Following five sell-out single-day workshops this summer for adults and young people, highly acclaimed Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2007) Ben Osborne will be running two masterclass weekends photographing the Jurassic Coast, in November.
Ben Osborne is currently artist-in-residence with Artsreach and Villages in Action as part of a joint project: ‘Jurassic Journey’. For this, Ben has been on a photographic journey along the World Heritage Jurassic Coast of Dorset and East Devon for just over a year. He will be creating a new audio-visual presentation for rural touring, highlighting the beauty and significance of this outstanding World Heritage coastline. Ben has been working alongside associate artists of the project – poet Matt Harvey, sculptor Lal Hitchcock and musician Sammy Hurden. Lal and Sammy are offering workshops alongside Ben’s masterclass weekends, with collaborative opportunities between the workshop groups.
Abbotsbury
Ben’s first masterclass weekend will take place at Abbotsbury on 13–14 November. This intensive two-day photographic exploration will include outstanding coastal locations near Abbotsbury of the quality of Chesil Beach and Burton Cliffs. Some time will be spent indoors downloading images and discussing them with Ben and other photographers. Participants will take part in a creative process both for their own work and also jointly in a collaborative project, working alongside a singing workshop.
The two-day singing workshop in Abbotsbury will be led by Dorset-based musician Sammy Hurden, exploring songs she has written for the Jurassic Journey project; songs in harmony inspired by different aspects of the coast, from the reflective to the bizarre! The workshop is open to anyone who enjoys singing, and the songs will be taught by ear so reading music is not required. The weekend will include a walk up to St Catherine’s Chapel to experience singing overlooking the sea. During the weekend the singing group will spend some time collaborating with the photography group, experimenting with creating a piece of music that reflects their landscape images.
Lulworth
The following weekend (20–21 November) Ben will lead the second masterclass, at Lulworth Cove. This will be a two-day photographic exploration of Lulworth Cove and its surroundings, including, if the weather allows, a visit to the nearby Fossil Forest, a very unusual and visually engaging geological formation. In addition to landscape photography, participants will be working alongside a sculpture workshop, and some time each day will be spent photographing sculptural objects sourced from flotsam and jetsam found in the Cove itself. These objects provide an artistic link with the sea, the coast and our human impact on the natural world and will provide a very different kind of photographic challenge.
Dorset-based artist Lal Hitchcock will lead two separate workshop days at Lulworth, creating on the Cove. The Saturday workshop, for adults, will be to create beautiful, fun works of art to take home using junk, driftwood and debris washed up by the sea. The Sunday workshop, for families, will take place on the beach at low tide, to create a large sculpture as a group, then watch the sea reclaim it at high tide. Photographers from Ben's group will capture the moment to create a lasting artwork.
Both photography masterclass weekends have a maximum of ten places, so that Ben can be on hand to discuss individual creative issues and offer constructive feedback of participants’ work. A place on the photography masterclass is £100 to include food. The singing workshop is £50 for the weekend, and the sculpture workshops are individually priced, with discounts if booking for both days. For further information and bookings please contact Artsreach: 01305 269512. Advance booking is essential as places are limited! And don’t delay, the summer workshops all sold out…
- Abbotsbury weekend Photography masterclass + singing workshop Sat 13 – Sun 14 November
- Lulworth weekend Photography masterclass + sculpture workshop Sat 20 – Sun 21 November
These workshops are kindly supported by Dorset AONB.
