Location, Accommodation and Transport

The workshop is based at Northam Burrows in Bideford, North Devon. You will be staying at the Royal Hotel in Bideford on a single occupancy B&B basis. Transport between the hotel and the venue is provided.

 Meals

All meals and non-alcoholic drinks are included.

 Pre-requisites:

• No previous experience is needed, especially for the editing, printing and book making elements. Training and tools will be provided during the workshop.

• You need to bring a computer for the editing and printing session. If you do not have a laptop, we may be able to loan one but please check with us before booking.

• Please make sure you have suitable travel and equipment insurance.

Not Included​

• Travel to and from the workshop

• Travel and equipment Insurance

• Computer and editing software

• Alcoholic drinks

Booking and Cancellation Policy for Residentials: 

We require a 10% deposit when you book to secure your place, final balance will be due 4-weeks before the start of the workshop. If you cancel at any time, please understand that I may need to retain some of your monies to cover incurred costs that I cannot recover, unless I am able to re-sell your place. In general, if I am able to re-sell the place, I will refund you so please contact me as quickly as possible.

Photography is experiential, it is deeply personal and expressive of a moment.

This very unique photography experience with Paul Sanders and Adrian Beasley, will help you explore a deeper side to your own photography.

We will be based in one location for the whole of our workshop. This will give us time to explore and truly get to know the area as we work towards producing a short series of images that truly reflect your experience of the Northam Burrows in Devon.

The location has everything a photographer could wish for, rolling salt marsh, river estuary, sand dune and a beach strewn with cobbles stones.

We will also be encouraging you to use mindfulness techniques as a new way to approach your photography. Mindfulness is essentially working with the present moment, losing attachment to preconceived ideas and working with and accepting what is available. 

 Paul and Adrian will guide you through a couple of exercises to increase your awareness, slow down your seeing and give you permission to experiment with contemplative photography.

 As we progress through the week you will be encouraged and supportive to make notes of your thoughts about the images you receive from the location, perhaps they maybe just a list, a poem or a quote, maybe the words from a song keep floating into your awareness, all of these things along with the rest of your senses build up the experience and can be worked in to the images you are making.

 Photographs aren’t real until they are printed, and there is no better way of reconnecting with the moment you released the shutter than to hold your images in your hand beautifully printed, whether that’s as a single image or a sequence contained within a foldout book.

 Each client will go home with their work printed to complete the experience of this very special workshop.

​We hope you can join us.

I LOVE YOUR STYLE AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY. WILL YOU TEACH ME?

Thank you so much. These retreats are designed to focus on the way you see and connect with the world. It’s a hugely personal thing, and the style of photography that you might use is incidental to the greater purpose of helping you to use photography in order to express yourself. Of course I’ll show you photographic techniques but this retreat is not intended to be a photographic workshop in the traditional sense. If you’d like to find out about my one to one tutoring, please contact me and let’s discuss it from there.

IS THIS THERAPY?

Based on my personal experience, I believe it’s possible to discover a profound sense of peace and contentment through the art of photography. Photography can also be an immensely powerful tool in expressing and exploring your feelings when words can’t. However, it’s important to know that this is not therapy in the formal sense, and I am not a trained therapist. What I’ll do is guide you through a process of using photography for mindfulness, encouraging you to consider how the act of really focusing on the present makes you feel.

CAN I BRING MY PARTNER OR FRIEND?

The retreat itself is designed to be one to one. It’s hugely personal and I feel that you’ll gain the most value when we’ve created a safe, non-judgemental space just for you. However, the accommodation will sleep two so partners are welcome. There’s an additional charge to cover food and drink (or they can opt to pay their own meals, if they’d prefer)

I’M A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. IS THIS FOR ME?

Retreats by Still are designed to explore the use of mindfulness in photography. Absolutely everyone is welcome, and I believe that almost anyone can gain value from the experience, regardless of your photographic skills or experience. Rather than focus on the technical aspect of photography, we’ll be exploring how you can use photography is a means of exploring and expressing your emotions. If you’re looking for a session that focuses on a particular style, please contact Paul to enquire about arranging a separate workshop for that purpose.

I’M A COMPLETE AMATEUR WHEN IT COMES TO PHOTOGRAPHY – WILL I BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE?

Workshops and retreats by Still are open to all levels of photographic experience from smart phone users through to experienced photographers. The focus is on mindfulness rather than photographic ability, and it doesn’t matter whether you use a smartphone or the latest professional equipment – you’ll gain an immense deal from the experience.