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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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A little change to be aware of if you’re visiting us from Friday 11 September.
Our summer car park will be closing for the season, so parking will move back to the area directly in front of Blackthorpe Barn.
As autumn approaches, we’re also starting to turn our attention to the next season here at Rougham Estate, with Christmas planning and preparations getting underway behind the scenes…
The Estate never really stands still!
Please follow the signs when you arrive and we look forward to welcoming you.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #VisitorInformation
ArtWorks @artworkseast is back at Blackthorpe Barn, opening next Saturday, 12th September.
Now in its 26th year, this much-loved exhibition brings together 28 established artists from across East Anglia for two weeks of beautiful contemporary art in one of Suffolk’s most special settings. From abstract paintings and botanical illustrations to ceramics, sculpture, mixed media and much more, there are over 300 artworks to discover and everything is available to buy.
Come and meet the artists, watch them create their art and take part in the Mini Artworks Prize Draw.
📅 12th – 27th September
🕙 10am – 4pm daily
📍 Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate, SatNav: IP30 9HZ
🎟️ Free entry and plenty of free parking
🍰 Roots Café nearby, open every day
We’re looking forward to welcoming you!
#RoughamEstate #ArtworksEast #SuffolkArt #EastAnglianArtists #BuryStEdmunds
Join us for a day of weaving, nature and quiet creativity at Blackthorpe Barn.
This September, come and learn from textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown and enjoy a beautiful day of making.
The Wild Weave workshop guides you through the art of weaving with wild grasses and freshly grown flowers on a mini hand-held loom. No experience needed, just a love of nature and a willingness to slow down and make something with your hands.
You’ll choose your raw materials from a posy prepared by Caroline, learn to weave and by the end of the day you’ll have your very own unique piece of wild art to take home and display.
Caroline will also share her knowledge of foraging, medicinal herbs and how the hedgerow has inspired her own practice, making this day as much about the stories behind the craft as the making itself.
📅 10am-4pm on Saturday 26th September
📍 The Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
🎟️ £75 per person
Limited places - book on our website, link in profile.
#RoughamEstate #burystedmunds #TextileArt #NatureCraft #SuffolkEvents
As we head back to school and autumn starts to creep in, it’s hard to believe that our Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch opens in just a month!
The pumpkins are growing nicely, as you can see, and we’re busy getting everything ready for another brilliant pumpkin season here at Rougham Estate.
It won’t be long until the fields are full of pumpkins and you can come and pick your perfect one.
Who’s already looking forward to pumpkin season?
#RoughamEstate #PickYourOwnPumpkins #PumpkinPatch
There are a couple of irresistible new specials at Roots Café this week!
Salad of the week:
Maple and sage roasted root vegetables with candied pecans, herby ciabatta croutons, crumbled Suffolk blue cheese and a maple and orange dressing.
Brunch Dish
Eton mess French toast topped with end-of-summer berries, strawberry granola, coulis, meringue and a white chocolate glaze.
Both of these temptations are on the menu this week only!
Come and enjoy at Roots Café, open daily 9am - 4pm
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkfoodie
What a month August has been!
Such an incredible summer we’ve been blessed with, and it’s certainly been a busy one here at Rougham Estate. It’s sad to say goodbye!
But now we turn our attention to September, with autumn vibes starting to creep in. We’re looking forward to everything the next month brings!
#RoughamEstate #AugustAtRougham #SummerAtRougham
Looking for somewhere to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend?
Come and spend some time at Rougham Estate. Take in the beautiful Sunken Garden as you enjoy great food and drink from Roots Café for some great food, coffee - perhaps before or after exploring the Estate’s walking routes to build up an appetite!
Don’t forget to have a browse around our Lifestyle Shop too, where you might find something special to take home, and Chris from @watsons_plants is with us too, selling his beautiful plants in the courtyard.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll, a family day out or simply somewhere to enjoy a good lunch, there’s plenty to discover at Rougham Estate.
Find out more from the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #BankHolidayWeekend #VisitSuffolk
Art, creativity and a beautiful setting come together at Blackthorpe Barn this September.
The @artworkseast exhibition returns for its 26th year, bringing together 30 established artists from across East Anglia, with a fantastic collection of contemporary 2D and 3D work on display.
From colourful abstract pieces and botanical illustrations to landscapes, portraits, ceramics and sculpture, there’s plenty to discover, and all of the work is available to buy.
There will also be opportunities to meet the artists and see them demonstrating their work, alongside the popular Mini Artworks Prize Draw, which supports the Artworks Schools Programme and an East Anglian charity.
So pop it in your diary:
12–27 September
10am–4pm daily
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate
Free entry and plenty of free parking.
Find out more on our website, or from @artworkseast
All these images are from past exhibitions.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtworksEast #ArtExhibition
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