Date: 22nd - 26th June 2025

For the past few years Peter Eastway and myself (Len Metcalf) have been running a workshop on the south coast of NSW, and for 2025 we thought we’d take you somewhere different. Whilst sticking to a favourite genre for us both, seascapes.

One of the things about seascape photography is having plenty of interest, and the Great Ocean Road doesn’t fall short on that account. So many incredible rock features to include in our work. It was on one of my workshops that I was running there where I identified one of my motifs was singular rocks in the ocean. With the help of the student group, not only did I first see it in my work, I also started to narrow it down, and even title it. Monumental Monoliths became my working title.

For the Great Ocean Road is full of them, Monumental Monoliths. Actually there is a whole Bay of Islands. There are so many great locations we don’t have to go back to the same place twice. Though we might go back to a favourite, as revisiting a spot always seems to provide inspiration to step beyond the obvious and find the more unique gems.

Peter and I love this workshop, because we both get to learn and be inspired from each other. We also get so much from the others in the workshop. Peter throws into his car an Epson printer and a few boxes of paper, so we can each leave the workshop with finished prints.

Our typical day goes something like this: get up way too early, and be standing somewhere beautiful as sunrise bathes the coast in golden light. Stay there for awhile and photograph the spot extensively. Wander around about too. We then head for a full breakfast before heading to the classroom, for presentations from us both. We stop for a sumptuous hot lunch, and then take time to review, process and print our work. Len and Peter are there to help you, guide you, and inspire you. We will even show you how we would process the work too. Once it is on the walls, we gather for a whole group critique. This is often where I learn the most. Hearing what's working, and suggestions for changes or processing. Seeing what the other photographers have done at the same spot I find incredibly inspiring and educational.

We inevitably head out again, and are by the majestic coast for our afternoon shoot, timed to catch the sun heading down. Dinner follows, and most of us head to bed early to rinse and repeat the next day.

Our goal is to inspire you to explore and develop your photographic and creative practice, to expand your vision and see new and different ways of photographing. To develop your processing skills, and most importantly to get the images out of the computer and onto exhibition quality paper. What an amazing reward, to come home with prints you can frame and hang at home.

It's through these workshops that my friendship with Peter has grown. My photography has grown too, my skills processing and understanding deep technical issues better as well. Peter is a powerhouse of knowledge as you know. Peter gets a lot from the workshop too. He has messaged me, telling me he’s channelling me. I blush, and smile. I notice he listens harder to what I teach these days too.

Despite Peter and I seemingly being at opposite ends of the spectrum of photographers, we are so often in alignment with our teaching. At this workshop you get to hear, and see both sides. You will also get to laugh, for I am so often in stitches when I am with Peter.

I hope to see you there!

Full details on the Better Photography website, click here.