For this photo workshop we are going to one of my favorite coastal areas. Between Scheveningen and the Wassenaarse Slag lies the Meijendel water extraction area, a vast dune area of over 1,860 ha. The Wassenaarse Slag forms the border between Meijendel and the more northern Berkheide. Together, both areas form the largest continuous dune area in South Holland and have been designated as a Natura 2000 area. Meijendel has its charms during every season, so you can actually go here all year round. For macro photography, mid-May to the end of October is actually the best time. But not only nature on the square centimeter is interesting. Special birds in the area include the black-eared grebe, bluethroat, bittern and little bittern. Meijendel is also very rich in game; roe deer, foxes and some fallow deer live there.

A large part of Meijendel is closed to the public and we cannot just leave the paths everywhere. But the area opened up is interesting enough for our photography. Meijendel is one of the top 10 best bird areas in the Netherlands with 250 species, of which more than 90 species actually breed in the area. Furthermore, 34 species of dragonflies have been observed and various types of orchids bloom in the moist dune valleys.

During this photo workshop we will mainly enjoy ourselves in the area with our macro lenses. The numbers of topics are endless; dragonflies, grasshoppers, sand lizards, tree frogs, butterflies, sandpit beetles and hoverflies. And of course there are also the plants that grow in the humid dune valleys. The area is therefore ideal for strolling through. We will have to be careful not to stay in one place because there is so much to photograph!

The workshop is suitable for photographers of all levels and, in addition to the technical side of (macro) photography, we will also discuss the art of looking. The composition and your point of view in relation to your subject is often the basis for a less or more successful photo.
Mike is bringing a so-called field monitor especially for this workshop. In this way, everyone can watch how an image is created and what influence the adjustment of variables such as aperture, exposure and composition have.

Keep in mind that we have a brisk walk through the dunes.

Program:

After a short introduction while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea with a savory snack, we leave for the dune area from the parking lot of the De Tapuit visitor center. The week prior to this photo workshop I will have visited the area a few times and based on my experiences we will look for suitable subjects. We focus on good technique, tight compositions and for the advanced photographers we will work with creativity to make special photos of everyday subjects.

What comes first is enjoying your surroundings, being inspired by our subjects and each other, but also having fun with our beautiful hobby; photography. The student is expected to have a pro-active attitude, so that there is good interaction between the student and workshop leader and the group as a whole. This way you get the best return from this exciting photo evening at one of the most varied stretches of beach in the Netherlands.

Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Location: Visitor center De Tapuit in Meijendel
Number of participants: maximum 8
Level: novice and experienced photographers
Inclusive: snack break and mineral water
Time: van 05:00 - 10:30.
Supplies: a digital (SLR) camera, macro lens or your current set of lenses with extension rings, tripod