Based on the spectacular Otago Peninsula, our Wildlife Masterclass offers an exceptional opportunity to photograph some of New Zealand’s most iconic and endangered wildlife. From New Zealand sea lions and fur seals to the elusive yellow-eyed penguin, northern royal albatross and petrels, you’ll enjoy a variety of unique photographic encounters in stunning coastal landscapes.
Highlights include a privately guided penguin photography experience, a dedicated boat charter for albatross photography, and a visit to Orokonui Ecosanctuary to photograph a range of native forest birds. Throughout the workshop, our expert guides will help you make the most of every wildlife encounter.
Adding to the experience, you’ll stay at the historic Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and dramatic peninsula scenery, it provides a unique and inspiring base for this unforgettable wildlife photography adventure.
This masterclass offers a mixture of both tuition and post-processing sessions to help you create some stunning photographs in the diverse light and perspective of Central Otago’s Maniototo landscape. We will run through our programme of advanced camera setup for landscape photography and tutorials on composition & light. We will then help you process your two best images from the masterclass and produce finished 16×22″ fine art prints to take home.
Learn how to capture dynamic coastal wildlife photography and understand the best settings and focus techniques.
How to photograph birds in flight to freeze or blur motion and use focus tracking to ensure sharp photographs.
The Otago Peninsula, with its dramatic coastal landscapes, offers some of the best wildlife photography opportunities in New Zealand. On this experience, we’ll take you by boat charter to Taiaroa Head, home to the only mainland albatross colony in the Southern Hemisphere, where you can photograph these magnificent birds in flight.
We’ll also explore remote wild beaches to photograph New Zealand sea lions and penguins in natural, untamed settings, and visit the Orokonui Ecosanctuary for exceptional forest bird photography in a protected native environment.
Edin is seabird scientist based in Auckland and an award-winning wildlife photographer. A mix of research, volunteering and expedition guiding sees her working in some of the most remote places in Aotearoa.
Tony Whitehead is obsessed with nature photography and specifically birds in flight. A three-time New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year finalist.
The workshop is based at the Larnach Castle in Dunedin. If you are arriving via Dunedin airport we can pick you up the morning of the workshop, or you can meet us at Larnach Castle. On the last day, we can drop you back at Dunedin Airport to connect with late afternoon flights.
Start time on day 1: The workshop will start at 12:30pm at Larnach Castle. Flights must land in Dunedin around 10:00 am so the group can travel out to the Castle together.
Finish time on day 5: The workshop will finish in time to be in Dunedin by 4 pm on the last day to connect with late flights.
Our workshops run with a maximum group size of 8 and 2 tutors, offering 1:4 ratio of tutors to guests. Limiting class sizes ensures we provide you with the best learning environment possible, including expert guidance, instruction, and personal attention according to your learning style. Smaller groups of up to 5 may only be led by one tutor.
A minimum level of physical activity is necessary to enjoy the workshop. All locations we shoot will be within an easy walk along the coastline, but sometimes over rocky beaches carrying your own equipment. One beach has a downhill walk to assess it. If fitness or mobility is an issue please let us know – there are often locations which offer great shooting possibilities close to the road or our accommodation, or sometimes we also have the option to split the group.
Ideally, you will have a basic knowledge of photography and be comfortable adjusting camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed. The aim of our masterclass workshops is to cover more advanced creative camera control and help you to further develop your own style and vision. You will also receive free access to our Online Essential Landscape Photography Course to make sure you are camera ready for the workshop.
Camera Equipment: Our workshops focus on how to use your camera, not your type of camera. A basic list of recommended camera equipment can be found here
Clothing: A list of recommended clothing to wear on the workshop can be found here
A 15% deposit is required to reserve your space (deposit is non-refundable). The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
Booking and Cancellation Policy: Please click here for our booking and cancellation policy.
From beginning to end this 4 day Workshop was excellent. We stayed at the stunning Larnach Castle and visited the best wildlife locations the Otago Peninsula has to offer. To visit a private beach and see the endangered Little Yellow Eyed Penguins in their natural habitat was a real highlight for me. Professionalism, help and tuition was exceptional. I have no hesitation in highly recommending New Zealand Photography Workshops.
Brilliant Locations with the opportunity to photograph endangered species in their natural habitat. Stunning local knowledge and guidance. Tuition was top notch, irrespective of what brand you shoot. Great opportunities for some fantastic landscape work as well. Great gear to try out on location and even a chance to print high quality A2 of our favourite pic. Can’t speak highly enough about the workshop and the guys. Stayed at Larnach Castle which was a bonus. 11/10!!!