How often do you turn up a location feeling overwhelmed and leave feeling that you missed opportunities? How do you ensure that you can find locations which are different to those previously captured by other photographers? How do you make sure that you make the best use of your investment in equipment, travel and time when visiting a new or existing location?

This presentation uncovers photography location preparation and planning showing how to get the most out an area often in a limited time. How you can prepare ahead of a shoot with commonly available resources to both explore new locations and get the most out of your time when in situ.

It will unpack a number of practical examples such as Berlin, Leeds, Manchester, Iceland, Isle of Skye, Isle of Arran, Glencoe, N Yorkshire Dales, London, Northumberland and many more, providing useful pointers on location scouting, practical preparation and composition.

Most people have a clear view about Brutalist Architecture, but there is more to see than just hulks of concrete. One of the more difficult architectural subjects to capture since it is largely a grey subject, with acute lines and uncompromising structures.

Drawing on many examples from the North of England and further afield his talk will look at intimate details and explain how he photographs these tricky subjects.

The talk will also highlight many locations, often overlooked details and interesting aspects of brutalism that make really good photographic content.

Techniques such as using a shift lens and post production software editing will also be touched on.

This talk will unpack how you can best use your time to capture great Urban and Street photographs. How to approach the scene, what gear, tools, tips and techniques.

If you are a budding urban photographer, new to street or just interested in another take on how to get better urban and street photographs this is for you.

Using examples from London, Manchester, Leeds and beyond this should boost your confidence and provide you with new ideas.

Photographing cities during blue hour or darkness can provide spectacular photographs. The contrast between dark and light, combined with the lines of buildings provide ample material for the photographer.

This talk focuses on everything from cityscapes in Docklands to car parks in Leeds. In addition to static photography the capture of moving light from things like cars, trains and people will also be included. Composition techniques, equipment and lighting will all be covered to provide insights and examples of successful night photography.

This is a very practical session walking through images to suggest and highlight ways of improving your landscape images.

How can you create depth by using layers in the images? How important it is to have a focal point, to create separation in what can be complex images and how to create balance over the image.

The talk will also touch on exposure blending, focus staking and other techniques. The approach will be to share easy ways that all photographers can embrace these techniques, and also tips on how you can minimise landscape photography being about the settings and gear and not the emotion of the location.

Using case study images from Scotland, Iceland, North Yorkshire, North Wales and beyond the talk provides plenty of source material and stimulation to all landscape photographers.

Creating a panel or triptych (3 images) is a fun way of creating a powerful image and a new way of seeing your images presented. It allows you to showcase a number of images and potentially present a story in a more compelling way.

This talk will focus on what makes a powerful panel or triptych. Layout, type of image (s) and how to manipulate them to best effect. Finally how you can create the combined image simply using free or readily available software.

Please note that whilst this might be useful for a qualification panel, this is not the objective of the session.

The author has won numerous club competitions with panels he has created

How do you turn a holiday snap into a genuine travel photograph? This talk unpacks the different genres of travel photography for those visiting places new or familiar.

I have travelled far and wide - Egypt, China, Mexico, Russia, South America, Eastern Europe to name a few. What makes a good travel location? How do you get the best out of that destination and make sure that you come back with memories that capture the essence of where you went, but at the same time bring something new.

Using examples from places such as Italy, Eastern Europe, Egypt, London and others the talk will share some of the tools and techniques to get the most of of your trip, or inspire you to go further.

Iceland remains one of the biggest destinations for photographers. Exciting and unique landscapes, challenging weather, plus the draw of the aurora.

This talk covers a range of locations and subject matters for photographers who have been before and want inspiration, to those planning their first trip. Recommendations on where and when to go, with some inspirational photographs from a photographer who has visited on many occasions.

In addition to be a photographer the author is also a geographer so will comment on why Iceland remains such a draw and why the landscape is so challenging and rewarding in equal measure.