Capturing the world through a camera lens takes skill and a bit of luck, but it also requires a few senses – namely sight, hearing and touch. A keen eye for your subject, audio awareness for any second-by-second changes and a feel for every part of your shutter, zoom and focus.
As part of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the Australian National Maritime Museum is hosting The Glen Grant Masterclass Series.
Over four special events, four award-winning photographers will be in conversation on their work and craft, presented by event partner, The Glen Grant – Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Photographers will give insights into how they experience and capture the wonders of the natural world, the wildlife they pursue to find that perfect shot, as well as sharing tips, tricks and trade secrets that will deepen every photography journey.
Admission to this special event includes a whisky cocktail, whisky tastings and grazing boards. Bookings are essential.
Wildlife Photography Masterclass Dates & Photographers:
Wednesday 28 June: Juergen Freund – Capturing Two Worlds
Wednesday 12 July: Calumn Hockey – Up a gum tree
Wednesday 9 August: Travis De Vries – Colour, Light & working with Atmospheric Conditions
Cost: $45 per person / $40 Australian National Maritime Museum members
Juergen Freund – Capturing Two Worlds
Masterclass 1: Wed 28 June – Discover the art of capturing two worlds in a single photograph with underwater photographer Juergen Freund in his masterclass on split-level/over-under photography.
As the master of splits, Juergen will teach you the tricks of the trade and share his expertise on how to create stunning images that showcase both the underwater and above-water environments.
With his guidance, you’ll learn how to properly set up your camera and use different techniques to capture the beauty and contrast of these two worlds. Join Jürgen in this immersive masterclass and take your underwater photography skills to new depths.
Book Tickets: Wednesday 28 June: Juergen Freund – Capturing Two Worlds
Juergen Freund is a nature and wildlife photographer working professionally for more than 30 years. His images are internationally published and has won highly-acclaimed photo awards including the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature’s Best Photography, and World Press Photo, to name a few. He is a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, iLCP, an elite group of the world’s top wildlife, nature, and culture photographers. He has worked closely with WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature for more than two decades.
Calumn Hockey – Up a gum tree
Masterclass 2: Wed 12 July – Calumn is a self-taught photojournalist and videographer who shoots in a documentary style covering matters surrounding environmental and social movements throughout Australia. In this masterclass Calumn will share how his WPY58 photojournalism awarded image – Up A Gum Tree was created and why documentary photography is so important in environmental photography. Calumn tells you the story behind capturing a couple more of his favourite and most powerful landscape photographs along with a Q&A.
Book Tickets: Wednesday 12 July: Calumn Hockey – Up a gum tree
Calumn is a self-taught photojournalist and videographer, who focuses on conservation and adventure. In 2022 one of Calumn’s photos was included in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition which toured internationally. Calumn is passionate about the potential of storytelling through photography.
Adam Oswell – Wildlife Photojournalism
Masterclass 3: Wed 26 July – Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Wildlife – Because we cannot care if we do not know
In a world where nature is monetized, biodiversity is in crisis, with many animal and plant species driven closer to extinction every day.
Our stories are crucial – the sum of who we are, and photography is a powerful medium to inform and create change. Humans have become the dominate force on earth fundamentally transforming life across the entire planet.
In 2005 the global trade in wildlife was estimated to be worth over $6 billion a year, it is now worth up to $23 billion making it one of the largest illicit businesses after drugs and weapons.
The rarer the animal, the higher the price and the bigger the profits for the wildlife cartels that control the smuggling networks. Trafficking routes extend from remote national parks and protected areas, where animals are extracted, to major urban centres where they are sold and consumed.
The scale is shocking but it is the long term impact of this destruction on the health of the planet that is becoming critical and the absolute need for action now urgent. Hundreds of millions of years of evolution means every species plays a vital role in the fragile balance of nature.
Book tickets: Wednesday 26 July: Adam Oswell – Wildlife Photojournalism – Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Wildlife
Adam is an award winning photographer specialising in wildlife conservation and protection issues. His work has appeared in a wide range of media including, Geographical, TIME Magazine, Science, The Guardian, Getty Images, Bloomberg, and National Geographic.
His work has been exhibited at the Leica Gallery London, the World Economic Forum Davos, f³–Freiraum für Fotografie Berlin, Visa pour l’Image festival Perpignan and the Natural History Museum London. In 2021 Adam was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year for photojournalism.
Travis De Vries – Colour, Light & working with Atmospheric Conditions
Masterclass 4: Wed 9 August – In this Masterclass Travis De Vries talks through his process of finding and preparing a composition and working with colour and light in camera to create his vision.
Travis will take attendees through everything from prep work, his kit bag through to composing a shot, long exposure setting and releasing the shutter.
“The rapidly changing atmospheric conditions during sunrise and sunset as well as working with the weather (rather than against it) means preparation is key for achieving the look I want in my work, if I can walk away from a location with one image that I keep forever then I’m happy with what I’ve achieved.”
Travis De Vries is a Gamilaroi and Darug photographer and multidisciplinary artist. His photography practice centres around landscape work, exploring colour, light and the changing effect of light on an image, particularly during sunrise hours. His landscape style is almost akin to portraiture and pulls a lot of inspiration from his oil painting practice.
Book Tickets: Wednesday 9 August: Travis De Vries – Colour, Light & working with Atmospheric Conditions
Travis is the founding director of Awesome Black, a First Nations creative agency. Partnering with Spotify Travis has produced two Spotify Original Podcasts, as well as providing production, editing, and curatorial support to the full stable of Awesome Black podcasts.
For more information and to book click here
About Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the one of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions, providing a global platform that showcases the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights. Launched in 1965 with an initial 365 entrants, today the competition draws thousands of entries from all over the world.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
The exhibition opens at the Australian National Maritime Museum from April 1 and runs until October.
