Tatra Photography Lee Filters workshop in Slovakia

After Scotland it was off to Gatwick on Sunday.  A night in the Bloc hotel - to be recommended.  Bigger than the Yotel and very comfortable.

An easy flight to Poland and picked up by Mark and Filip.  Mark Bauer was the pro photographer on the workshop http://markbauerphotography.com and Filip was hosting from Tatra Photography tatraphotographyworkshop.com.  Met Gillian on the plane and the others on the bus and later at the hotel - Ian, John, Barbara, Sarah and Rachel.

Quick drop in at our accommodation Penzion Biela Voda in the village of Velka Lomnica.  This is situated between the towns of Poprad and Kezmarok.  Dinner at 5 pm then off for our first sunset shoot at Strbske pleso.  Mark started off with a presentation on Lee filters and although I have been using them, I learnt the difference between hard and soft grads.

Drove back to the accommodation and the front seaters saw a bear by the side of the road.  Filip gave us the time for the sunrise - 3. 40 am.  We went to another lake for sunrise on Tuesday - Tatranska Strba.  Mist was hoped for but in the event we just had the clouds to play with .

I explored some derelict buildings nearby

Back for breakfast and time for a rest or sleep for some, before the day shoot at 11 am.  We went to the waterfalls at Studenovodske vodopady.

View from my bedroom

A handbag dog

Playing about with my new variable filter

Although this fox is wild it has obviously been fed by tourists and was not worried by us.  She was not given anything by us.

She still posed without modelling fees.

In the evening we had a sunset shoot at Spis castle.

Boar with nine hoglets or humbugs seen on the way back to the car.

Wednesday morning saw us at a very scenic spot with mist.  At Hybe - Krivan peak.

For the daytime shoot we went up a gondola and cable car to Lomnicky peak.  Before this we had a presentation by Mark showing us his processing.  Very useful.

Stopped at this lake before going up to the top.  5 handheld shots and stitched in the modern darkroom for a panorama.

Seen near the cable car entrance.

The evening shoot was at Mlynica fields looking towards the High Tatras.

Made use of my macro at last.

Back to Strbske pleso for our last sunrise shoot on Thursday before our 2 hour ride to the airport at Kracow.

At the airport I found a chocolate Kracow dragon for the collection.  Well, the photo Gill took of it for me will have to do as I ate half of it on the plane.  You can see Gill's photos at www.gillmerritt.co.uk

Thank you to Mark and Filip for all their hard work and making a very enjoyable workshop.  Apart from learning more about photography, you don't have to think too much on a Tatra workshop - everything is done for you.

Next trip is to Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire on 19th June and then on to Seahouses and the Farne Islands.