Van life and Photography - Like Peas and Carrots
Van life and Photography go together like peas and carrots. I heard this expression in the Tom Hanks-starred movie Forest Gump, and it’s always made sense to me. I take my interest in vans and photography from my Father, although I’m trying to take the latter to the next level. There is no doubt that having the kit will only get you so far, so after the last kit upgrade, I decided to concentrate now on educating myself, personal development we used to call it, although I suspect that terminology will have changed as it does with the wind these days. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not adopting the stance of many online trainers that we don’t need good kit; I’m always amused as when they make this claim, they're usually clasping the latest in digital photography as they say these words. Good kit is always worth having, but it’s important I think to make both improvements in equipment and knowledge. So this month I’m jumping into the learning, not just informal on YouTube which has great options, but attending a workshop on the Norfolk Coast and then later a Leica Workshop in London. The former is to develop long exposure photography skills as well as practicing exposure bracketing and focus stacking on my new camera. That’s the last I’ll mention of anything technical; that’s not the purpose of this blog, which is to show you how good it is to attend a workshop on the North Norfolk Coast.
After a hearty breakfast from our local butcher, who redeemed himself in my eyes after initially mistaking me for someone who would like Pork Sausages with apricots and raspberries, is there no end to this nonsense? The disdain in my expression must have been evident, as he quickly offered me the full meat option. With a flick of the wrist, they were in the pan, consumed without leftovers , and both my camera bag and I were in the car, heading for the coast.
The workshop was being run by Through the Lens Workshops, a Norfolk-based operation that runs workshops in different parts of the UK, as well as Norfolk and Suffolk. It’s worth checking their website to see if a workshop coincides with your visit to Norfolk, or even build a trip around a workshop, you’ll see some incredible locations.
The website address for more information is https://www.throughthelensworkshops.co.uk/ .
It’s January 20th, 2024, so I’m dressed like Scott of the Antarctic, with wellies on my feet as I set off from the car park to meet my cohorts. It was cold to be sure.
I have taken part in a couple of the workshops run by these guys; they are always enjoyable, and there are always some nuggets of information that I come away with. I also like that they seem to attract nice people who are good to be with — a healthy mixture of men and women if that’s important to you — and an easy style is employed by the group mentors. Their strap line says the workshops are - ‘Friendly, affordable and fun. But highly professional’ . All true in my opinion having been to half a dozen or so now.
The workshop operated over 5 hours at three incredible locations, where we would find boats of varying sizes and conditions of distress, which would make great subjects in backgrounds of interesting composition.
The three locations were Morston Quay (National Trust), Burnham Overy Staithe (where Nelson learned to sail), and latterly Brancaster Staithe. If you’re wondering what the word 'Staithe' means, 'Staithe' is a term often used in Norfolk and Suffolk and refers to a landing place or wharf on a river or other body of water, typically one that is used for loading and unloading boats. These areas have often been historically important for trade and transportation along the waterways.
I captured numerous images, and if you're interested in seeing more, you can find the complete set at this link.https://www.behance.net/gallery/189486947/2024-Norfolk-Boat-Workshop .
One observation that struck me was how well these workshops align with van trips. There are plenty of places to camp and park nearby, and we have a Norfolk playlist on our YouTube Channel, accessible through this link, in case you are interested in exploring further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvW_3tXNyKU&list=PLC2jH-VZseW59inIzuhMBhSVe_hpHFYcV
Thanks for reading,
Helen and Martin
