70th PSNZ National Convention
2025-05-01 08:00 - 2025-05-04 17:00 (Pacific/Auckland)

Māwhera National Salon of Photography
2025-05-01 08:00 - 2025-05-31 23:30
Māwhera National Salon of Photography is run by the Greymouth Photography Club which is affiliated to PSNZ.

Entry is open to residents of New Zealand and financial members of PSNZ residing overseas. The 2025 Salon opens for entries on 1st May 2025, and closes on 31st May 2025 at 11:59 pm.

There will be six (6) sections in 2025.

Trenna Packer Nature Salon (Clubs)
2025-05-01 08:00 - 2025-06-20 17:00
The competition was started by Hagley Camera Club of Christchurch in 1972 as a memorial to Trenna Packer, a keen nature photographer who was killed in a car accident on her way back from a photographic expedition. The Nature Photography Society took over the running of it in 2007.

The Nature Photography Society of New Zealand would like to invite your club to take part in the Trenna Packer

Salver Competition. The competition opens on the 1st of May 2025 and closes on Friday the 20th of June 2025.

Annual General Meeting
2025-05-02 16:00 - 17:30
Join us at our Annual General Meeting.

Four Nations
2025-05-05 08:00 - 2025-05-25 17:00
How do you feel about representing your country, photographically? The 4 Nations competition is your chance to achieve this honour. It is a cool photo event, quite different to the usual salons and competitions.

This annual challenge pits the best photographic endeavours of the four national photographic societies of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Each society selects 80 images to represent them. All the resultant 320 images are judged by a panel of three international judges, who are all independent of the four countries. Images are scored anonymously, and the 3 judges scores are aggregated. The society with the highest total score gains the “Bragging Rights”.

Wherever PSNZ finishes in the challenge you can feel proud that your selected image was part of our team chasing the honours.

Autumn Landscapes
2025-05-09 13:00 - 2025-05-11 13:00
Capture the Magic of Autumn

Join us for an exclusive, hands-on autumn landscape photography workshop with renowned photographer, Meghan Maloney. Known for her breathtaking captures of nature’s finest moments, Meghan will guide you through the stunning landscapes of Hawkes Bay, where vibrant autumn colours come alive. Perfect for photographers of all levels, this workshop provides a rare opportunity to learn Meghan’s award-winning techniques, from composition and lighting to editing tips that make colours pop.

Book Your Spot Now! Meghan’s workshops always fill up fast.

The workshop will start at 1pm on Friday 9th May and conclude around 1pm on Sunday 11th May. Locations will be weather dependant and may include Te Mata Peak, Mt Erin, Waimarama beach, Tukituki valley, Maraetotara Falls, and TutiraSunset.

A medium level of fitness will be required as some walking on tracks will occur.

The workshop fee of $275 includes lunch on Sunday. Other meals will be a mix of cafes, takeaways and restaurants.

Once you have registered and paid, you will receive more in depth information on the schedule and locations as well as a recommended gear sheet.

Workshop is limited to 12 people

We are looking for two people to use their car to help transport attendees to the various locations. If you are willing to do this please let Nicole know once you have registered. A $100 petrol voucher will be provided.

Log into the Member’s Area to register for this workshop.

Mushroom Macro Masterclass
2025-05-17 09:00 - 2025-05-18 17:00
Lee says she “fell down the rabbit hole of the fungi world” in 2009 and that she is “happiest when hanging out in New Zealand’s beautiful native forests.” She has an outstanding command of the field and has published two books on the subject featuring her outstanding photography.

This workshop is designed for occasional macro photographers who really want to lift their game to the next level. It will be a practical workshop.

Saturday 17th May 9.00am

On Saturday morning we will workshop the following topics:

Gear

Focus brackets and stacking using Helicon (essential for superb mushroom images) including tabletop practise

Lighting

Prepping mushrooms for photography

On Saturday afternoon we will travel to one of Rotorua’s many exceptional locations to put theory into practice.

Sunday 18th May 9.00 am

On Sunday we will review how participants got on during the field trip and answer any questions arising. We will then adjourn to a second location and more opportunities to make some great images.

The workshop will begin at 9.00 am on Saturday 17th May in Rotorua and end after the second field trip mid afternoon on Sunday. The meeting point and class room will be in the Rotorua City area and advised prior to the commencement date in our follow up email to registrants.

Please note:

Meals and accommodation are not included in the price. You will need to bring your camera, a macro lens and your laptop with Helicon installed (you can download a free version that works for 30 days).

Instilling Emotion with Photoshop
2025-05-23 12:00 - 2025-05-25 16:00
Helen McLeod is a Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand, an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and holds a Gold Portfolio Distinction with the Photographic Society of America. She has been tutoring photography for many years in tertiary institutions and runs six Landscape workshops annually in central Otago.

In this workshop you will learn The What, Why and How of Photoshop Image Enhancement including:

Basic Photoshop means of enhancing the images captured from any genre of photography;

Why this is important – a way to instil the emotion you felt at the time of capture, to pull out the hidden potential of any photograph; and

How we can bring to life any image and let our uniqueness shine through our photography.

Check out this AV which gives numerous before and after examples.

The workshop will be held at the Vintage Car Club rooms, Hickling Park A C Baths Avenue, Taupō at 12.00 pm on Friday 23rd May and end on Sunday 25th May around 4.00pm.

Friday 23rd May (12pm)

We begin the workshop by checking that everyone has their laptops set up correctly with Photoshop. Then we will venture out with our cameras to capture some images that you will process during the workshop. (You are also welcome to bring some unprocessed images with you as well to work on.)

Saturday 24th May (9am – 4pm)

Helen will demonstrate her approach to the assessment of her images and how she brings them into line with her vision at the time she pressed the shutter button. During this time she will provide a brief explanation of Photoshop’s basic features (such as layers, adjustment layers and masks) and how they are employed to instil the emotion back into our images to bring them to life and really make them our own. Images will be supplied upon which we will work together encompassing several techniques.

Sunday 25th May (9am – 4pm)

Using examples from her own work we will look at some slightly more advanced, or alterative, methods of enhancing our images (painting like a Renaissance painter, darkening versus lightening, adding lens flares, working non-destructively, cropping, vignettes). You will then apply all your newly found skills to your own images on your laptops, revealing the hidden potential you captured. From here we will briefly touch on more artistic means to bring our personalities to our images (overlays/textures, borders).

What to Bring

Camera, tripod, and your favourite landscape lens

Laptop with Photoshop downloaded and installed. Please make sure you have loads of space on your laptop as Photoshop images can get large quickly. Working on and from an external hard drive is a great way to work and makes your laptop run quicker.

A USB (Windows compatible) stick upon which images supplied will be loaded to work on as a group.

Images taken previously that you would like to process.

A sense of fun and a willingness to learn!

(Chocolate for your tutor/educator!)

Water bottle, snacks, and lunches for both days.

Please note:

Meals and accommodation are not included. The nearest option for lunch is the Village Bakery and Café at 258 Spa Road, about three minutes’ walk away. We will have a Workshop dinner on Saturday (pay your own).

Capture the Extraordinary
2025-05-30 13:00 - 2025-06-02 13:00
Capture the Extraordinary: Steampunk Photography Workshop in Oamaru

Step into the unique world of Victorian-inspired sci-fi and futuristic fantasy with our exclusive 2.5-day themed street and event photography workshop, set amidst the iconic annual Oamaru Steampunk Festival! This workshop is designed to immerse photographers of all levels in the vibrant, surreal scenes of NZ’s largest annual official steampunk event, across multiple venues – from street parades and night markets, to off-camera flash portraiture, to closeup street and event photography.

Workshop Highlights:

Street Photography Techniques: Learn how to capture those special spontaneous ‘decisive’ moments during a real-life cosplay parade; eye-catching compositions; and the fascinating details that make street photography so compelling.

Be exposed (pun intended) to both night and day time photographic opportunities where you are an official ‘Event Photographer’, and your subjects are willing participants in the visual extravaganza that is Steampunk.

Multiple opportunities will be available to take festival goers portraits and then sell them.

Hands-On Instruction & Feedback: With expert guidance, you’ll receive personalised tips on framing, lighting, and compositional storytelling to bring out the character of this unique festival, and most importantly, its people.

Explore Oamaru’s unique historic precinct with its distinctive Forrester and Lemon designed stone buildings, set against the backdrop of Oamaru’s Victorian architecture and harbour. Each shot combining modern creativity with historic charm.

Steampunk Style & Character Portraits: Perfect your portrait skills as you photograph festival-goers dressed in elaborate costumes, from neo-Victorian characters to sci-fi creations.

Get a taste of some of the intricacies of product photography as you catalogue competition entries.

Working in small teams rotated across multiple venues, each participant will be exposed to various facets of street and event photography and will be granted preferential access as ‘official event photographers.’

Your tutor for this weekend long degustation of photographic opportunities is Oamaru born and raised Ted Grenfell, an award winning professional photographer now based in Dunedin. As Ted says “The world of photography would be meaningless without light, colour and emotion to help open our minds to express passion and love for each other.” Ted will guide you to capture all three on this unique photography workshop as you work with both festival organisers and participants to provide unique photographic memories for festival-goers.

All attendees on this workshop will be acting as official event photographers for the festival and will therefore be granted unprecedented access to events and backstage locations. Something previously only available to a select few. Photographs from the PSNZ team will be widely shared with the organisers and Steampunk community and distributed (with credit) on social media both during and after the event.

Photographers retain rights to their work and will be given credit for their photographs. There will be many opportunities for images taken to be sold to festival-goers, with previous year’s attendees expressing interest in such a service as part of our partnership with festival organisers in 2025. We may directly facilitate this for you, or show you how you can set this up for yourself.

The workshop fee is $300. Please note that you need to provide your own accommodation.

All meals will be at your own expensive with many options available at the festival, both formal and casual dining. An early Saturday evening group dinner has already been booked at Oamaru’s oldest cafe & restaurant, the iconic Star and Garter, in the historic precinct.

The workshop will take place over King’s birthday weekend and will start at 3pm on Friday 30th May and conclude around 2pm on Monday 2nd June.

Based right at the heart of the festival in the Whitestone Civic Trust building, attendees will be given daily briefings on events and are also encouraged to attend the optional final ceremony Steampunk breakfast on Monday morning to raise money for breast cancer before returning to the conference room for a wrap- up discussion.

Time will also be made for group sessions in the Civic Trust building for workshop participants to share their work and gain insight in to Ted’s workflow for processing event images from capture, through to sale. A medium level of fitness will be required as this is a busy festival and the boardroom for the group briefing sessions is up a flight of stairs. Days will commence with workshop sessions and finish with photographing the freakshow, mess dinner and Victorian ball on the respective evenings.

Once you have registered and paid, you will receive more in depth information on the schedule and locations as well as a recommended gear sheet. The workshop is limited to 10 people.

Sign up now to secure your spot for a themed street and event photographic experience unlike any other!

Log into the Member’s Area to register for this workshop.

National Photojournalism Competition
2025-06-01 08:00 - 2025-07-31 17:00
Hosted by the New Brighton Photographic Club. It is open to all PSNZ New Zealand residents, or financial members of a PSNZ affiliated camera club. Entries comprise digital projected images only.

Please visit https://www.newbrightonphotoclub.org.nz for more information and competition rules.

Entries open 1st June and closes 31st July 2025

National Portrait Salon 2025
2025-06-01 09:00 - 2025-06-30 17:00
Tauranga Photographic Society facilitates the National Portrait Salon Bi Annually.

Entries open at 9am on 1st June, and closes at 5pm on 30th June. Results are expected to be released by end of July 2025.

Judge Training Weekend | Whanganui
2025-06-07 09:30 - 2025-06-08 16:00
There will be a judge training weekend held from 7 to 8 June 2025 in Whanganui.

This is an opportunity to participate and see what the process is for gaining accreditation as well as what the judges are looking for when they assess salon images. You will gain an insight into what is involved, how to view images, critique and communicate the results to the photographer.

The sessions will run from 9:30 am (for a formal 10:00 am start) to about 4:30 pm on Saturday, and 9:00 am to no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday.The venue is the Whanganui Camera Club Clubrooms at 2 Handley Street, Gonville, Whanganui 4501. We are very grateful to the Whanganui Camera Club for hosting this event and coordinating local arrangements. We also very much appreciate the support of Leica NZ for the Judge Training Programme.The cost is $50 for financial PSNZ Members, and $75 for those who are not PSNZ Members but do belong to an affiliated club. It is also free (yes, $0) for any existing PSNZ accredited judges who want to have a bit of a refresher, provided there is enough room.Preference will be given to PSNZ Members who have a honours distinction. Refunds will be given in the unlikely event someone is bumped to make way for a Member with honours.Registrations are now open, with participants limited to 30, and subject to the priorities mentioned above.

Colour Enhancement in Photoshop by Helen McLeod
2025-06-15 15:00 - 17:00
In this workshop, Helen will show attendees how to use:

Vibrance adjustment layer,

Hue/Saturation adjustment layer,

Colour Look Up Tables (LUTS), A

CR Profiles and

Texture Overlays (for textures only, colours only or for both colour and texture).

These will also touch on Blending Modes a little. Should there be time, then colour grading would also be introduced.

The Zoom Link will be sent to registered participants closer to the date.

Nelson National Triptych Salon
2025-07-04 08:00 - 2025-08-17 17:00
Open to all New Zealand photographers. Entries comprise digital projected images, triptych format only. The subject matter is open. Champion Award will receive a unique triptych trophy which they can keep.

Entries open on 4th July and close on 1 st August 2025. Results will be released by 17 August.

The results of the 2024 Salon can be viewed here.

For more information please visit https://www.nelsoncameraclub.co.nz/introducing-triptych.html

Triptych “Cheers” by Jenny Corban

Light Sculpting Using Non-Destructive Methods
2025-07-27 15:00 - 16:00
Curves adjustment layers, Rembrandt painting (utilizing Blending Modes), Blending Modes for image adjustments such as contrast, luminance and colour

Impressionist Photography with Eva Polar
2025-08-09 08:00 - 2025-08-10 17:00
Reflections and Light: Creative Techniques for Capturing Movement ✨Step into a world of creativity, where light dances, reflections tell stories, and movement comes alive through your lens.An Exclusive 2-Day Impressionist Photography Workshop with Eva Polack.

Highbury House, Birkenhead, Auckland

Immerse yourself in the art of impressionist photography with renowned New Zealand photographer Eva Polack. Over two inspiring days, explore how to capture the magic of light, reflections, and movement using creative camera techniques.

What You’ll Learn:

Mastering impressionist photography techniques

Using light and reflections to add depth and emotion

Creative methods to capture the beauty of movement

Hands-on shooting sessions

Personal feedback and guidance from Eva Polak

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is perfect for photographers of all levels who want to push their creative boundaries and develop a unique artistic style.

This workshop is limited to 12 participants.

New Zealand Landscape Salon
2025-08-15 08:00 - 2025-09-08 17:00
Formerly known as The Laurie Thomas Landscape Salon, this long-running competition boasts a rich legacy with 2025 being the 28th running of the Salon. Open to all photographers, this digital competition is hosted bythe Christchurch Photographic Society. Champion image will receive a unique landscape trophy to keep.

As May and June are very busy with other events and competitions a decision to delay the Salon has been made. Entries for 2025 will be open from 15th August to 8th September 2025.

Presentation will be on Wednesday, 29th October 2025.

Following the success of 2024, a fantastic book of the winning entries will again be available

Fascinating Fungi: A practical macro photography workshop (hosted by Sony)
2025-08-16 10:00 - 14:00
Learn the art of macro fungi photography from award-winning New Zealand macro photographer Paula Vigus.For this special Sony Scene practical workshop we are bringing Paula to Wellington to share her knowledge and demonstrate how she goes about achieving such wonderful macro images of fungi. Paula will demonstrate using her camera setup of choice: the Sony Alpha 7R V and FE 90mm F2.8 G macro lens. This workshop is open to all camera brand users and is designed for beginner macro shooters.

You’ll come away from this workshop equipped with the knowledge of interesting and endemic fungi, how to plan and approach an outdoor macro shoot, the ideal camera settings and what you need in your macro kit. Paula will also provide an online post-production session so you can see how she edits her incredible macro shots.

This practical workshop involves:

An online briefing prior to the practical workshop.

3-4 hours on the ground shooting with Paula in the Botanic Gardens

An online editing session

An optional photo review one week following the workshop

As this is an outdoor workshop there is a weather element: we have planned for a weekend shoot that may shift from the Saturday to the Sunday if required.

Flora, Fungi and Lichen
2025-08-17 15:00 - 16:00
Flora…with just a soupçon of fungi and lichen!

I shall look at some of the techniques I use for my flower photography including photographing on a lightpad and also photographing submerged flowers. For the latter, in particular, I hope to show that you don’t need studios and fancy lighting set-ups. And then, of course, there is creative play time courtesy of post-processing.

Blue Duck Station with Martyn Davies
2025-09-11 14:00 - 2025-09-13 14:00
Spring Photography Workshop at Blue Duck Station

Immerse yourself in the vibrant landscapes of Blue Duck Station this spring for an exclusive 2.5-day photography workshop with talented photographer Martyn Davies! Located in the Ruapehu District on the banks of the Whanganui and Retaruke Rivers, and surrounded by Whanganui National Park, Blue Duck Station is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground.

The station’s core values are to conserve its endangered wildlife, increase the health of native bush and rivers, and preserve the history of the area, while educating visitors about the endangered New Zealand blue duck, other native species and local history. Blue Duck Station boasts an abundance of opportunities for photographers to capture some amazing imagery.

From sunrise at the top of the world, to native wildlife, towering redwood forest, and so much more our photography tours take you to a variety of locations by ATV and jet boat.

The workshop fee of $950 includes 2 nights’ accommodation in bunk room style rooms, share twin (single upgrades are available on request for an extra $110), 2 cooked breakfasts and 2 evening meals, ATV transport around the station and a jet boat ride. Lunches are at your own cost on the on-site café.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, this workshop is a perfect opportunity to enhance your skills while exploring Blue Duck Station’s rugged beauty. Reserve your spot now and don’t miss the chance to see New Zealand’s spring landscapes through your lens!

The workshop will start at 2pm on Thursday September 11th and conclude around 2pm on Saturday 13th September. A medium level of fitness will be required as some walking on tracks will occur.

Once you have registered and paid, you will receive more in depth information on the schedule as well as a recommended gear sheet.

Workshop is limited to 9 people

The Art of Street Photography by Paul Byrne FPSNZ
2025-09-14 15:00 - 16:00
Paul will explain his interpretation of Street Photography, exploring it’s roots in the 1880’s and observing it’s development into photojournalism as camera size, mobility and technologies have improved over the decades. Street photography primarily consists of human interest stories and each image must always contain an element of human activity, even if an actual human is not shown within the frame. The genre requires considerable effort on the part of the photographer who must be able to recognise a scene, anticipate an action and read the unfolding story as it happens. To accomplish this effectively requires photographers to have a comprehensive understanding of their camera settings, speed, agility, persistence and a degree in observational skills! As the renowned street photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson said, “It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head.”

Wild West Coast with Rachel Gillespie
2025-09-19 16:00 - 2025-09-21 15:30
Rachel Gillespie runs an accredited full time Guiding and Tourism Photography Business roaming the length and breadth of the South Island. Born and bred here and with a great passion for landscape photography, she’s the perfect person to guide us through her backyard to more magical locations.

This workshop will be based in Greymouth which is within easy reach of many epic West Coast locations. Our time will be divided between being on-location and Lightroom processing tutorials balanced according to the weather and the preferences of those attending.

We will offer much more than taking you to great locations. Rachel will make each location a teachable moment and offer coaching on settings, techniques and optimising compositions. She will show you to make a great image from a good image and managing dynamic range. Helping you express your emotional connection to the landscape and doing the best possible job of getting it right in camera.

Includes:

Taking you to our favourite secret spots that come from years of exploring and finding awesome compositions in the area

Coaching in mastering your camera settings and finding the best compositions while on location

Teaching you how to use Neutral Density filters (please bring yours if you can)

Teaching you the principles of landscape and aerial photography and techniques to capture epic images

Personal coaching with your gear, making sure you get the best out of it

Post processing tuition, learning to create beautiful images from the images you capture

​The workshop will begin at 4.00 in Greymouth at the St John Community Room for an introduction to the weekend followed by a sunset shoot and end mid-afternoon on Sunday 21st September.

Small Print

Transport, meals and accommodation are not included but we will organise dinners and encourage car pooling. Bring your laptop with Lightroom installed.

Modest fitness required for easy tracks.

Maximum Attendees: 15

FUJIFILM Workshop | Intro to Astro - Theory, Shoot & Editing
2025-10-11 13:30 - 23:00
Join photographers Keith Molloy and JM Beltran for an introductory astro photography workshop in Wellington. Perfect for beginners capturing their first Milky Way shot, or enthusiasts wanting to refine their night sky techniques.

What you’ll experience:

Indoor theory session at Tararua Tramping Club: learn the basics of night sky photography, planning, gear setup, and processing tips.

Fujifilm touch & try: hands-on time with Fujifilm X-Series cameras and fast wide-angle lenses.

Outdoor field shoot at Owhiro Bay: guided practical session under the stars.

Online editing follow-up: post-shoot consultation and editing demo (Lightroom/Photoshop) within the week.

A selection of Fujifilm cameras and lenses will be available for attendees to try out (BYO SD card).

This workshop is open to photographers using all camera brands – bring your own camera.

PSNZ members: use promo code FUJIPSNZ at checkout for a 20% discount

Water and Land Surface and Depth with Peter Rees
2025-10-31 14:00 - 2025-11-02 15:00
A significant percentage of our landscape photography lives are spent dealing with the visual relationship between water and land. Whether it’s the reflective qualities water gives to landscape, the movement of water through or over the landscape or the effects water has on that landscape.This workshop will explore ways of using that relationship to enhance our picture-making. We will explore aspects of reflection movement, shutter speed, long exposures and ICM. Equally as important, in a series of sessions, we will delve into creative post-processing techniques to further enhance the potential of our images.

For nearly 40 years Peter Rees has been engaged in fine art as a painter and photographer, with more than 20 exhibitions and vast experience teaching and leading workshops. He brings a painter’s eye to photography and will offer fresh perspectives on how to render the world around us.

This workshop will be based at Rotorua and showcase the beautiful Lake Tarawera and some of its other most picturesque lakes and water features.

On Friday we will meet at the Cedarwood Lakeside – Motel & Conference Venue 17 Holden Avenue, Rotorua at 2.00 pm for a briefing and proceed to our first location. Dinner will be followed by an inspirational talk by Peter.

On Saturday we will use locations that span the intimate to the epic returning to the Conference Centre late afternoon for a further processing session.

On Sunday we will do one last photoshoot and a session reviewing images in the Conference Centre concluding at around 3.00 pm.

Please note our schedule will be subject to weather.

Small Print: accommodation, meals, drinks and snacks are not included in the cost. Staying at the Cedarwood is recommended and they can provide studios and family units

PSNZ Judge Training Workshop (Online via Zoom)
2025-11-08 09:45 - 2025-11-09 16:00
We’re delighted to invite you to the next PSNZ Judge Training Workshop, taking place via Zoom on Saturday–Sunday, 8–9 November 2025.

This is a wonderful opportunity to step behind the scenes and gain insight into the judge accreditation process—what it takes to become a PSNZ-accredited judge, and what accredited judges look for when evaluating salon entries. You’ll develop the skills to view images critically, provide constructive feedback, and communicate your assessments clearly and confidently.

Led by experienced mentors Neil Gordon APSNZ and Judy Stokes APSNZ, the workshop runs online from 9:45 am (for a 10:00 am start) each day, concluding around 4:00 pm. Over two immersive days you’ll explore judging principles, assessment criteria, and real-world examples—all in a supportive learning environment.

Workshop Details

• Cost:$50 for PSNZ financial members$75 for members of PSNZ-affiliated clubs (non-PSNZ)Free (subject to availability) for currently accredited judges seeking a refresher• Priority: Early registration priority is given to PSNZ members who hold an Honours distinction. If places need to be reallocated, you’ll receive a full refund—though this hasn’t been necessary to date.• Bonus: If you complete the training and subsequently gain accreditation as a judge, you’ll receive a $25 refund upon accreditation.

Spaces are limited to 20 participants—secure your place early.

We’re grateful to Leica NZ for their ongoing support of the PSNZ Judge Training Programme.

Looking ahead, we hope to hold two in-person workshops in 2026—one in the North Island and one in the South Island—plus another Zoom workshop later in the year. More details in due course.

Creative Portraits by Tracey Scott
2025-11-14 15:00 - 2025-11-16 16:30
Capture Enhance Transform

Tracey Scott is a Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand, an Associate of the Federation of International Art Photographers and a Grand Master of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers.

An accredited PSNZ Judge and a NZIPP Judge, she has 6 years’ experience on the PSNZ Honor’s Council and 7 years’ experience on the NZIPP Honor’s Board.

Alongside her Diploma in Fine Arts and her Diploma in Professional Photography Tracey brings 38 years of experience as a full-time photographer.

As a multi-Award-winning Photographer Tracey can bring a wealth of knowledge to this workshop.

In this workshop you will receive valuable lessons on

Modelling, lighting, composition and many in camera techniques combined with Photoshop techniques to unleash your creativity and enable you to find ways to express your true vision through your photography.

The use of natural light and how to make use of locations within an historic villa that deliver your creative vision.

And the potential for introducing additional dimensions through the use of fabrics or other props to create compelling visual effects and how they can enhance the visual story

The workshop will be held at Tracey’s beautiful villa in Rotorua which offers exceptional locations and props for a model shoot.

We will begin at 3.00 pm Friday 14th November at the villa with an introduction, equipment check and a tour of the property. On Saturday we will start at 9.00 am to introduce the models, discuss posing, lighting, backdrops, props, composition and ways of shooting to get variations of effects followed by the model shoots. On Saturday evening there will be a pay yourself dinner. Sunday, from 9.00am to 4.30 pm will be devoted to processing your images under guidance.

Tea and coffee are included but meals and accommodation are not included. There are food, snacks and coffee nearby, however. Please bring your lunch and snacks both days.

Maximum Numbers: 12

Okarito Bird Photography with Leanne Buchan
2025-11-21 16:00 - 2025-11-23 18:00
Join Leanne Buchan at Ōkārito during nesting season to photograph the rare and beautiful Kōtuku and their chicks. The timing has been selected so that the chicks should be big enough to see in the nest.

Leanne is a passionate bird photographer and owner of “Feather in Your Capture”. She loves to share her learnings and assist others to capture some of Aotearoa’s amazing birdlife.

The workshop includes a tour of the Ōkārito Lagoon and a tour of the White Heron Sanctuary. Both tours are dedicated to our group and will only have 8 people per tour to provide us with ample space for big lenses. (The public group sizes are larger and valued at $265 pp)

Ōkārito Eco Tour – experience the unique diversity of New Zealand’s largest wetland aboard the Explorer Douglas which was custom built for the lagoon. Journey through breath-taking landscapes with views of the Southern Alps tallest peaks, glaciers, ancient Kahikatea forest, wetland, ocean and everything in between. Discover and learn about the unique eco system and keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that call this place home!

The White Heron Sanctuary tour includes an informative minibus ride from Whataroa through lush South Westland farmland into the remote Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Entry into the Nature Reserve is permitted through DOC and is only possible on a guided tour.

In the reserve there is a short walk through ancient Kahikatea rainforest to a purpose built viewing hide to observe the magnificent Kotuku, White Heron, in their natural nesting environment. Kotuku Ngutu Papa, the Royal Spoonbill and Kawapaka, the Little Shag also nest in this special area and all can be seen easily from the hide. The preserved rainforest and its surrounds is also home to a great array of other birdlife including, Tui, Bellbird, Wood Pigeon, Fantail, Tomtit, Silver Eye and Grey Warbler.

The workshop will start at 4pm on Friday 21th November and conclude around 4pm on Sunday 23rd November. (Attendees are encouraged to stay longer in this amazing location, those that did after the 2024 workshop had no regrets).

We will be based in the historic Donovan’s Store in Ōkārito where we will come together for evening meals (included in the workshop fee), presentations and editing sessions (if wet). (Donovan’s Store is a much photographed icon as it is the oldest known building on the West Coast). We will split into 2 groups for the tours and the and the bush walks.

There will be an optional sunrise shoot each morning at the lagoon and on Friday and Saturday night after dinner (weather permitting) we will all head to the beach for sunset shoots.

The workshop will finish up on Sunday at approximately 6pm.

Attendees need to book their own accommodation close to Ōkārito; (recommendations will be emailed to those that register); and provide their own breakfasts and lunches. There is one café in Whataroa, The Lonely Stag.

A zoom lens between 400 and 600mm is recommended for this workshop. You will also need a medium level of fitness as some walking on tracks and beaches will occur.

Once you have registered and paid, you will receive more in depth information on the schedule as well as a recommended gear sheet.

Workshop is limited to 13 people

The Magic of Golden Bay with Meghan Maloney
2026-03-06 17:00 - 2026-03-08 12:00
Escape to one of New Zealand’s most magical regions for an immersive photography experience with acclaimed landscape photographer Meghan Maloney.

This exclusive, hands-on workshop is designed to elevate your skills while exploring Golden Bay’s most breathtaking locations — from ethereal forest springs to dramatic coastal vistas.

Whether you’re a newer photographer or already confident behind the camera, Meghan will guide you through composition, light, and creative techniques that will transform the way you capture landscapes.

Workshop HighlightsCapture the beauty of Golden Bay at its best, including:

Riwaka Resurgence

Wharariki Beach – Sunset & Sunrise

Salisbury Falls

Tata Beach – Sunset

Collingwood Beach – Sunrise

A medium level of fitness is required — expect some walking on uneven terrain and a 30-minute section of soft, sloping sand.

Details & Inclusions

Workshop fee: $400

Meals: A mix of cafes, takeaways, and restaurants (pay as you go)

Accommodation: Please book your stay in Collingwood

Transport:

> A Nelson Airport pickup at 10am is available for up to 9 participants> There is at least one direct flight from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch that arrives before 10am> If travelling independently, meet the group at Riwaka Resurgence at 11am> Drive time Nelson → Riwaka is approx. 2 hours 15 minutes> Transport to the various shoot locations will be provided

The workshop concludes at 12pm on Sunday. Those who arrived via the airport shuttle will have a return transfer. Please book outgoing flights after 3.30pm.

Once registered and paid, you’ll receive a full schedule, location details, and a recommended gear guide.

Group Size & Extra Vehicle Needed

Workshop limited to 12 participants

A van will be used for group transport

We also need one additional attendee vehicle to assist with travel to locations

If you can help, please advise Nel after registering (a $100 petrol voucher will be provided)

Register NowLog into the Member’s Area to secure your place in this unforgettable Golden Bay photography adventure.

FujiFilm GFX Mastserclass
2026-03-14 10:00 - 14:30
Join us for a unique opportunity to step into a full-scale studio production featuring top of the industry creatives and equipment.

Fujifilm NZ, in collaboration with Radlab — one of New Zealand’s leading creative agencies specialising in photography, video production, event coverage and brand campaigns invites you inside to join in on a full-scale studio production built to true commercial standards.

Hosted at White Studios, Auckland’s premier studio facility, you’ll step into a live, structured production environment featuring professional lighting, stylist, hair and makeup, assistants, talent, and agency-led creative direction.

As medium format continues to gain momentum in commercial and fashion spaces globally, this session offers a rare opportunity to see how Fujifilm’s GFX system performs in environments where image quality, workflow, and client expectations are uncompromising.

Rather than multiple short sessions, we will build and run two complete studio sets, allowing you to observe, understand and step into the workflow professionals operate within.

You’ll gain insight into:

• How Fujifilm’s GFX system performs in demanding studio and commercial environments

• Medium format depth, tonal precision and detail on set

• Professional lighting design and production pacing

• Real collaboration between the director, photographer, gaffer, stylest and crew

• How GFX files hold up in post-production

• Learn about film and production working with Medium format and Fujifilm X systems.

As part of the session, you will have the opportunity to learn insight into how GFX files perform in real commercial post workflows, from skin detail and colour grading to flexibility in retouching. You’ll see first-hand why medium format files are considered a dream to work with.

Attendees will have the opportunity to handle and shoot with the gear during the session. Each ticket includes a 32GB memory stick so you can take home the images and video content captured on the day.

A complimentary hot drink is included.

Whether you are stepping into commercial work or already operating within it, this is an opportunity to experience a professional production from the inside and understand what defines industry-level execution.

Spaces are limited!

Black and White: The Timeless Aesthetic with Peter Rees
2026-03-20 14:00 - 2026-03-22 15:00
On this course we are going to explore the Karangahake Gorge, in all its glory, through black and white photography. Why black and white? Well there are many reasons but from my teaching perspective the art of picture-making has a clarity and almost surreal power when it comes to dealing with the formal elements of light, form, tone, and composition in the absence of colour. We will look at the way removing colour can provide an artistic freedom in conveying mood through layering, tone, texture and dramatic light.

During the post processing sessions, I will reveal ways of using ‘pools of light’ to further enhance the creative and dramatic possibilities of your images. On how to enhance depth in images through the manipulation of light, contrast and texture. I say this obvious fact so often, the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t exist without the darkness of the tunnel itself. The dramatic effect of a simple pathway or track can be made so much more powerful when you start to apply some basic tonal dynamics to enhance your images. These techniques we will explore in some depth.

With black and white photography you are almost transported to another visual world. We will consider its timeless power and how it will also feed back into all aspects of improving your visual awareness and broader range of photographic skills.

The workshop will be led by Peter Rees. For nearly 40 years he has been engaged in fine art as a painter and photographer, with more than 20 exhibitions and vast experience teaching and leading workshops. He brings a painter’s eye to photography and will offer fresh perspectives on how to render the world around us.

The Workshop is based at the Pedlars Motel in Paeroa where accommodation (twin share) is provided. It will commence at 2.00 pm on Friday 20 March and finish at approximately 3.00 pm on Sunday 22 March. This is very close to our key locations in the Karangahake Gorge.

Health and Safety: We will be accessing the tracks in the Karangahake Gorge area. These are relatively level and well formed with some steps where the tracks change level. No long walks are involved. There is a swing bridge from the main car park at the Gorge to the river and tracks. The access way to the Owharoa Falls could be slippery after wet weather.

Small Print: Accommodation provided is twin share, two per room, segregated sexes. All meals, snacks and water are to your account. We will have a pay your own way dinner on Saturday night and will facilitate a joint dinner on Friday night.

Maximum: 12 participants
