Please note that all workshops under the PSNZ Workshop Series are only available to PSNZ Members. If you wish to attend a workshop, but are not a member of PSNZ, you can join us by completing our online application form.
Please remember to read our Cancellation Policy, below.
Mushroom Macro Masterclass

5 June 2026 @ 3:00 PM – 7 June 2026 @ 1:00 PM
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.
Topics covered will be:
- Gear
- Focus brackets and stacking using Helicon (essential for superb mushroom images) including tabletop practise
- Prepping mushrooms for photography
- Lighting
- Photoshoots in the beautiful bush around St Arnaud over the weekend.
Rebecca Bowater is a botanist and wildlife photographer based in Nelson and author or several books including “New Zealand Fungi.” Jo Southgate is a very talented mushroom photographer based in Blenheim. Both are very familiar with the St Arnaud area and look forward to sharing their knowledge and experience with you.
The workshop will begin at 3.00pm on 5th June at the Rotoiti Outdoor Education Centre, St Annaud and end after the second field trip midafternoon on Sunday.
Accommodation is provided on a shared basis (segregated) but there will be ample room to spread out as the centre offers eight rooms that can accommodate 66 persons in total. Typically we will have two per room. There is one male bathroom and one female bathroom. If you wish you can make your own arrangements but we regret we cannot offer a discount on the room cost if you do.
Small Print
Meals, drinks and snacks are not included in the price. You will need to bring your camera, a macro lens, tripod and your laptop with Helicon installed (you can download a free version that works for 30 days). Please also bring all toiletries such as shower soap etc.
PSNZ Cancellation Policy
Due to the nature of the PSNZ Workshop Series and that the workshops are generally for small groups and often over-subscribed, cancellations can have a significant financial and attendance effect on the workshop, as well as creating a lot of further administration work.
Although we do everything possible to ensure our workshops proceed, sometimes there are things beyond our control. We strongly advise members to take out the low-cost travel insurance ($20) that Air NZ offer to cover non-cancellable costs such as airfares and accommodation) or to use motels that don’t require advance payment.
- PSNZ reserves the right to postpone or cancel a workshop due unforeseen circumstances e.g. facilitator illness, venue access issues, etc. In the event we do cancel a planned workshop, we will attempt to inform attendees as soon as possible and in most cases you will be given an alternative date to attend or provided with a full refund of the workshop costs.
- If a workshop is postponed, the first right of refusal will be given to those who were already booked on that workshop for the rescheduled workshop.
- Should a workshop fail to attract a required minimum number of attendees to make it viable to run, PSNZ reserves the right to cancel the workshop.
- PSNZ will not accept responsibility for travel and accommodation costs incurred by attendees.
- Attendees booked for in-person workshops may cancel their booking if they give 60 days’ notice prior to the commencement of their workshop and receive a full refund less a $20 administration fee; or where less than 60 days notice is given then we will do our best to fill your place from the waitlist. If we are able to do this, we will refund your fee less a $20 administration fee. Otherwise no refund will be made.
- FOR ONLINE WORKSHOPS – Your registration is final and no refunds will be made unless the workshop cannot proceed.
