Brian’s workshops
I’ve been visiting - and photographing - Venice for a long time and can promise you an immersive, in-depth experience. Together we’ll explore the real, hidden Venice away from the tourists and into the area where the locals live, work and play. My Venice workshops combine street shooting with elements of documentary and travel photography, with expert guidance all the way.
You’ll experience this ancient, unique and charismatic photographers’ paradise with a professional documentary and street photographer. Venice provides a wealth of photographic opportunities for photographers in stunningly beautiful surroundings which are greatly enhanced by the ever changing light.
For the observational street photographer there’s no lack of ‘the unusual in the usual’. Overlay that with characterful and interesting locals, daft tourist behaviour and a radically different way of living and you have all the ingredients for creating compelling and engaging images.
You will be in a small group (maximum of 6 participants) and there will be ample opportunity for one-to-one discussion, tuition and mentoring.
The three variations of my Venice photography workshops each provide a different learning experience: they could include elements of street photography, fine art photography, documentary photography and monochrome shooting; we will work on techniques for exposure, focusing and composition; you’ll learn how to spot an opportunity for a unique picture, being trained to find ‘the unusual in the usual’; you’ll discover how work with great light and become a master of it; I’ll help you build your confidence as a street photographer. Most of all, you will discover new ways of telling the story of your travels through stylish and distinctive images. We will be doing lots of structured shooting and you will receive lots of coaching, mentoring and technical guidance from me.
Your workshop will be immersive, inspiring and great fun. The experience will challenge you, stretch you and will elevate your photography.
How to book:
Please follow the booking links below, which will take you to my StreetSnappers website. Booking a workshop is easy and secure and will take just a few moments.
MONOCHROME MASTERCLASS
£875 (3 days)
Learn the art of monochrome street photography against a backdrop full of mystery and intrigue. There’s no place quite like Venice in the winter months; most of the tourists have gone home and the city returns to its ‘real life’ state. Think fog, dark, mysterious alleys, cloaked characters and . . . more fog! It’s all so photogenic.
We’ll be shooting stylised, conceptual and abstract images based on classic Venetian iconography with all its shapes, textures and contrast.
You’ll be encouraged to work on a personal project (with full support from Brian) and you should aim to produce a book or zine as a record of your time in Venice.
This workshop takes place over 3 full days; we will meet for a light, relaxing supper on the evening before the first workshop day (optional).
We will aim to visit each of the sestiere (districts) of the city, each of which has a distinctive feel and its own special photo opportunities. We will shoot the sunrise and the sunset (weather conditions permitting) and and will include some shooting in the hours of darkness. You will learn how to . . .
Develop your own style as a photographer and how to conceive and undertake artistic projects
Produce a cohesive and meaningful body of work rather than random ‘tourist’ shots
Learn how to ‘see’ in black & white, using contrast and tone
Use black & white to emphasise, form and texture in your images
Discover real photographic potential in otherwise ‘ordinary’ scenes; find beauty in the mundane
Use creative techniques for exposure, focus and composition
Become invisible and shoot your environment quietly and unobtrusively
Build your confidence and conquer your fear of street shooting
Shoot striking abstracts
Understand and work with great light
Develop a compelling narrative for your work
Workshop dates:
17-18-19 November 2023 - FULLY BOOKED
22-23-24 November 2023 - FULLY BOOKED
17-18-19 January 2024 - FULLY BOOKED
November 2024 - PLACES AVAILABLE
January 2025 - PLACES AVAILABLE
To book a place on this workshop please click the link below, which will take you to the booking area on Brian’s StreetSnappers website.
VENICE STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
£875 (3 days)
For the street photographer, whether your approach is observational, documentary or ‘fine art’, there is no city quite like Venice; the city provides us with outstanding opportunities to create original, engaging, and compelling imagery and it’s the perfect place to develop your street photography techniques.
We will explore the ‘less trodden’ Venice, taking in the sights and sounds of this most charismatic of cities well off the beaten track. Working in a small group, you will discover the city’s photographic ‘hot spots’ and learn how to shoot striking, compelling and engaging images with a professional street and documentary photographer. We will aim to visit each of the sestiere (districts) of the city, each of which has a distinctive feel and its own special photo opportunities. You will learn how to . . .
Find your photographic ‘voice’ and learn how to develop projects
Use creative techniques for exposure, focus and composition
Become invisible and shoot your environment quietly and unobtrusively
Maximise the potential of your camera when photographing buildings and urban landscapes
Conquer your fear of photographing strangers and build your confidence
Spot opportunities in everyday scenes; find beauty in the mundane
Shoot striking abstracts
Understand and work with great light
Tell the story of your travels through striking images
Workshop dates:
March 2024 - PLACES AVAILABLE
November 2024 - PLACES AVAILABLE
To book a place on this workshop please click the link below, which will take you to the booking area on Brian’s StreetSnappers website.
VENICE CARNIVAL
£875 (3 days)
‘Carnevale’ is a uniquely Venetian experience not to be missed and is a truly mouthwatering experience for street photographers! Venice is February is dark, mysterious and usually misty - giving us the most fabulous layered backdrops.
This Venice street photography workshop is project-focused, with the emphasis on the carnival; it will combine elements of street, documentary and travel photography, with an emphasis on producing creative images which reflect real life in this wonderful city. You will discover new ways of telling the story of your travels through great images. There will be lots of structured shooting and you will receive coaching, mentoring and constant feedback from your course leader, Brian Lloyd Duckett.
As well as documenting the colourful carnival, we will explore the ‘less trodden’ Venice away from the tourists, taking in the sights and sounds of this most charismatic of cities well off the beaten track. In a small group (maximum of 6 participants), you will discover the city’s photographic ‘hot spots’ and learn how to shoot striking, compelling and witty images with a professional street photographer and photojournalist.
To book a place on this workshop please click the link below, which will take you to the booking area on Brian’s StreetSnappers website.
the 4-day Travelsnappers workshop
£1895 (4 days - includes 5 nights in hotel)
This workshop is run in collaboration with top travel and landscape photographer, Chris Upton. The workshop lasts for 4 full days and the cost includes 5 nights accommodation in the lovely Hotel Ala.
You will alternate your days with me and Chris, exploring approaches to street, travel, landscape and documentary photography.
You will be in a small group (maximum of 10 participants but split into groups of 5) so there will be ample opportunity for one-to-one discussion, tuition and mentoring; you’ll never be in a group larger than 5 participants. Your workshop will be immersive, inspiring and great fun. The experience will challenge you, stretch you and will elevate your photography.
We will work on techniques for exposure, focusing and composition; learn how to spot an opportunity for a unique picture; discover how to work with great light and become a master of it; build your confidence as a street photographer; perfect your digital workflow.
We will also cover use of filters, long exposure, blue hour, sunrise and sunset photography as well as creative techniques such as ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) and multiple exposure. Most of all, you will discover new ways of telling the story of your travels through great images. Weather permitting, there will be at least one stunning sunrise and sunset to shoot and we’ll be visiting some stunning photogenic locations.
We will be doing lots of structured shooting and you will receive coaching, mentoring and constant feedback from your course leaders, Brian Lloyd Duckett and Chris Upton.
We stay together in a lovely hotel in the San Marco area: 5 nights accommodation is included in the workshop cost (double en-suite room for single occupancy and full breakfast included)
Workshop dates:
20-21-22-23 February 2024 - PLACES AVAILABLE
→ Visit the TravelSnappers website for more info
