, you'll learn to capture breathtaking moments that tell a story.

Develop Your Unique Editing Style: Turn your photos into captivating works of art with tailored editing techniques that bring your creative vision to life. Find your signature style and make every shot unforgettable.

Gear Talk and Tech Trends: Stay ahead by exploring the latest camera innovations and photography trends. Learn how to maximise your gear for stunning results and elevate your craft.

See Art Everywhere: Join inspiring photo walks through the enchanting Mary Cairncross Rainforest Sanctuary and the picturesque Gardners Falls. Discover how to uncover artistic opportunities in the world around you, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary images.

A New Creative Life Awaits: Receive thoughtful, individualised feedback to align your photography passion with your goals. Unleash your creativity and embrace the bound.

What will we do together?

Pre-workshop: fill out our questionnaire to find out about you and your goals, and upload some of your photos for Steve to use in his demonstrations and edits. Link provided after booking.

Who is this event for?

If you’re an intermediate photographer who understands the basics of digital photography or an advanced practitioner seeking to push your creative boundaries, this event is perfect for you. Dive into the process of transforming your images into artistic expressions and learn to harness the latest AI tools for post-production.

Never used a mirrorless camera before? You’ll get the chance to try one! Still, wondering if this is the right event for you? Don’t hesitate to contact Steve at support@nature-connect.com.au for a friendly callback.

DAY ONE – SATURDAY - 9 am to 6.00 pm

Morning: Towards A Creative Vision: This session focuses on how to identify and nurture your unique creative voice. We will provide strategies for overcoming common barriers, such as lack of time, technical challenges, costs, and competition. By helping you recognise your uniqueness, we aim to unlock your creativity and set you free. This session invites you to express your creative direction and goals.

We will explore how to channel your passion into curated collections of impactful images that hold meaning beyond individual photographs. This includes organising and prioritising your goals and transforming your computer into a creative hub with a clearly defined purpose.

Afternoon: Craft and Art of Capture and Art of Seeing: After lunch, we will delve into the ever-evolving world of cameras and capture techniques, drawing on Steve’s 50 years of experience, including his recent transition from DSLR to mirrorless cameras. We will simplify choosing and utilising cameras and lenses to align with your creative vision and favourite photography genre. Steve will share his settings and techniques for various subjects, teaching you how to make your camera an extension of your creative voice that evokes an emotional response.

We will cover slow-paced, contemplative macro and landscape photography as well as action wildlife photography. Additionally, we will explore what it means to be a light hunter and a photographic designer. Discover why Steve believes, “There is no bad light—only bad mindsets!” This session aims to transform your perspective on the world around you.

We will begin in the studio and then move into the Art of seeing a photo walk, culminating in a panoramic capture of the Glass House Mountains. Tripods and long lenses are recommended for this project. The walk will focus on capturing design elements for fine art production the following day and will extend to sunset at approximately 6:00 pm.

DAY TWO – SUNDAY - 8 am to 6 pm

Morning: Art at Your Feet Photowalk: Join Steve and Andrea for a creative journey into the forest, where you’ll learn to craft dramatic images from the forest floor. Discover techniques to add soul and emotion to your photos through editing as Steve demonstrates his process on your images. Witness how editing can become a creative and energising experience, unlocking your artistic vision rather than feeling like a technical chore.

We’ll delve into the Art of creating meaningful photo collections that transcend the value of individual images. Learn how to channel your passion, organise and prioritise your goals, and turn your computer into a purposeful creative hub. Steve will guide you on how organising your photos and pursuing focused photo projects can enhance their impact and help you achieve your creative aspirations. Receive personalised tips on organising your images to align with your goals.

Afternoon: Sharing Your Art with Others: One by one, we explore the world of opportunities as they relate to your passion for the genres of photography you are passionate about—wildlife, street, birds in flight, macro, underwater, and more. Whether you’re sharing your photos for pleasure, profit, or both, connecting with others is essential to your creative growth.

Steve will show you how to share your work safely and effectively, create value for your family and community, and, most importantly, bring joy to your life. Discover how to make your photo stories resonate with others while building meaningful connections through your Art.

Late Afternoon: 3.30 pm – 6 pm.

The main event closes at 3:30 pm in our meeting room; however, we will continue close by at Gardners Falls, where we will photograph flowing water against a dramatic wall of rainforest vegetation.

After the Event - Coffee Catch Up - Zoom

Approximately four weeks after the weekend event, (date and time to be confirmed) we will meet via Zoom for a coffee catch-up. During this catch-up, Steve and Andrea will share submitted images from the weekend for discussion.

What to bring?

• You should bring all your camera kit for the hands-on sessions. Close-up and telephoto lenses will be perfect if you have them. (If you don't that is fine too)
• A tripod will be essential – let us know if you need to borrow one.
• A computer isn’t essential, but we encourage you to bring a laptop if you’d like to edit your photos with us. If you do not own Lightroom and Photoshop, you can download them on a seven-day trial just before the event begins. Bring an extension cable and an additional power plug.
• We provide morning and afternoon snacks, tea, and coffee. You can bring your lunch or buy it at the fabulous cafe in the Sanctuary. Pre-order at the cafe can be a good idea to beat the weekend lunch rush.
• You’ll get extensive course notes that include links to video demonstrations of all the techniques Steve and Andrea show you in the digital darkroom over the weekend. There is no need to take notes if you don’t want to.

Computing equipment is not required; however, bring one if you wish. Extensive course notes will link you to video demonstrations of all techniques applied in the digital darkroom over the weekend.

Included in the cost of this event

Attendees of the weekend workshop will also receive the full Steve Parish six-module eBook and video series Photography: A Pathway to Purpose Masterclass + the nine eBook and video series Photography: The Ultimate Travel Guide. (Total value over $390)

Morning and Afternoon tea - both Saturday & Sunday.

YOUR HOSTS FOR THE WEEKEND

Steve Parish

Steve Parish is a passionate photographer, publisher, speaker, author, naturalist and digital artist. He is one of few Australian photographers who can look back over six decades photographing Australia across a vast range of social and natural history subjects on land and underwater.

Since the age of sixteen, Steve has shared his work with the Australian community through thousands of publications, talks, exhibitions and public events. His primary motivation has been to inspire others to consider the benefits of nature connection for mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

His iconic, multi-award-winning publications have been in print for over thirty-five years, and in 2008 he was awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to Australian Natural History Education.

Visit Steve’s Art Site to learn about some artistic styles we will explore.

More about Steve Parish

Andrea Warren

Andrea Warren has spent the past eight years refining her passion for photography and design through formal studies at USC and TAFE. This journey has allowed her to seamlessly combine her love of photography, graphic design, and web design into her own freelance business, On Point Photographic Services. Andrea also teaches Visual Arts at TAFE, Townsville.

As a photographer, Andrea is dedicated to capturing moments that tell compelling stories. As a graphic designer, she thrives on using her creativity to help businesses and individuals communicate their unique narratives. As a web designer, she collaborates with small businesses to craft online platforms that tell their stories effectively. Andrea works both on location and remotely from her home office. She is thrilled to join Steve Parish in sharing her expertise during this weekend’s workshops

More about Andrea Warren

Our Venue for the Weekend

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve comprises 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest overlooking the Glass House Mountains landscape. A remnant of the rainforests that once covered the Blackall Range, the reserve is a living museum of diverse plant and animal life that will delight its tranquillity and beauty.

Visit our webpage for more information

If you have any further questions, or would like some more information please contact Steve - support@nature-connect.com.au or phone +61 498 096 724

Refund Policy

Cancellation of an Event must be made in writing to support@nature-connect.com.au. At the time we receive your cancellation the following cancellation fees, which are an estimate of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by us to cancel your booking, will apply:

• You can transfer your booking to another participant at any time.
• Up to 21 days’ notice for a full refund.
• Between 21 days’ notice and 2 days’ notice, a 60% refund.
• Within 2 days no refund.
• Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

For more information on this please see the full refund policy here.