Kawakawa Station – Photography Retreat

*** SOLD OUT ***

Kawakawa Station is one of the Wairarapa’s oldest sheep stations with sweeping views across to the South Island, and only 40 minutes from Martinborough. Come join Women in Photography’s private retreat on Kawakawa Station, the 4WD treks are not available to the public.

We’ll teach you how to use simple composition techniques and help you master your camera’s settings. With a selection of neutral density and circular polarising filters available for use we’ll work with you to enhance your images. We will help you to take your RAW images and create an awesome images using both Lightroom and Photoshop. Not only will you have an amazing time, but you will also come away with having met some amazing #photographybuddies and be more confident with your photographic skills.

ITINERARY

Friday 13 August: Arrive at Kawakawa Station at South Wairarapa’s Coast after midday on Friday where you will be met by Lesley and Leanne. Settle into your accommodation for the next two nights. An overview of the weekend’s activities and discussion on camera settings before heading out on a 5 minute drive to capture iconic images of the array of colourful bulldozers lined up along the shoreline at Ngawi, followed golden and blue hour of both sea and landscape photography. After dinner, we will work on our images in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Saturday 14 August: Early morning blue and golden hour of both sea and landscape photography is only a 3 minute drive away. After breakfast, we take a 4WD 15 minute trek to Purple Hut where we will be based until after lunch. At Purple Hut, we will be capturing images of the stunning native bush, flowing stream and the rugged landscapes. Pack your laptop as we’ll work on image processing in the comfort of this ex-army hut which is set amongst native bush on the edge of the Otakaha stream. Lunch today is at Purple hut. After lunch, we are driven to the historical and not yet restored Black Hut where we have an opportunity to explore this rugged bush clad location – the photography here is bountiful as the tracks are overgrown. After a couple of hours, we will be collected and returned to our accommodation. Time to freshen up before dinner and also capture images of the sun setting across Kawakawa Station.

Sunday 15: After an early breakfast, we head out on a longer 4WD treck to one of the station’s highest peaks to capture awe inspiring panoramic photographic opportunities of the South Wairarapa’s Coastline and across to the South Island. We head back to our accommodation for a debrief of this awesome weekend over lunch before heading home.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Mentoring from two awesome Women in Photography mentors – Lesley & Leanne
• Women in Photography A5 photo diary with quick reference cards for all the photography genres covered plus a Women in Photography pen – a $40 value
• Invitation to join the Women in Photography FaceBook Alumni group
• One of your images from this weekend professionally printed in A3 – this will be couriered to you within 2 week – a $100 value
• Hands on coaching on composition to enable you to create inspiring images
• Mentoring to enable you to become comfortable at working in manual; mastering the exposure triangle
• Expert advice on how to create stunning images in Lightroom and Photoshop and prepare for printing
• Two nights accommodation at the Kawakawa Station’s Farm Cottage. Due to the layout of the accommodation, single rooms may not be available, therefore there is no single room price available
• Breakfast, lunch and two course dinner with wines
• Tea, coffee, and milo – please bring your own water bottle and snacks
• Two absolutely awesome Kawakawa Station 4WD treks.

EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING:

• Camera and both wide angle and zoom lens plus charger & spare camera batteries
• Camera backpack
• Tripod
• Laptop & charger – make sure your Lightroom & Photoshop can work off wifi. Adobe make a free version of Lightroom available only for desktop/laptop. Please contact Lesley if you need the link to pre-download
• Headlamp or small torch with batteries
• Memory cards and memory card reader
• Neutral density (ND) or circular polarising (CPL) filters
• Warm clothing, including thermal top & bottom, sturdy walking shoes, beanie, fingerless gloves plus pack a waterproof and windproof jacket
• Tarpaulin for laying camera gear on – you’ll not want to lay your camera gear down on damp or wet ground.

LEVEL OF FITNESS:

A general level of fitness is required to carry your camera backpack up small and narrow sheep paths and walk on unstable riverbed.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Snacks to have with morning and afternoon tea
• You will need to make your own way to and from Kawakawa Station, along with short drives as outlined in the itinerary. There is although abundant parking at Kawakawa Station.

NOTE:

• Maximum number of attendees is 12
• Activity is weather dependant and sequence of photographic opportunity may vary.

HOW TO BOOK:

You can secure your place with a $500 deposit by clicking “REGISTER”, the balance payable two weeks prior to travel.

Managed by Women in Photography, this weekend is organised by House of Travel, therefore you can be assured that you are booking through an IATA accredited travel agency with your deposit and final payment secured.

Want to know more about this retreat – contact either lesley@womeninphotography.co