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

The photographers arriving for their Photography Holiday in Menorca starting tomorrow are in for a great surprise – the free WiFi at the Hotel S'Algar has been completely upgraded. WiFi is now available in the hotel rooms and not just in the hotel lounge area.

The service is FREE for our photographers.

The photography group arriving tommorw will be the first of the season here in Menorca and Norene and I are really looking forward to he week.

There will be several regular friends and some new faces among the group, so we have tried to balance the itinerary with some new locations and subjects as well as those always popular subjects like dear old Pedro the farmer.

Above: The Hotel S'Algar, Menorca – our base on this lovely island.

Both the Photography Holidays this month are fully booked – but there are still places available for the holiday in September.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS IN MENORCA

Since returning from running the two Photography Holidays in Venice I have had little time to sort out my photographs from the trip – or share them on the blog.

I also need to sort and post some more of the images taken by the other photographers who were with me – and very soon we will be away again to Menorca where I have two Photography Holidays coming up – both fully booked.

However, I would like to show you this portrait of a rather sylish old lady sat in a water bus shelter waiting for a vaporetto.

Photography by Philip Dunn

I hope it serves as an example of the sort of pictures that can be captured of complete strangers in the street if you approach them in the right manner.

I had never met this lady before and took several candid shots of her before she realised she was being photographed. She did not object when I then asked if I could take more pictures and this is the result of a very fleeting portrait session that lasted all of 30 seconds or less.

• Camera: Fuji X-Pro1
• Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55mm
• ISO: 640
• Shutter Speed: 1/17sec
• Aperture: f/7.1

There is a wealth of wonderful subjects out there in the street – all just waithing to be photographed.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS WITH PHILIP DUNN

My regular client and photography student Ken Terry has been photographing the urban fox that visits his garden most evenings.

Clients on our Photography Holidays in Menorca can now enjoy a 10% discount with S’Algar Diving

S’Algar Diving is based right outside the Hotel S’Algar, our holiday base in Menorca.

The discount applies to ‘Try Dive’ for those wanting to try diving for the first time, and also individual divers who have some experience.

Menorca offers some of the finest diving opportunities to be found anywhere in the world, and is famous for its clear water and fabulous cave diving.

Photography and diving can be the perfect combination and offer fabulous photo opportunities

Find out more about S'Algar Diving

Photography Holiday in Menorca

I have now had a little time to sort pictures from our two Photography Holidays in Venice.

As always, my emphasis when running these photography holidays is on coaching the photographers and not on taking my own pictures. I have been seriously impressed by the pictures members of the groups have shown me so far.

But that doesn't mean I don't get a little time to take my own pictures.

Above: The life of Venice – yes, real people live here and do normal, everyday chores. I enjoyed capturing the real world that goes on behind the tourist hot-spots. Photograph by Philip Dunn

These two photography holidays were the first real chance I have had to put my new Fuji X-Pro1 camera to the test.

I was not disappointed. The camera proved a delight to use and suits my way of working to perfection. I will try my best to post a practical review of the camera as soon as I am able.

Meanwhile I have put some snaps of the photographers tackling the challenges of Venice – in particular doing battle with the extraordinarily dreadful weather one group experienced – on Flickr.

You can see the pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/venice1

http://www.flickr.com/groups/venice2

Above: A great chance to put the Fuji X-Pro1 high ISO to the test. This shot was taken at ISO 3200. The quaility astonished me. Even more surprising was the quality achieved at ISO 6400. Photograph Philip Dunn

The weather the photographers endured during the second of the two holiday really did test their keeness – but what wonderful picture opportunities this weather actually presented us with.

St Mark's Square flooded, of course, but that's pretty regular these days, and our second trip to Burano Island was an occasion for trying to protect out cameras from the rain and grabbing quick photographs of the amazing reflections from those colourful buildings alongside the canals.

Above: I waited in the rain beneath my own umbrella for quite a long time to capture this shot of tourists walking along one of the raised flood gangways near St Mark's Square. The problem was that I wanted each figure to be separate and most people came along in tightly huddled groups. Photograph by Philip Dunn

Above: The mundane normality of getting to work for local people on Venice's Vaporetto water buses. Another test for the Fuji X-Pro1. The shutter is so quite, this chap had no idea he was being photographed. Photograph by Philip Dunn

So, lessons learned from these first two Photography Holidays in Venice? I think we may go back next year in April when there is a better chance of good weather.

Now all planning is going into the Photography Holidays next month in Menorca. We have some wonderful new venues and people tp photograph and I'm really looking forward to working with the group in the sunshine. Both the May and the June holidays are fully booked, but there are still places available for the Menorca Photography Holiday in September.

PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS MENORCA