The Hawkdun Range at Twilight - By Todd Sisson

Central Otago boasts one of New Zealand's most recognizable and evocative landscapes.  

Central's under-stated visual energy, diversity and vast open expanses make it one of the most photogenic destinations in the country.

Acclaimed professional landscape photographer Todd Sisson is running two winter landscape photography workshops, in conjunction with Hawkdun Lodge, Ranfurly, on 3-5 August and 10-12 August  During these immersive workshops Todd will teach the technique, vision and ethos that underpins the art of landscape photography. 

Places are very, very, limited  Book Now

For Full Course Information Click Here

To view more of our Central Otago images Click Here

A Message From Workshop Instructor, Todd Sisson

Landscape photography is an art-form that often appears to be shrouded in a veil of mystique and seemingly practised by those with a mastery of the dark arts.  Learning how to balance the technical and creative aspects of landscape photography can be a painfully slow process.  

I know this because back in the the 1990's I shredded absurd quantities of cash buying film and equipment in the vain hope that I would create great images by adopting a blunt-force-trauma approach to landscape photography.  After 9 months of shooting everything that didn't move in Western Canada (home at the time) I had exactly two photos that I thought were of a publishable quality.  I was pretty happy with my progress at the time.

I probably would have persisted in this approach for many years if it were not for divine intervention of the spousal variety.  My wife, Sarah, booked us on a two day group course with a prominent photographer.  I was, of course, upset at the idea of 'throwing away' the equivalent of 40 rolls of film on a course, but I relinquished and went along for the ride to Seattle.

It is hard to explain the breakthroughs that I experienced in that two day period - truly the veil was lifted from my eyes.  I learned to see as a photographer.

The good news for you is that I am no boy-genius, I am not even an idiot-savant, I am just a person who loves to see the natural world around me translated into the photographic medium.  I also happen to learn very rapidly from direct, practical interaction.

As a teacher, I enjoy sharing all of the core truths that I have learned about landscape photography over the years - I get a real buzz from seeing 'the penny drop' for a student.  I also, without fail, learn a lot from my students.

I hope you will join me on one of the Central Otago Winter Landscape Workshops - they promise to be a fun-filled learning experience that will enhance your photography for years to come.

Cheers - Todd

Falls Dam at Sunset By Sarah Sisson