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.
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.
In the autumn, the sea buckthorn turns the slopes orange because the berries ripen, they are ripe just at the time when thousands of thrushes and other songbirds pass the dunes on their way to their wintering grounds.

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 photograph the area from a wide angle. You can get started with both your regular lenses and your macro lens. The subjects in Meijendel are endless; Dusty dunes, insects, tree frogs, plants, water features and the beach. 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 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.
Keep in mind that we have a brisk walk through the dunes; afterwards we will have walked about 6 kilometers.

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. In the weeks leading up 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.

Intensive support

What comes first at Photo United 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 day at one of the most varied parts of the dune area in the Netherlands.

Location: Visitor center De Tapuit in Meijendel
Workshop leader: Mike Muizebelt
Number of participants: maximum 8
Level: novice and experienced photographers
Inclusive: snack break and mineral water
Time: van 07:00 ± 12:00.
Supplies: a digital (SLR) camera, macro lens or your current set of lenses with extension rings, tripod