Winter in the Peak District (14th February 2026)

Description

Winter is my favourite time in the Peak District! It completely transforms the landscape, offering the potential for stunning heavy frosts or even snow. The lower winter sun often provides good, diffused light all day, meaning you can capture beautiful scenes without strictly relying on golden hour. We will leverage this unique light to create impactful imagery from when we meet until sunset.

Our Flexible Photographic Journey

We will stay flexible with our locations, allowing us to chase the best weather and light. We’ll meet in Buxton at 09:45 AM at a convenient location with good parking and signal. After a quick chat about the day, we will head where the weather looks most promising.

• Potential Start Locations (Waterfalls):
  • Three Shires Head: A beautiful packhorse bridge and waterfall, just 15 minutes away, perfect for long exposure practice.
  • Tufa Weir at Lathkill Dale: If the weather looks better to the east, we can head here.
  • Starting at a waterfall is a great way to ease into the day, get to know each other, and practice the basics like filter usage.
• Grand Landscapes & Vistas:
  • We will then move on to more sweeping, grand vistas, aiming to capture stunning views without excessive physical effort.
  • Hitter Hill: An excellent sunset spot that offers one of the best views in the Peak District, with perfect side lighting on Chrome and Parkhouse Hill. It’s less than a 10-minute walk across fields!
  • I will be your guide, using my in-depth local knowledge to get us to the best spots for the given conditions.

What to Expect and Learn

• Technical and Creative Guidance: I will be on hand all day to provide expert, personalised tuition, helping you refine your skills. We will cover:
  • Composition: Mastering the arrangement of elements for visually compelling images.
  • Focusing: Ensuring your subjects are tack-sharp.
  • Tripod Usage: Achieving stability and image quality.
  • Filters vs. Exposure Blending: Exploring techniques for managing dynamic range and creative effects.
  • Working with Light: Understanding how to use the specific qualities of winter light to enhance mood.
  • I am happy to discuss other, more advanced techniques on a 1-2-1 basis as needed.
• Relaxed and Supportive Environment: I foster a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where you can feel comfortable experimenting, asking questions, and sharing your passion.
• Kit and Equipment Provided:
  • I have four sets of Maven Filters available for the group to use (enough for a set per person). This is ideal whether you are new to filters or looking to test an upgrade.
  • I will also have spare tripods available for use.
• Weather Adaptability:
  • Don’t worry about poor weather! Unless it’s torrential all day, I have plenty of locations that suit a variety of conditions (e.g., waterfalls are brilliant on overcast days).
  • I am well adapted to using forecasts, webcams, and local knowledge to chase the light to ensure we make the most of the day, even if the itinerary needs to change.
  • The day is designed to build your skills up until sunset, so you will take away new knowledge even if the ‘perfect’ sunset eludes us.

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Itinerary & Practical Details

• 09:45 AM: Meet and greet in Buxton. Review the day’s plan based on the weather.
• Daytime: Explore various Peak District locations, focusing on waterfalls and then grander vistas.
• ~13:45 PM: Lunch break at a local café. If time allows, we will look at our images and discuss basic post-processing techniques in Adobe Lightroom.
• Up until Sunset: Continue shooting, working towards the sunset location (e.g., Hitter Hill).
• ~17:45 PM: Workshop concludes after sunset.

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Additional Information

• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate. Involves moderate walking on varied terrain. Be aware that winter ground conditions (mud, potential snow) can make walking harder, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.
• Group Size: Maximum 4 participants for a personalised learning experience and plenty of 1-2-1 time.
• Included: Expert tuition, full day of guidance, use of filters/tripods (if needed), kit list, and a pre-workshop questionnaire.
• Booking and Payment: A £40 deposit is required to secure your place, with the full balance due no later than 6 weeks before the workshop.
• Client Area: You will gain access to my Facebook client area to share images, ask follow-up questions, and connect with fellow attendees.

Ready to capture the dramatic beauty of the Peak District’s winter landscape?