Small group insect workshop 18 May 2026
Venue and provisional itinerary
The venue will be RSPB Ham Walls on the Somerset Levels. This is an excellent site for insects, in particular for the 4-spotted chaser dragonflies, which roost here in their tens of thousands in mid-late May.
Start and end times will depend to some extent on the weather, but I am planning an early start, provisionally at 5.00am, tbc, with a finish time of early-mid afternoon. I’ll confirm this in advance of the workshop date.
For prospective or existing OM users, there will be an opportunity to try a number of OM lenses, including the 90mm macro, the 50-200mm f2.8 and 150-400 f4.5 Pro lenses.
Fitness and mobility levels required at the sites we are shooting at are not onerous. However, we may need to traverse several hundred metres of wet, muddy and uneven ground, so participants should have a reasonable general level of fitness and the ability to walk on uneven terrain. Note that macro photography can also involve lying on the ground, but this is obviously optional!
Start and end times will to some extent depend on the weather, but I am planning an early start, provisionally at 5.00am, but tbc, and a finish time of early-mid afternoon. Ill confirm this in advance of the workshop date.
For prospective / existing OM users, there will be an opportunity to try out OM lenses, including the new 50-200mm f2.8 and 150-400 f4.5 Pro lenses.
Fitness and mobility
Fitness levels/mobility required at the sites we are shooting at are not onerous; however, we may need to traverse several hundred metres of wet / muddy, and uneven ground, so participants should have a reasonable general fitness level and the ability to walk on uneven terrain. Note that macro photography can also involve lying on the ground but this is obviously optional!
Group size and experience level
Numbers – 4
The workshop is intended for fairly experienced photographers who want to a) photograph large numbers of roosting dragonflies, b) get to grips with insect photography generally, and c) for OM users who want to learn some of the key wildlife-related settings (pro-cap and focus stacking/bracketing) in a more structured way, as well as how to set their cameras up in the most efficient way for insect photography.
The workshop is aimed at ‘improvers’; participants will need an understanding of the ‘exposure triangle’, depth of field, dynamic range, and histograms, as well as how exposure compensation can be used to override the meter and obtain accurate exposures under different lighting conditions.
Participants will need to be familiar with their menu system and the main controls for shutter speed, aperture, ISO and exposure compensation, so these can be quickly changed in the field if needed.
During the workshop, we will cover areas such as field skills for finding and approaching skittish insects, including accurate focusing and exposure, how to get tack-sharp images, and how to make compositions with impact. For OM users, we will discuss key OM functions, such as focus stacking and bracketing. There will be plenty of time during the workshop for questions.
The workshop is intended for fairly experienced photographers who want to a) see an photograph large numbers of roosting dragonflies b) get to grips with insect photography generally and c) for OM users who want to learn some of the key wildlife-related settings (pro-cap and focus stacking/bracketing) in a more structured way, as well as learning to set their cameras up in the most efficient way for insect photography.
The workshop is aimed at ‘improvers’; participants will need an understanding of the ‘exposure triangle’, depth of field, dynamic range, and histograms, as well as how exposure compensation can be used to override the meter / obtain accurate exposures under different lighting conditions.
Participants should be familiar with their menu system and the main controls for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, so that these can be quickly changed in the field if needed.
During the workshop, we will cover areas such as field skills for finding and approaching skittish insects, for example, accurate focusing and exposure, how to get tack-sharp images, and how to make compositions with impact. For OM users, we will discuss key OM functions, such as focus stacking and bracketing. There will be plenty of time during the workshop for questions.
Learning outcomes
- An understanding of the field skills required in invertebrate photography – e.g. how to find and approach inverts; how to decide quickly which technique to employ, and how to get close without disturbing your subjects.
- A degree of knowledge regarding ecology / behavior of your quarry and how this can help you plan a shoot and improve your chances of success in the field.
- Knowledge of a range of techniques to help maximize sharpness – in particular how to ensure your subject is sharp front to back.
- Knowledge of a range of composition techniques to help you improve the impact of your final image.
- Hopefully, a range of good quality images taken using the techniques practiced on the day!
What to bring
Camera kit
- Macro lens and close-focusing telephoto with tripod mount
- Monopod / tripod
- Remote shutter release
- Spare memory cards
- Spare camera batteries
- A pdf copy of your camera manual on your smart-phone.
Other
- Wellingtons or walking boots with ankle support and a good grip.
- Lightweight clothing, broad-brimmed sunhat, sunscreen and plenty to drink.
- Midge repellent.
- Tick-removal tool.
- A packed lunch.
Nb there are lavatory facilities at the RSPB car park, as well as refreshments in the small RSPB shop.
Information required beforehand
- Details of your camera equipment (in order that I can familiarize myself with your kit beforehand, as far as possible).
- Any health issues (allergies etc) plus name, address and an emergency contact number.
Finally, I would be happy to discuss the itinerary and answer any queries participants might have before the workshop starts – I can be contacted at info@andrewmccarthyphotography.co.uk.
Cost – £150.00 per person payable in advance
Andrew McCarthy
