Learn the art of macro photography
This full-day macro photography workshop is a hands-on, interactive class for a small group of participants, taking place in the grounds of Rougham Estate and led by Danny White. Danny will teach you what camera settings and setup you need to get pin-sharp macro shots and give you tips on how to compose an image perfect for hanging on your wall.
From learning how to control the light to techniques on approaching your subject, this is for you if you want to push your photography skills into the macro realm. The day will start indoors with some initial practice, then moving outside into the Estate to get in-the-wild experience, enjoying the natural world as the classroom, with insects, wildflowers and the textures of the countryside providing plenty to work with.
You’ll learn how to find and frame a shot outdoors and how light and shadow behave differently at close range. At the end of the day there will be a review of the images taken, to learn what to do better the next time.
Most of the day will be spent outside, so wear layers and sturdy shoes, and come ready to get low to the ground; the best macro shots rarely happen standing up.
This workshop is aimed at inspiring macro photographers of a beginner or intermediate level, who have a basic knowledge of how to use their DSLR/mirrorless camera equipment.
This course is not suitable for photography using mobile phones. The day will go ahead in all weathers and will be mostly outside. It will include walking and crouching/kneeling in woodland and parkland.
What Will I do?
- Begin the day reviewing camera settings and equipment, and learning light control for macro photography
- Spend most of the day outside, gaining the skills and techniques to capture hidden details that most people simply walk past
- Take home a bank of your own images and a good grounding knowledge of macro photography to build on
Who is this workshop suitable for?
- People aged 16 and over
- A basic knowledge of photography is needed
- You must have your own DSLR/mirrorless camera and a macro/low-aperture lens
Come along to develop a better instinct for seeing the world up close and grow your knowledge of how to capture it successfully.
You can see some of Danny’s own macro photography on this page and more on his instagram page @greatwhiteoutdoors
Important information
Gallery
How it Works
01
Come to Blackthorpe Barn and park in one of the free car parks
02
Begin the day reviewing camera settings and equipment
Start the day inside, learning about camera settings and how to best use your equipment for capturing the hidden world.
You will learn how to control the light and practise taking some photos indoors, before venturing outside.
03
Walk into the surrounding Estate countryside and get photographing
Most of the day will be outside, within about a mile radius of Blackthorpe Barn. It will go ahead in all weathers so bring waterproof clothing including walking trousers and sturdy shoes.
You will be walking and taking photographs in woodland and parkland, which could be muddy depending on the weather.
The exact run of the day will be flexible and will depend upon which subjects are of most interest for the group and what the weather is like.
04
Take a break to eat lunch outside
Bring your packed lunch with you, which will probably be eaten outside (depending on the weather)
05
Return to Blackthorpe Barn to review the images taken
Nearing the end of the day, you’ll return to being inside to review your photos and to learn what to adjust and try differently next time.
06
Take home some great images
Go home with a new level of confidence and insight into how macro photography works and enjoy the pictures you have taken during the day.
07
Have a bite to eat in Roots Café or browse around the Rougham Estate Shop
Both Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop are open until 4pm each day, so you can grab a drink or a bite to eat after the workshop, or have a browse around the shop, if you like.
08
Note regarding the images in the gallery on this page
The macro photos shown here have all been taken by Danny. The pictures have not been photoshopped or altered and have been taken using his Olympus E-M10.

What to bring
- Your own DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Flash, either built-in or external
- Flash diffuser/filter (ideal to have, to control the light)
- Dedicated macro lens or telephoto lens etc., with close-focusing abilities
- Extra memory cards
- Extra camera batteries
- Wear comfortable outdoor clothing, including waterproofs, walking trousers (for kneeling on the ground) and appropriate footwear for the latest weather
- A packed lunch to eat outside
Optional Equipment to bring
- Tripods
- Reflectors, LED panels etc.
- Torch
- Extension tubes
Refund & cancellation policy
If you need to cancel a workshop
If you are unable to attend your booked workshop and notify us at least 7 full days in advance of the workshop date, we can offer a refund or a transfer to the same workshop on an alternative date, providing there are places available or a course is planned for the future.
If cancellation is within 7 full days of your workshop unfortunately we are unable to offer a refund. We do appreciate that sometimes unforeseen circumstances may mean that you can’t attend so we are happy for you to send along a friend to take your place. We will need their name and contact details prior to the workshop.
Our right to cancel a workshop
All our workshops have a minimum attendance level and may be cancelled if too few bookings are received. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone workshops at any time. Should we need to cancel a workshop, we will give you as much notice as possible of the cancellation. You will receive a full refund or, if you prefer, a transfer to an alternative available course, space permitting. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any liability for travel or other costs.
Where to find us
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
There is plenty of free parking available.
Accessible parking is available near the entrance to the Café/Shop area.
Please Note: The car park closes when the Roots Café closes and the entrance gates are locked after this time, unless your workshop goes beyond this time in which case the gates will be locked once the workshop finishes.
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Related Events
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It gives us great joy to share that Rougham Primary School has won large gold in the Suffolk Schools Show Garden Competition at last week’s Suffolk Show!
This fantastic achievement showcases the hard work and dedication of the students and their gardening club. We’ve loved supporting their journey over the years with compost, tools and wheelbarrows, and it’s so rewarding to see their efforts bloom!
A big shout-out to the talented young gardeners who made this possible. Your creativity and passion for gardening truly shine!
Congratulations, Rougham Primary! Here’s to many more gardening adventures ahead.
#RoughamEstate #RoughamPrimary #SuffolkShow #CommunitySupport
Photo credit to Suffolk Show.
Farming is a major part of life at the Estate.
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As part of Rougham Estate in Bloom, we want to acknowledge this often-overlooked side of the farm.
#roughamestate #roughamestateinbloom #farmlife
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That’s another month gone!
And what a month it was, with lots of hustle and bustle - May saw the start of Rougham Estate in Bloom and the plenty of other activities that the sun was shining on.
Goodbye May, you’ve been fantastic.
#RoughamEstate #GoodbyeMay #blackthorpebarn
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