getting schooled at the apple shed

There are few moments in life when everything seems to make complete and utter sense. Last weekend I had quite a few of those moments. I travelled down to Hobart with my very dear friend Michelle W. to take part in The Photo School run by Kate and Peta at The Apple Shed. I got to catch up with some other friends from blogging land like Anna, Michelle C. and Mel (sounds a bit like the Spice Girls, no?) And I got to meet a few new people as well. Always fun.

As we made our way down the highway towards the Huon Valley, that famously bright winter sun we get in Tasmania gradually disappeared behind a shroud of fog and mist. It created a perfect backdrop for our photographic explorations of the grounds at The Apple Shed. To start with, we sat around warm heaters while Kate and Peta cracked us up and made little lightbulbs ping above our heads. Warm cups of tea from enamel mugs were clasped tightly while the workshop continued. Not by me though. I'm not a tea-drinker, but I fully support others in that habit. Whatever floats your boat, I say.

The first part of the workshop focused on taking better quality phone photos - something I've had a very big interest in myself. My own philosophy before the workshop was that with the kind of technology available at our fingertips, there should be no reason why Instagram isn't flooded with beautiful images that very easily look as though they could have come from a fancy DSLR. It has been something I've been trying to aim for and after some great tips from Kate and Peta I now feel as though I'm achieving what I've wanted to for a long time. I'm planning on posting some of my phone shots later in the week, so if it's something you're interested in as well, check back and let me know what you think.

And then the weather did that thing it does in Tasmania (you know, the whole four seasons/one day thing?) The fog and mist lifted and we were treated to a gloriously sunny afternoon. Winter sun on our island is just the absolute best. (Not that I'm biased or anything.)

After being treated to a hearty lunch of the best soup I've had in absolutely ages, the focus (geddit, geddit) shifted towards DSLR photography and we all got our big girl cameras out (except for the only male participant of the workshop and he got his big boy camera out ... wait, that doesn't sound quite right). Just as with the morning session, there were a couple of big lightbulb pinging moments for me. I managed to pick up quite a few tips to not only improve my photography in-camera but also how to do post-processing a little more effectively.

Kate and Peta made sure to spend some time with each of the participants, checking out their equipment (wait, that doesn't sound right either) making sure everyone was comfortable with their camera and confident of getting some great shots out of it. We were treated to a scrummy tart for dessert and spent some time wandering around the museum and grounds. If you haven't been to The Apple Shed yet, can I strongly suggest you get your bum out there and visit? It's a beautiful space - I'd move in if they'd let me.

A huge thank you to Michelle W. for coming along - I loved getting to hang out with you for the weekend - looking forward to our next girl's weekend, whenever that is! And don't worry, I don't mind if you don't end up naming the baby with any of my excellent suggestions. Cecil is a fabulous name, but if you don't use it I'll just use it for the next cat I adopt, we can't let it go to waste!

Naomi xx
PHOTOGRAPHER . TASMANIA . AUSTRALIA

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