I've just put up a two minute video of the photographers enjoying a couple of the varied subjects we cover on our Photography Holidays in Menorca

The video also shows the photographers enjoying a glass of cave during their Welcome drinks party in the poolside bar at the Hotel S'Algar.

And what about that flashy video intro!! It was done by one of the photographers John Proud – thank you John. I haven't a clue what the wavy black side borders are about – You Tube seems to have done that. Very odd. 

As you can see, the location of our hotel is fabulous – that's no idle boast. It's a simple fact. For the wide variety of subjects we cover during these Photography Holidays, Menorca is without doubt the perfect training ground.

All the photographers on a our latest holidays commented how relaxed and easy it was to enjoy Street Photography without the awful hassle photographers are subject to in Britain these days.

Here things are different – people welcome photographers and are mostly happy to be photographed – only the Brits ever object. The Menorcans are just as likely to invite photographers into their homes and offer them a drink. It's a much more laid back and sensible way of life.

Find out more about these Photography Holidays in Menorca

Today is the last day of our Photography Holiday here in Menorca.

It is the photographers’ ‘free’ day and most of them are off shopping to the main town of Mahon. Others are going back to some of the locations we have photographed during the week – because they found them so interesting and feel they have to return for more pictures.

Photography underground – Mary takes pictures in one of the fabulous underground tunnels at La Mola – a favourite location on our Photography Holidays. Photograph by Philip Dunn using a Fuji X-Pro1 at ISO 6400 1/15sec f/3.2. Yes, it's dark down there

One photographer is even taking up our special offer of a discount on a first diving lesson at the nearby diving school this morning.

Tomorrow most of the photographers head home, but I few are staying on for extra days of relaxation – not a bad idea as the weather here is glorious.

Left: Photographer Christine Looms tries learns how to dive in Menorca

It’s at this stage of these Photography Holidays that Norene and I look at the photographers in the group – now sun-tanned and looking very different from the sun-starved folk who arrived here last week – and see them as friends rather than clients.

We’ve shared an awful lot of laughs during the week – and an awful lot of photography.

Photographers check their images during the Trotting Races they covered in Menorca. Some brilliant pctures were captured during the races – including this one. Photograph by John Proud

During the week we have covered a bewildering range of subjects and the photographers have been taken well out of their 'comfort zone'. The locations have presented tremendous challenges… everything from capturing the moment a canon was fired during a historic re-enactment, to working in almost total darkness in the underground tunnels of an old fort.

Big Bang! The moment a canon is fired was captured perfectly by Campbell during a re-enactment of the historic British handover of Menorca. Photograph by Campbell More

The photographers have all risen to the challenge and looked for more.

Tonight after dinner it’s cava and the presentation of our coveted ‘Light Monkey Awards’.

I'm going to have to liw down in a darkened room to come to a decision about who should receive them. One thing is certain – there will be a lot more laughs this evening.

There are still a few places available for the Photography Holiday here in Menorca next September – don't miss your chance to join us.

Find out more about Photography Holidays in Menorca

This morning has been a portraiture day for the photographers on our Photography Holiday in Menorca.

First visit was to our dear friend Pedro the gardener.

What a star Pedro is – he's so patient with the photographers as they try to get to grips with the art of photographing complete strangers.

Left: A portrait of Pedro the gardener taken this morning. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Not all Expert Photographers
I am very aware that not all the photographers who come on these Photograpy Holidays are experienced – we certainly have some novices with us this week, but it's not taking them long to relax and enjoy all the various aspects of photography we cover during the week. They are learning more every day, and the more experienced members of the group always seem to help – which in turn helps them understand more about their own photography.

But I've written before about the amount of sharing and the great atmosphere of these holidays – it's something about which I am very proud.

After photographing Pedro the gardener this morning, we went on to photograph andother Pedro – Pedro the arader – in his workshop.

Photographers had a wonderful time taking pictures of Pedro the Arader – a wordworking craftsman – in his workshop this morning. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Pedro the Craftsman
This Pedro is a craftsman woodworker who specialises in making the wonderful farm gates to be seen all ove the island. These gates are unique to Menorca and Pedro is the only craftsman still making them.

Left: Another picture from this morning's portrait session – this time of Pedro the craftsman at work. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Once again the photographers were presented with challenging photographic situations. Interior lighting coming in through the doors and windows of the workshop can be very  difficult to meter and exposures are not straightforward.

I'll be looking at the photographers' pictures later this afernoon so I will be able to see how they got on, but from what I have seen of their work so far they all seem to have captured some really excellent pictures.

Mixed Light Photography Tonight
Tonight we are off to take picture at dusk – we will be capturing the magic of mixed light.

That means we will be working with the high temperature of twilight and mixing it with the lower temperature light of tungsten lighting.

We'll be doing this in a small and very pretty harbour not too far from the Hotel S'Algar, so we should be able to find lots of reflections in the water to double the value of any colours.

Street Photography Tomorrow
Tomorrow we are off to the fabulous old town of Ciutedella – there we'll be focusing of Street Photography, architecture and people – and stopping off for a wonderful lunch, of course.

So with so much variety in the subjects we cover during these holidays, it's hardly surprising that I can boast the Menorca is the finest training ground for photographers in the world.

Find out more about these Photography Holidays in Menorca

There are ten keen photographers with me in Menorca for their Photography Holiday right now.

Keen as mustard all of them.

We started on Friday and it’s been non-stop so far. But they do have Sunday afternoon to themselves – until 6pm when we are off to photograph the little white village of Binibecca.

Last night we went to the trotting races in Mahon – always a great favourite because of the atmosphere and the fantastic picture opportunities. There’s nothing like giving the photographers a challenge right at the start of their photography holiday and he trotting races really are challenging.

Photo opportunities abound for the photographers when we take them to the horse trotting races in Mahon during their Photography Holiday in Menorca. Photograph by Philip Dunn

But, as always, the photographers came up trumps and even the relative novices in the group produced some great pictures of the racing and the action in the stables.

This morning it was off to Es Castell to photograph a re-enactment of the British handover of Menorca to Spain – all a bit twee, but once again an event offering tremendous picture opportunities for those prepared to look.

The weather is glorious and two of the non-participants who are here with photographers to enjoy a well-earned rest, have already caught the sun a little more than they should by sitting by the pool. Who can blame them after the winter and spring we’ve had back home in Britain.

There are just a few places still available on the September Photography Holiday in Menorca

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS

We are all ready to welcome another group of photographers to Menorca for their Photography Holiday starting on Friday.

Good weather is booked and the sun is shining.

I have not been idle since the last holiday finished a couple of weeks ago.

Since childhood I have had a keen, but largely unfulfilled interest in birdwatching. The birdlife of Menorca is outstanding not only for its wide variety but its abundance.

This is partly due to Menorca being slap in the middle of the Mediterranean where it is a convenient stop-over for migrating birds heading between Europe and Africa.

Another reason is the wonderful variety of habitats on the island. Here there is everything from wetlands and salt marshes to flower meadows and limestone caves.

So, Menorca is a tremendous place to indulge an interest in birdwatching and next year we will be running a Birdwatching Holiday in Menorca.

Left: the splendidly silly-looking Hoopoe is a common bird in Menorca. Photograph by Joan Florit

We will be co-operating with professional ornithologist Javiez Méndez, who will be leading the tours. There’s not a person in the Balearics who knows more about Menorca’s migratory and resident birds. He was born and bred in Menorca and knows it intimately… and he knows exactly where to find the most interesting and rarest birds.

Birdwatching with a professional
I was out birdwatching with Javiez recently and it was a very special experience – a saw a very wide variety of birds I have never seen before – and some very special secret locations, too.

Of course, the overlap with Photography Holidays and Birdwatching Holidays has not escaped me.

Fuji X-Pro1
At the weekend I went to watch Javier ringing birds in a public park in Mahon, and I took my little Fuji X-Pro1 to take some pictures.

I am now inseparable from this camera. I love it. And every time I use it, I am more and more impressed by its capabilities. Maybe it’s not the ideal camera for photographing birdlife in the wild, but it was certainly pretty useful for photographing an ornithologist ringing birds – and releasing them afterwards.

The picture above of Javier releasing a very cross blackbird after ringing was taken using the Fuji X-Pro1 continuous shooting facility of 6 frames per second.

High ISO
In order to enable a very fast shutter speed of 1/3000sec, I pushed the ISO up to 800 – even though it was bright daylight. However, the camera handles high ISOs with such ease that I no longer worry. In fact I'm getting quite used to shooting at night using ISO 6400.

Find out more about the new Birdwatching Holiday in Menorca

PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS MENORCA

Do we still photograph Pedro?

Having posted about our most recent Photography Holiday in Menorca, I have had a couple of emails from photographers who have been on previous holidays asking if we still take the groups to photograph Pedro.

Well the answer is yes, we certainly do.

To prove it – here is a picture of last week’s photography group with the man himself.

I can guarantee that every time I take the photographers to meet Pedro on his smallholding, almost everyone will come away with a cracking good portrait of him.

He is a wonderfully photogenic subject – and a lovely chap as well.

The beautiful portrait on the left was captured by Irene Dunton

A trip to photograph Pedro, when he is available, is always on the itinerary for our Photography Holidays in Menorca.

Don’t miss your chance to photograph Pedro – join us for our Photography Holiday in September – there are still a few places available.

Find out more about Photography Holidays in Menorca

Sharing plays a major role in all my Photography Holidays.

As anyone who has been on them will tell you, the week of photography is never about competition.

Our fun Light Monkey Awards at the end of the week are never awarded for the 'best' picture. You are more likely to win one by getting soaked in a thunder storm while trying to photograph lightning while everyone else has gone to bed than you are for the actual photograph itself. One photographer even won one for owning the bushiest pair of eyebrows in the world – he was immensely proud of them.

Above: Photographers share their pleasure in the photographs they have taken during a cafe break while out on location in Menorca. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Of course, everyone strives to capture great photographs, But these holidays are about sharing our knowledge, our love of photography and having fun. It just so happens that this is always the best way to learn – it’s quite amazing what can be absorbed when people are relaxed and enjoying themselves.

Photographing the photographers
I was reminded of this while looking through some of the pictures of the photographers during last week’s Photography Holiday in Menorca. I don’t get much chance to take my own pictures during these holiday. I concentrate on helping the photographers themselves, but I do take a lot of snaps of the group.

Above: Working together – sharing the photo opportunities during their Photography Holiday in Menorca. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Enthusiasm for Photography
Few members of the group last week had met before they came to Menorca, yet within a matter of minutes these photographers, coming from a wide range of backgrounds, were thoroughly enjoying each other’s company and sharing their enthusiasm for photography.

Among the group we had a solicitor, a doctor, plumber, security guard, retired BBC cameraman, policeman and surveyor – and the oldest member of the group was 83.

None of this mattered one jot – they all had two things in common? – a desire to improve their photography and an ability to have fun. It works every time.

They came to the right place.

There are still a few a few places avaiable for the next Photography Holiday in Menorca in September.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS

We really covered a very wide range of subjects during our Photography Holiday in Menorca last week.

Find out more about these Photography Holidays in Menorca

I think I've converted more photographers to Street Photography

Find out more about Photography Holidays in Menorca with Philip Dunn

Today we say farewell to the group on our first Photography Holiday of the year in Menorca.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS