Introductory photography holiday, vacation, workshop, course, in France

You can learn about becoming a better photographer from books, or by searching the internet, but nothing compares with working hands-on with an experienced professional photographer, like Peter Evans. You'll receive individual attention from Pete, tailored to your knowledge and ability.

During your time with us you'll learn (or revise) the basic principles of photography to ensure that you understand fully how your camera works. You'll learn too the techniques required for shooting digital photographs successfully. You'll also be encouraged to think and see creatively, with particular emphasis on composition, light, shape, colour and form. Finally, you'll learn the importance of 'post-processing' your images on your computer and how to do this properly, using simple techniques.

In short, having understood fully how to control your camera, you'll learn how to make it do what you want in order to become a creative artist (and so dramatically increase the percentage of photographs you take that you'll want to keep). And you'll have a lot of fun doing it too!

A typical week might look like the schedule below. Note, however, that the schedule is flexible and will always be dictated by weather conditions / local events / etc

Sunday
This is a free day (see our FAQs) so you can relax by the pool and recover from your journey, or go for a walk along the Canal Latéral which is just 700 metres away from us - maybe take a coffee at la Halte Nautique. Then on the way back, stop off at the ruined church of St. Juin, which is just across the road from the house. But whatever you do, be sure to be back in time for Jill's delicious lunch and a glass or few of nice cold rosé!

Over lunch and in the afternoon, we'll discuss our mutual passion and the week ahead. Then, in the evening, it's a two minute drive down to the Halte Nautique for our evening meal, alongside the beautiful canal.

Monday
We talk about the vital importance of composition, then get to work, travelling to the Lot-et Garonne's second largest town, Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

Here, we'll make sure we're all singing from the same hymn sheet, and then set out to produce an image suitable for use on the cover of the town's tourist brochure.

That done, we'll head up to Pujols, officially one of France's prettiest villages. After a nice tranquil picnic lunch, we'll turn for home, stopping off at several more locations with great photo opportunities.

Tuesday
Out and about again, shooting various photogenic villages, including southwest France's only mediaeval bastide village with all four of its gate towers still in place.

After a picnic on the banks of the river Baiise, we'll photograph an early 19thC suspension toll bridge before heading off to capture some landscapes, a chateau and a vineyard.

Then back home to review some images and discuss the techniques of computer processing including a demonstration of what can be achieved by working with RAW files against working only with JPGs.

Wednesday
Today we set off with the painters, but leave them to do some sketching whilst we shoot some street photography at the beautiful, tree-shaded market in Lavardac.

This is followed by a visit to the Moulin des Tours d' Henri IV and the Roman bridge at Barbaste.

After lunch we leave the painters to do their thing and go on down to Nérac, birthplace of Henry IV of France, to photograph the old town, the river Baiise, and the chateau.

Thursday
Pete often likes to keep this day for doing things 'off the cuff', depending on who's in the group and how everyone is doing.

Of course, there's always the possibility of a trip on the Garonne (if everyone is in agreement). Our good friends, Yannick and Noel, offer low-cost boat trips subsidised by our local Mairie.