Summary

This photography workshop offers two skilled and passionate photography instructors in a very small group setting, ensuring that guest photographers get the fullest advantages of prime scenic locations and one-on-one tuition and guidance.

Visit the Workshop Experience...

WHEN	1st - 10 April 2025 (Flexible dates for pre-arranged groups, email us if interested)
PRICE	R42,900 P/P sharing
FOCUS	LANDSCAPE
GROUP SIZE	MINIMUM 2, MAX 6 now on Waiting List
INSTRUCTOR GUEST RATIO	1:3
DURATION	10 DAYS
ACCOMMODATION TYPE	Rustic to mid-range
NUMBER OF DESTINATIONS	4

In Detail

Wandering the Wild Coast

The workshop is geared towards photographers with at least a basic understanding of their equipment, and who want to spend more time on growing their technique and photographic knowledge. To this end, several critique and feedback sessions have been built into the workshop where photographers are able to discuss the images they have shot during the workshop itself. 

Beginner photographers shouldn’t feel intimidated by this though. With a maximum guest attendance of only 6 photographers with 2 instructors, there is ample opportunity for on-on-one instruction. Along with the feedback sessions, there are also several ‘theory’ sessions: informal discussion style sessions were we discuss theory and technique before practicing in the field (examples include panoramic stitching, long-exposure technique, filter use, star-trails and night sky photography). 
As mentioned, the workshop has a maximum guest attendance of 6 photographers. The workshop fee includes all meals, accommodation, drinks (within reason), park entrance fees, guide and workshop fees AND transport. We use four wheel drive vehicles, with a maximum of 4 people per vehicle, to navigate the Wild Coast and its sometimes wild roads.​

key highlights

           Photograph: 

• The famous Hole In The Wall 
• The amazing Magwa Falls 
• Stars spinning over Port St. Johns from 'The Gates'
  
• Rural Africa in the Port St. Johns hinterlands 
• Wild Coast coastal scenery including 'beach bum cows'
• Huge waves crashing against rocky cliffs under the dawn sky at Luphathana 
• The incredible Waterfall Bluff and/or Cathedral Rock 

           Enjoy:

• Probably the world’s best instructor to participant ratio, maximizing your learning 
• Having highly experienced tutors watching over your shoulders and helping you on the spot as you craft your image of the Wild Coast’s most iconic destinations 
• Spending time with like minded people in one of South Africa’s least visited but most rugged coastal areas 

           Learn about: 

• Creative Composition: The basics and beyond, such as The Element Approach, Balancing Composition etc. 
• Basics to advanced techniques in digital landscape photography. There are two instructors (on groups of 4-6 participants) meaning that virtually all levels of photographer can be catered for. 

• Workflow & digital asset management. 
• How to create awe-inspiring Astrophotography and star trail images. 
• Working with extreme long-exposure images. 
• How to create panoramic images. 
• How to create time lapses (optional) 
• How to photograph waterfalls effectively 
• How to photograph breaking waves and coastal scenes effectively 
• Post-production using Lightroom and Photo Shop 

Emil regularly runs workshops and classes on Lightroom, Photoshop layers and masking and luminosity masking. These sessions will be included in the travel itinerary for those who want to spend more time on these aspects.

itinerary

part 1 - the waves of luphuthana

​Day 1

The first day is predominantly taken up by the long drive from Durban to Luphuthana. There are potential stops along the way to create some images, but for the most part the goal is to get to the rock shelf and unpack fro the first part of the workshop. After the long windy road to Lusikisiki and then down the rolling grasslands to the fishermen’s post at Luphuthana. The attraction of Luphuthana is the immense waves that crash against the rock shelf along the shoreline. Towering white pillars of spray break against the rocks on a regular basis, leading to some very interesting photography opportunities.

As it is, we spend our first afternoon at Luphuthana playing on the rock shelf and working with photographing the waves in the fading light. After dinner we have an early night as the following morning is another early start.

Day 2

An early 5:00am tea and coffee with rusks before we walk to the astounding Waterfall Bluff. This waterfall falls in a beautiful curve directly into the ocean. A small cove shelters this scene, allowing photographers amazing access to this beautiful landscape feature. We aim to reach Waterfall Bluff by sunrise so that photographers can take advantage of the soft predawn light. The walk itself is easy and takes approximately 40-50 minutes of slowish walking (it’s roughly 4km to the Bluff from Luphuthana). 

After dawn, any photographers who would like to can continue to the dramatic and impressive Cathedral Rock. This takes approximately another hour to reach. Photographers not wanting to exert themselves too much can return to Luphuthana. 

After lunch we spend the afternoon in guided editing and a feedback session followed by rest and dinner. Once the sun has set we make our way onto the rock shelf again to photograph the night sky, superimposing dramatically flash-lit waves against the Milky Way. 

Day 3

A dawn start on the rocks allows for early morning imagery of the crashing waves on the Luphuthana rock shelf. We spend the third day doing some editing work and working on some of the other aspects of the Luphuthana like the Milkwood forests and potentially the gorge and river itself.

Day 4

For our last early morning rise we head out to explore Magwa Falls and Fraser Falls after a 5:00am tea or coffee with rusks. Magwa Falls is an incredible, and often missed, waterfall that cascades 142m down into a narrow ravine. The unprotected edges make for nervousness, but viewing the Falls can be done safely (visiting Magwa Falls is one of the few spectacular waterfalls that are truly unconcontrolled- no fences even- creating the sense that you are the first to view it). 

After visiting Magwa Falls we stop by the impressive, but basically inaccessible Fraser Falls, before heading back to Luphuthana for some editing and a rest. Once we have had some lunch we have a short feedback session before heading out to the grasslands above Luphuthana. These rolling hills afford some beautiful opportunities to create abstract landscape compositions with solitary trees, or cattle grazing under an azure sky. 

Once the sun has set we make our way back to camp for a restful evening by the fireside.

Part 2 - the gates of port st. johns

Day 5

The fifth day starts with an optional dawn shoot, the location depending on who wants to get up early to shoot. For those wanting to rest, it is an opportunity to lie in before we make our way to Port St. Johns. After a leisurely breakfast we make our way along the dirt roads to Port St. Johns, stopping when the mood arises to photograph the coast and houses that dot the rolling hills beyond the coastal cliffs. 

Port St. Johns is considered by many to be the gateway to the Wild Coast and is arguably the most important town in the area. It lies at the mouth of the Mzimvubu River after the river flows through enormous mountain ramparts known as ‘The Gates’ (Mount Sullivan to the north and Mount Thesinger to the south). We arrive in town to have a late lunch in one of the distinctive Port St. Johns restaurants. 

We depart from our lodging to explore the summit of Mount Thesinger for sundowners and late afternoon/sunset photography. Mount Thesinger is the site of the Port St. Johns airport and boasts a commanding view of the Mzimvubu River as it opens to the Indian Ocean. It also has several beautiful trees and almost soulful bare branches that make for excellent black and white photography subjects. 

After a light finger supper on the summit we turn our camera’s to the ocean and photograph the Milky Way and Star-trails over Port St. Johns and the mouth of the river.

Day 6

Today is a rest morning to allow everyone to catch up on sleep. After a leisurely breakfast at our lodgings we spend the morning in guided image editing followed by a feedback session. Should we have overcast weather it may be worthwhile to photograph the rural Port St. Johns hinterland with its colourful African rondavels dotted on the hills. 

After lunch we do a coastal shoot near Port St. Johns. After a successful afternoon we return to our lodgings for dinner. 

part 3 - hole in the wall

Day 7

We leave Port St Johns after a relatively leisurely breakfast. The morning is likely to be spent photographing the coastal cliffs at the end of Agate Terrace. The road a is a fairly bumpy and windy dirt track that takes approximately 4 hours to navigate.

We arrive at the small hamlet of Hole in the Wall in the early afternoon. Guests have the option to rush out and start shooting on the beach and rocks in front of our accommodation, but most will probably want to sit back and put their legs up to enjoy the view from the restaurant deck and perhaps grab a drink to settle the jarring from the road.

Day 8

5:00am: Is tea and coffee time after which our group can split up. Those feeling like a strenuous climb can opt for the incredible view from the top of the rocky bluff to the north of Hole In The Wall. Those wanting a more sedate shoot can opt for Ferdy’s Gully, a 20-minute bumpy drive from the Lodging. The group reconvenes for breakfast around 8:30-9:00am. 

We again spend the last part of the morning discussing theory (panoramic stitching and star-trail photography) before having a rest. We have a very late lunch at White Clay where we sit down at a restaurant overlooking the pebble beach south of Coffee Bay. As the light softens in the sky we make our way onto the pebble beach to play with long exposure images.

Before lunch there is a rest period for everyone. After lunch we reconvene in the lounge to do some guided image editing of the morning’s photography. Towards the middle of the afternoon we head out to the Hole in The Wall viewpoint and beach to photograph this incredible feature of the Wild Coast. 
There is a short walk of about half a kilometre from the viewpoint parking to the beach below. The access is very easy and is manageable for most photographers. If the tide is low enough we will even be able to cross the river in order to create images with beautiful round pebbles in the foreground with the afternoon light spilling onto the Hole in The Wall massif itself. After night has fallen we return to our lodgings for dinner.


Day 9

Our last morning is spent once more photographing the eaxtraordinary Hole in The Wall with the early morning tide. The early morning light and clouds (hopefully) come together to create a fantastic purple backdrop for the massif to be highlighted against. 

Once we have had our breakfast we set off on the long journey back to Durban.

dates

We can do this workshop any time of the year. Email us for more information.

price

R42,900 per person Minimum 2 participants, maximum 6 participants.
(If under 4 participants, only one photographic leader will conduct the tour) 

Single Supplement: R3,000 - (depending on availability we can potentially offer single supplement for less - please check with us). 

Guided Tour Includes:

• All Lodging (based upon sharing)
• Pickup and drop off from Durban International Airport
• All meals and drinks for the duration of the workshop (Durban airport and back)
• Local tips for guides and for restaurants
• Photography guidance by two professional photographers and an assistant
• All tuition including teaching material and hand-outs
• All road transport in comfortable 4x4 vehicles
• All entrance fees and photography permits
• All toll and parking fees

Guided Tour Excludes:

• Airfares to and from Durban International Airport
• Single room supplement (R3,o00 - subject to change)
• Non-meal time snacks if purchased on route
• Possible extra excursions/activities and/or additional days
• Travel insurances (mandatory!)
• Photographic gear rental (if required)

Want to see pictures from previous years? Check out our blogs on Africa Geographic!

The Nature's Light Terms and Conditions apply to your booking with us. For more information see: 
Nature's Light Terms and Conditions

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