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Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
10th Jun
10:00 - 15:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Ticket
per person £60
Each person attending requires a ticket
Bookings close on 8th June
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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As the weather gets cooler, we turn our attention to warmer dishes at Roots Café.
This week’s special is our sweet potato and chilli soup with Rougham honey. A warming combination of sweet potato, a little chilli and our own Rougham honey, perfect for an autumn day.
Our brunch special is our oven-baked nachos with cheddar, mozzarella, jalapeños, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cowboy caviar (crunchy veg salsa in case you were wondering). Perfect for sharing, although we won’t judge if you keep them all to yourself!
Pop in after a walk around the Estate or simply come along for a cosy lunch.
Roots Café is open daily from 9am–4pm.
#RoughamEstate #RootsCafe #WeeklySpecials
You may notice the Rougham Estate Shop looks a little different at the moment...
As we start to transition towards our Christmas Shop, which opens in mid-October, we’ve downsized the shop for a short while as we make room for all the festive treats to come.
There’s still plenty to discover, with beautiful homeware, gifts and seasonal pieces, including some lovely autumnal touches and pumpkins.
Roots Café is open as usual, so why not combine a browse around the shop with a coffee, lunch or something sweet?
The shop and café are both open daily, and we look forward to seeing you.
#RoughamEstate #RoughamEstateShop #RootsCafe
Believe it or not, the 2027 harvest is already underway!
The first crop to be planted this season is our Oilseed Rape (OSR), which means those famous sea of yellow fields will be back before we know it.
OSR is usually planted in early to mid-August, but after such a dry summer, we had to wait for the right conditions. Planting was delayed until late August and into early September.
One of the challenges with growing OSR is the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle, a pest that can cause significant damage to young plants. Rather than relying on broad-spectrum insecticides, we’ve sown a companion crop of buckwheat alongside the OSR. The idea is to confuse the beetles and hopefully reduce their impact on the crop.
It’s early days, but we’ll be watching it closely as it gets established. The yellow fields of 2027 might seem a long way off, but the work starts now!
#RoughamEstate #Farming #SuffolkFarming
Next weekend - Rougham Pumpkins opens next weekend! 🎃🎉 Who else can’t wait?
The pumpkins are looking fabulous and everyone is busy making the field ready for you.
We’re open weekends from Saturday 3rd Oct 9am-5pm and then daily from 24th-31st.
Come and wander amongst 1000s and 1000s of pumpkins, squashes and gourds.
You’ll find a whole autumn festival with the big bale pyramids, sandpits, pedal tractors, football goals, space to run and play and face painting by @faceitfaceart
These wonderful food trucks will be here every weekend:
Roots&Co - coffee, cakes, snacks, drinks (soft & alcoholic)
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos - toasted burritos
@Pigs_In - all your pork favourites
@GeeGeeBakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo - coffees & snacks
On selected days:
@Tikka_Tonic - New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack - sweet & savoury crepes
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties & salads
@greyscoffee_ - coffees and homemade bakes
Or bring your own picnic if you like.
🔦 Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
On two spooky Saturday evenings, 17th & 24th October, 6pm–9pm, bring your torches, wear your wellies and enjoy the pumpkin patch after dark with a silent disco.
Disco headsets need to be booked - tickets coming very soon.
🧡 SEN-Friendly Sessions
9am-10am on Tues 27th & Thurs 29th October, entry to the patch will be ticketed to give a quieter time for those who benefit from a calmer, more relaxed visit.
Free tickets must be booked in advance.
Open 9am–5pm on
Sat 3 – Sun 4 October
Sat 10 – Sun 11 October
Sat 17 – Sun 18 October
Daily Sat 24 – Sat 31 October (10am-5pm on 27th & 29th)
Free entry, free parking, no booking required (except headsets and SEN hours).
📍Remember - the pumpkins are in the NEW Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of J45, A14, Elderstub Lane, SatNav: IP30 9HX
🐕 Dogs welcome in the picnic area and the small doggy patch, but not in the main patch.
All the details from our website - link in bio.
Get dressed up, come along - we can’t wait to see you!🎃🧡
#burystedmunds
This is the last weekend to visit ArtWorks @artworkseast at Blackthorpe Barn.
From today, Friday 25th September, you have just three days left to see this wonderful exhibition before it closes on Sunday. If you’ve been meaning to go, now really is the time.
Over 300 original works by 28 established East Anglian artists are on show: paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and more. All of it available to buy, all of it made by people who are brilliant at what they do.
Come and browse, meet the artists, watch them work and find something you love.
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th September
10am – 4pm daily
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate - SatNav IP30 9HZ
Free entry and free parking
Roots Café and Rougham Estate Shop next door
All the details from the @artworkseast website
#ArtworksEast #SuffolkArt #BuryStEdmunds #OriginalArt #RoughamEstate
Have you ever wondered what your dreams are trying to tell you?
This November, Suffolk psychotherapist Gilly Crow brings her warm, fascinating and deeply personal talk on dreams to the Meadow Room on Rougham Estate. It’s an event that could genuinely change the way you see your sleeping hours.
Gilly has spent over 35 years working with clients as a psychotherapist, with dreams at the heart of much of her work. Her first book, Wake Up to Your Dreams, explores what our unconscious might be saying to us while we sleep, and in this interactive talk she shares what she has learned in a way that is accessible, thought-provoking and open to everyone.
Whether you’re haunted by recurring dreams, curious about what’s going on beneath the surface, or simply open to something a little different, this talk is worth your Saturday morning.
Gilly’s book will also be on sale on the day for just £10 (cash only, RRP £12.99). Tea, coffee and mince pies included.
Saturday 7th November
9:15am – 12pm
Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate
£15 per person
Book on our website, link in profile
#RoughamEstate #WakeUpToYourDreams #GillyCrow #SuffolkEvents #BuryStEdmunds
Our final Plant Pop-Up of the year!
Chris from Watsons Plants will be back at Blackthorpe Barn this Friday and Saturday, 25–26 September, for the last Plant Pop-Up of the season.
If you’re looking to add some colour, texture or interest to your garden as we head into autumn, this is your final chance to come along, browse the plants and speak to Chris for some expert advice.
The Plant Pop-Up is free to visit and there’s no need to book. You’ll find Chris just outside Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop, from 10am–4pm.
So if you’ve been meaning to pop along, don’t miss the last one of the year!
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #PlantPopUp #Gardening #AutumnGarden
Those beautiful autumn colours won’t last forever…
But you can capture them on canvas.
The Canvas Club returns to Rougham Estate on the 10th October for a relaxed afternoon of painting inspired by the rich colours of autumn leaves – think golds, oranges, deep reds and greens.
Artist Sarah Rawlinson will guide you through the painting step by step, with demonstrations and plenty of support along the way.
Everything you need is provided, as well as tea, coffee and sweet treats. And, at the end of the afternoon, you’ll have your own autumnal artwork to take home.
It’s a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon, with good company, a little time away from the everyday and the satisfaction of creating something yourself.
Friday 10 October
1pm–4pm
Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
£45 per person
Booking essential
Book your place via the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #TheCanvasClub #AutumnArt #PaintingWorkshop #SuffolkWorkshops BuryStEdmunds CreativeSuffolk
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