Bossiney Haven and Benoath Cove

iPhone AutoStitch made on location

 Benoath Cove is tucked around a headland from it's main access at Bossiney Haven. It's beach is usually under the waves, but on a low spring tide rocky cave pierced cliffs are like heaven to me! I was there in mid-March on one of the lowest tides of the year which gave me four hours to explore and photograph. This blog post represents my sketchbook or work-in-progress as I haven't made a finished image at the time of posting; that will have to wait until a rainy day. However my working practice includes making iPhone photo-constructions on location and I like to process my RAW images asap and then make quick, automated, photomerges from the jpegs produced.

Quick automated photomerge in Photoshop CC 2015. Making a sketch like this helps me to progress the image later on; I'm immediately wanting to lengthen the exposure of many of the darker frames to expand the overall tonal range and I also need to delicately bring out the water drips which give a sense of both the dampness and of time passing.

Old path to Benoath Cove

Signal Cave iPhone AutoStitch

I timed my visit to Benoath so that I was there two hours before low tide and took the less used, old path, down to the beach. This path isn't way-marked and I wouldn't recommend it; the first part was covered in brambles which are only bearable in the winter when they've died back and heavy jeans are worn, the second part, the decent down the cliff, is treacherous as most of it is on a steep ledge with only a rail to keep you from plunging to the beach. The last section has no handrail and just an old fishing rope, tied to the end of the rail, to help you over the steep, wet, smooth, slippery rocks onto to equally difficult beach below. I had been on the beach in the past but it was disorientating with the sea still so far in, so it took a few minutes of clambering up and down the so far accessible rocky beach, before I could find the cave I was looking for. I refer to this cave as Signal Cave because you can actually make a mobile phone call inside. I even received a text right at the very back which has to be at least 30 metre from the opening.
My reason for getting into the cave as soon as possible after the receding tide was aesthetic, the wet walls and dripping ceiling make for a far more dramatic image. This particular cave is my current favourite and I could easily have spent all four hours here, as it has three distinct entrances which all join together far into the the cliff. It takes me approximately an hour to shoot the frames for a single constructed photograph so four hours was never going to be enough on this beach as it was visually so generous.

iPhone AutoStitch

 It takes me approximately an hour to shoot the frames for a single constructed photograph so four hours was never going to be enough on this beach as it was visually so generous. These last two iPhone AutoStich images will have to wait to photographed properly! The first I entered with only a few minutes before low tide, which was lapping at it's mouth, and I had to force myself to leave it for another day (I know how obsessive I can be to perfect the image, I knew I would be so absorbed in my work that time would disappear and I could be cut off, inside the cave!). 

iPhone AutoStitch

Photographic Workshops in Devon, Spring 2016
Digital Camera Skills - 10am-5pm £50
A practical days workshop learning to gain control over your camera, shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash etc, setting it up for optimum quality under any given lighting, and making better pictures through composition. Numbers limited to a hand-full. I also offer it on a 1:1 basis for ½ a day for £75
Course Description pdf
Wednesday 23rd March in Bideford Click to Book

Family Photo Workshop - get to know your camera - £30 per adult (maximum 2 accompanied children free)
A practical workshop to get to know your camera better. You'll learn about shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash and setting your camera up for optimum quality. This is a 3 hours contact time with 2 hours in the middle for taking photographs and having lunch.
Thursday 31th March in Bideford, (10am-3pm) Click to Book

iPhoneography Workshop - £25
A practical workshop to learn how to use your iPhone's camera to take professional looking photographs and enhance those images on the go. Suitable for anyone with an iPhone. You will need to install a few cheap photo apps in advance which I'll advise on when booking!
Wednesday 16th March in Barnstaple (9.30am-12.30pm) Click to Book

New Photo Workshops

Photographic Workshops in Devon and South West, Summer 2015
Some new workshops this summer and some new evening start times.

Introduction to digital photography - £50
A practical days workshop learning to gain control over your camera, shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash etc, setting it up for optimum quality under any given lighting, and making better pictures through composition. Numbers limited to a hand-full. Also offered on a 1:1 basis for ½ a day for £75
Course Description pdf
Friday 12th June in Bideford, (10am-5pm) Click to Book

Half Day Intro to digital photography - £25
A 'sit around the table' workshop to get to know your camera better. You'll learn about shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash and setting your camera up for optimum quality.
Course Description pdf
Monday 22nd June in Bideford, (6pm-9pm) Click to Book

iPhoneography Workshop - £25
A practical workshop to learn how to use your iPhone's camera to take professional looking photographs and enhance those images on the go. Suitable for anyone with an iPhone. You will need to install a few cheap photo apps in advance which I'll advise on when booking!
Monday 8th June in Barnstaple, (6pm-9pm) Click to Book

Victorian Selfie - £25
Make a Victorian portrait with an 8x10 inch camera from the 1880’s and learn the basics of monochrome using black and white paper and photographic chemicals in a darkened room. You’ll even get to take a picture home with you for your new profile!
Saturday 13th June, Ilfracombe Museum 11am–4pm, £25
Book through Ilfracombe Museum: 01271 863541 info.ilfracombemuseum@gmail.com

SmartPhone Photography - £25
A practical workshop to learn how to use your Smartphone's camera (Android, Windows or Apple) to take professional looking photographs and enhance those images on the go. Suitable for anyone with a SmartPhone. You will need to install a few cheap photo apps in advance which I'll advise on when booking!
3 hour workshop TBA Click to express your interest

Sea Caves, Shipwrecks and the Rocky Shore (10am - 5pm) - £50
An introduction to Dave Green's own photography. Spend a day with Dave experiencing the secret coast, hidden at the far ends of a sandy beach, full of caves and shipwrecks. Learn how to make the best of your own camera under demanding landscape and lighting.
Course Description pdf
Saturday 4th July in Bude, (10am-6pm) Click to Book

Family Photo Workshop - get to know your camera - £30 per adult (maximum 2 accompanied children free)
A practical workshop to get to know your camera better. You'll learn about shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash and setting your camera up for optimum quality. This workshop is 3x hours taught time and 2x hours photographing/lunch/free time
3 hour workshop TBA Click to express your interest

Photographing your own Artwork - £60 with lunch, tea and coffee provided!
I have a wealth of knowledge and experience of photographing 2D artwork, jewellery and ceramics and I'm willing to pass this on to artists eager to improve their own image making camera skills. Although this workshop is for a small group (max 4) I also offer it on a 1:1 basis for ½ a day for £75, or I can deliver the workshop in your own home or studio anywhere in Devon for £125
Course Description pdf
Monday 29th June in Bideford (11am-6pm) Click to reserve a place

Introduction to Photoshop (11am–6pm) - £75 with lunch, tea and coffee provided!
Opening an image file and adjusting levels, contrast, brightness and colour balance. Rotating, resizing and cropping an image. Placing an image or images into a new file. Using layers and history. Participants will need to be computer literate i.e. use a computer on regular basis and understand the basic controls. Small group (max 4). I also offer it on a 1:1 basis in your own home or studio anywhere in Devon for £175
TBA Click to express your interest

Workshop gift vouchers are always available for that special present for those people with new cameras so that they'll get to know them better!
Buy a £25 gift certificate
Buy a £50 gift certificate

a Postcard from Manteo

I have a joint installation/exhibition with Sadie Green at Green House my home/studio in Bideford as a part of Art Trek 2012.

The installation of photographs, video, sound, smells and digitally generated art has transformed our home into a sensual experience of Bideford’s twin town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina USA.

The Opening Reception is on Friday 6th July 7pm–10pm where a light fare of North Carolina food can be sampled. The installation continues through the weekends of the 7th/8th and 14th/15th of July 11am-5pm. There’s an illustrated talk at 2pm on each of these days.

You'll find my studio here: Green House, Torridge St, Bideford, Devon

Winter Workshops

Photographic Workshops in Devon, Winter 2012

Painting with Light on Westward Ho! Beach

Email info@greengallery.co.uk to reserve a place on a workshop

Introduction to digital photography 10am - 5pm - £50
A practical days workshop learning to gain control over your camera, shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash etc, setting it up for optimum quality under any given lighting, and making better pictures through composition. Numbers limited to a hand-full.
Saturday 7th January in Bideford
Tuesday 24th January in Bideford
Saturday 28th January in Barnstaple

Half Day Intro to digital photography 2.30pm - 5pm - £25
A 'sit around the table' workshop to get to know your camera better. You'll learn about shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, flash and setting your camera up for optimum quality.
Wednesday 11th January in Bideford
Monday 16th January in Barnstaple
Saturday 21st January in Bideford

Painting with Light 6pm - 9.00pm - £25
An evening workshop celebrating the dark nights of the Winter. You'll learn how to make 'long exposure' photographs using coloured lights, flames, sparklers and hand-held flash.
Sunday 8th January - Northam Burrows
Sunday 12th February - Northam Burrows

Photographing your own Artwork 10am - 5pm - £50
I have a wealth of knowledge and experience of photographing 2D artwork, jewellery and ceramics and I'm willing to pass this on to artists eager to improve their own image making camera skills. Although this workshop is for a small group (max 5) I also offer it on a 1:1 basis for ½ a day for the same price.
Wednesday 18th January in Bideford

Introduction to Photoshop 10am – 5pm - £50
Participants will need to be computer literate i.e. use a computer on regular basis and understand the basic controls. Small group (max 4).
Saturday 14th January in Bideford

Workshop gift vouchers are always available for that special present for those people with new cameras so that they'll get to know them better!

More workshops will be added later, please let me know by email if there's a photographic workshop you would like that I don't offer at the moment and if there's a location that I don't offer.

Some recent comments about my workshops:

"I've had a quick look at the feedback forms from Saturday - all of which were excellent - so it sounds like it was a very successful day - WELL DONE!!"
Tilly Clark, Burton Art Gallery and Museum

"Thank you very much for an enjoyable day, I feel I learnt a lot in a short time and spent most of the evening and next day taking pictures!"
Dion Mantell  

"Thanks for a really enjoyable day – do you have any other courses planned? All the best"
Alan Mead

"Great to see the pictures - surprisingly good viewing them now!!! Really enjoyed the day, thank you"
Gill George

"I just wanted to say thanks for a great day yesterday we learnt heaps. I am sure when we take photos in the future they will be much better."
Jenny Smy

"Just to say many thanks for last Friday it was really helpful and enlightening."
Wendy Allan