This is an all skill levels photography workshop and walk that explores the quiet Portchester shore on the northern edge of Portsmouth Harbour, with a marina, boats and old wrecks in the low tide coastline.

We’ll be exploring along the northern shoreline of Portsmouth Harbour at Portchester, starting where the marina meets the water. The shoreline here offers great opportunities for landscapes and seascapes plus houseboats, yachts and more. We’ll also look for textures, washed ashore objects and the edges of the fields that line the water’s edge. From here we’ll pass the cafe and down on to the old wrecks jutting up in to the harbour views. These old boats are packed with potential, mixing mad-made and natural shapes, natural framing through holes in hulls, textures and marine life. We can then make our way inshore and can head up into the woodland and loop back to our starting point.

This workshop involves a leisurely 2 hour walk with fun & creative photo activities allowing you to find out much more about your camera and how to get the best out from it in the future. We’ll be looking at composition, perspectives, textures, leading lines, creating narrative and also how to take control of aperture and shutter speed.

Expect to photograph great seascape views of Portsmouth Harbour, details and textures from both yachts in the marina and decaying boats out on the low tide shore, woodland views and much more (maybe some horses too!).

Who will be there?

Group size is limited to 15 per workshop. All ages very welcome, if under 16 please be accompanied by an adult. Please arrive around 15 minutes early for a prompt start for the walkshop.

What do I need to bring?

All you have to do is bring along your camera to take part. It can be anything from a digital compact through to a DSLR and if you want to shoot 35mm film, cool! If you don’t have your own camera we have a selection of digital compacts you are free to borrow for the workshop (please let us know in advance). We can even offer 35mm SLRs for you to use if you like. Many people just bring along the camera they have in their pocket everyday, their smartphone and you’ll learn loads that’ll make a big difference to your mobile photography.

What is access like?

This walk is sadly not wheelchair accessible.

What is a walkshop?

Through Strong Island Media, professional photographer Paul Gonella has delivered photography workshops over the last 10 years to over three thousand people of all ages and abilities across the south coast. Working with partners such as Chichester Harbour Conservancy, University of Portsmouth, Making Space, Hampshire Cultural Trust plus many schools, colleges and youth groups. We developed ‘Walkshops’, where rather than sitting down in a classroom you actively learn different photography skills and techniques out and about with your camera, with support from a professional photographer at every step.

We’ve delivered well over 100 walkshops from Worthing through to Bournemouth and as far north as Surrey and from the summer of 2015 we have run a very successful series of walkshops open to the public in and around Southsea & Portsmouth and along the coast.

Walkshops are 2 hours long and cost £15 per person either, paid either in advance online via PayPal or cash in person at the start of the workshop (please book online for both).

Please book through EventBrite online HERE or via the button below, a booking fee will be added.

Payment can be done online via PayPal or in cash on the day.

NO BOOKING FEE IF CASH

If you pay in cash on the day just pay the £15 and we’ll absorb the booking fee – it saves on the inconvenience of having all the loose change in person on the walk.

Meet on the slipway by the entrance of Salt Cafe at Wicor Marine Yacht Haven in Portchester.

Parking is normally available just inside the marina entrance or on the road.

The nearest bus stop is about 5-10 minutes walk away (on White Hart Lane or Cornaway Lane).

Portchester railway station is about 15-20 minutes walk away.