NEWCASTLE
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Intro to Astro Photography

Intro to Astro Photography

Saturday 28 June
Catherine Hill Bay NSW 2281 - 6pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Do you gaze up at the night sky with wonder? What about looking up at the stars and thinking, how old that light you are seeing is? Maybe you watch as day and night morph into one, and the stars come out to play.

This meetup is going to cover off everything you need to know to start capturing amazing single shot astrophotography and a few extra bits of helpful advice. The learnt basics of capturing a single frame will form the building blocks of your astrophotography journey. Think of this meetup as your first step on that journey or for those who have already started, maybe a road sign.

Astrophotography looks amazing and packs a real punch, however, you do not need to spend a fortune to partake. Does gear make a difference, the simple answer is yes, but it is not the deciding factor when it comes to astrophotography. This meetup will look at planning your session, camera settings, required equipment. I want this meetup to help you maximise your current gear as your start capturing milky way shots.
book now
$47       2 places left
Composition in the Park

Composition in the Park

Saturday 12 July
King St., Newcastle - 9am - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Come and join us as we explore composition in photography.

Composition is one of the most critical element in photography. Composition is how a photographer arranges the visual elements within their image, frame. I promise you that if you search for information on composition you will find plenty You will find formal rules, opinion, some of which you can trace back to historical art movements and painters.

Even in the digital world, composition remains the key to creating strong images. Composition is what guides our eye through an image and gives importance to the subject. It creates the story for the viewer and how we as photographers convey that message.

This meetup will explore composition using our frame and tools available to us as the photographer.
book now
$49      
Long Exposure Photography

Long Exposure Photography

Saturday 26 July
Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle - 3pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Learn the basics of long exposure to capture light trails along with tripod photography.

Long exposure refers to a technique where you keep the shutter open for an unusually long period of time. This results to interesting effects in your photographs.
book now
$49      

Bird Photography

Bird Photography

Saturday 09 August
Hexham - 7am - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Learn how to catch those great bird life images.

During the event, we will be exploring the beautiful habitats in the area and photographing the variety of bird species that reside there.

Whether you are new to bird photography or a seasoned pro, this event is a great opportunity to hone your skills, learn from others, and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals who share your passion for bird photography.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 23 August
Newcastle Street - 10am - 3 Hours
Christopher John
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$155       2 places left
Panoramas Photography Meetup

Panoramas Photography Meetup

Saturday 30 August
Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle - 1pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with horizontally elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography.
book now
$49      

Street Photography

Street Photography

Saturday 13 September
Newcastle East - 8am - 2 Hours
Christopher John
People, cafes, vendors, street merchants, buskers, historic buildings, art installations and much more. The power of observation underpins the art of great street photography. Learning to "see" interesting detail is a practised skill and we introduce you to easy methods that will open your photographer's eye and expose you to a world that is alive with detail. The most rewarding part of the class is learning how to approach interesting people and have them willingly pose for you.

We will also go over settings, focusing techniques and lens choices common to street photography to help us capture those random chance encounters.
book now
$49      
Intro to Astro Photography

Intro to Astro Photography

Saturday 27 September
Kitchener - 7pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Do you gaze up at the night sky with wonder? What about looking up at the stars and thinking, how old that light you are seeing is? Maybe you watch as day and night morph into one, and the stars come out to play.

This meetup is going to cover off everything you need to know to start capturing amazing single shot astrophotography and a few extra bits of helpful advice. The learnt basics of capturing a single frame will form the building blocks of your astrophotography journey. Think of this meetup as your first step on that journey or for those who have already started, maybe a road sign.

Astrophotography looks amazing and packs a real punch, however, you do not need to spend a fortune to partake. Does gear make a difference, the simple answer is yes, but it is not the deciding factor when it comes to astrophotography. This meetup will look at planning your session, camera settings, required equipment. I want this meetup to help you maximise your current gear as your start capturing milky way shots.
book now
$49      
Nature Photography Meetup

Nature Photography Meetup

Saturday 18 October
King Albert Ave, Tanilba Bay NSW 2319 - 1pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Join this session for tips on how to use your camera settings to creatively capture nature in a visually interesting way. We will be looking at composition, focus, and colour.

Many professional offices and places of business have large prints gracing their wall space of things such as fields of flowers, a butterfly perched on a leaf, and a single dew drop on a rose petal. These beautiful images are all around us in nature. It just takes that special "eye" to not only see it but to capture it in a way that will turn that simple little piece of nature into a beautiful piece of art. We will learn how to use different angles, light and shadows, and settings to make subjects pop.
book now
$49      

Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 01 November
Newcastle Street - 10am - 3 Hours
Christopher John
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$155      
Macro Photography Meetup

Macro Photography Meetup

Saturday 08 November
King Albert Ave, Tanilba Bay NSW 2319 - 3pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to make them look life-sized or more significant in the photo. The usual subjects include flowers and small insects, which we don't normally get to see up close with the naked eye.

The class will start when the insects are more active. So be ready to explore and capture breathe-taking macro images.
book now
$49      
Black and White Photography

Black and White Photography

Saturday 22 November
King St., Newcastle - 3pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Introduction to Black and White Photography. What makes a good Black and White shot?

We will look at the contrast and using textures. How does the camera see the image and how do we create Black and White images in a camera or in post-production. We will look for some good examples and set some exercises.

This is a more advanced course and assumes you understand the basics of photography and controlling your camera.
book now
$49      

Nearby Photography Groups

Sunrise Photography Meetup

Sunrise Photography Meetup

Saturday 28 June
Norahead Lighthouse - 6:30am - 2 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$49      
Beginners Photography Class

Beginners Photography Class

Saturday 05 July
Long Jetty Wharf - 9:30am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance! Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$155       3 places left
An Introduction to Adobe Lightroom

An Introduction to Adobe Lightroom

Sunday 10 August
Wyong - 9am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
Overview This course introduces photographers and enthusiasts to Adobe Lightroom, focusing on photo editing and management.Session BreakdownWelcome and Objectives Course introduction and discussion on the importance of photo editing.Getting Started with Lightroom Overview of the interface, Library and Develop modules, and importingorganizing photos.Basic Editing Techniques Introduction to essential editing tools, cropping, and using presets.Advanced Editing Features Local adjustments, HSL panel, and lens corrections.Exporting and Sharing Your Work Export settings, creating web galleries, and printing best practices.QA and Hands-On Practice Open questions and guided practice with provided images.Conclusion and Resources Recap, additional learning resources, and information on future courses.
book now
$155      

Shooting in Manual Mode Class

Shooting in Manual Mode Class

Sunday 17 August
Shelly Beach Rd - 9am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
This class is for anyone looking to switch their camera mode from Auto to Manual and learn how to shoot using the Manual Mode. The goal is to help everyone become more confident when using their camera settings. We will touch on essential camera functions and the exposure triangle Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO.
book now
$155       5 places left
Composition Perspective in Photography

Composition Perspective in Photography

Sunday 14 September
Avoca Beach - 9am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
What is Perspective in Photography?Why perspective matters.A quick look at how perspective shapes what we see.The Basics of PerspectiveHow camera position affects the scene.Vanishing points, horizon lines, and depth.Playing with Camera SettingsFocal length Wide vs. zoom.Depth of field and its impact on how we perceive depth.Shutter speed for motion effects.Using Perspective in CompositionCool tricks Leading lines, framing, symmetry.Creating depth with foreground, middle, and background.Creative Perspective TricksForced perspective making things look biggersmaller.Shooting from unique angles for dramatic effect.Editing for PerspectiveFixing distortion in post.Enhancing the depth and feel of your shots.Putting It All TogetherTry out different perspective techniques in your shots.A photo project to test what you've learned.Wrap-Up ReviewLook at some of your work and discuss.What's next? How to keep experimenting with perspective.
book now
$155      

Other Nearby Groups

Long Jetty Wharf  - Mini Photo Session - Golden Hour Photos

Long Jetty Wharf - Mini Photo Session - Golden Hour Photos

Saturday 28 June
Long Jetty Wharf
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270
King Edward Park - Afternoon Mini Photo Session

King Edward Park - Afternoon Mini Photo Session

Saturday 05 July
Reserve Rd, Newcastle
My Family Photo - Newcastle
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

booked       1:30pm

book now       2:00pm       $270
Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 12 July
Mardi
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270

King Edward Park - Mini Photo Session

King Edward Park - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 26 July
Reserve Rd, Newcastle
My Family Photo - Newcastle
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       10:00am       $270

book now       10:30am       $270
Newcastle Civic Park - Mini Photo Session

Newcastle Civic Park - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 09 August
King St, Newcastle
My Family Photo - Newcastle
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270
Crackneck Lookout - Mini Photo Session

Crackneck Lookout - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 16 August
Crackneck Lookout
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270

Merewether Baths - Mini Photo Session

Merewether Baths - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 23 August
Merewether
My Family Photo - Newcastle
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

booked       1:30pm

book now       2:00pm       $270
Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 30 August
Mardi
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270
Long Jetty Wharf  - Mini Photo Session

Long Jetty Wharf - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 13 September
Long Jetty Wharf
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270

Crackneck Lookout - Mini Photo Session

Crackneck Lookout - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 27 September
Crackneck Lookout
My Family Photo - Central Coast
Do you need an updated family portrait? Come along to our mini photo sessions.Mini-sessions are short 30 minute photo sessions for up to 6 people - perfect for families with little ones who can't sit still for too long.

book now       1:00pm       $270

book now       1:30pm       $270
ABOUT NEWCASTLE
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP
Come along to our photo sessions to dust off your camera and get snap-happy with a professional photography instructor.

Brush up on your camera skills and learn new photography techniques whilst on a photo walk class with other local keen photographers!

We run two hour photography sessions based on a photography theme/technique/style and they take place in various locations in Newcastle .

  • New to photography? We also run a popular 3 hour Beginners Guide to Photography Class once a month. And once in a while we will run special niche 3 hour classes, for example, Astrophotography - so do subscribe to our newsletter to know when the next on is!

  • Who can attend? Open to all skill levels, from beginners to keen amateurs. The photography instructor is there to help you with camera settings and provide any advice you need.

  • What to bring? We recommend bringing a camera that has full manual mode or semi-manual modes (Aperture or Shutter Priority). Compact cameras and smartphones also welcome!

    The meeting point and full details for the day are sent in the booking confirmation email to the email address you provide at time of booking.

    Join the Newcastle Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    I found it vey interesting and informative
    5/5
    peter
    2025-06-19
    a really great morning and very helpful A great teacher thanks
    5/5
    peter
    2025-06-10
    I really enjoyed it. Chris was very lovely and helpful.
    4/5
    Geraldine Bourke
    2025-06-09

    A perfect night after weeks of rain. Chris as always is fantastic. His knowledge is incredable both with the subject and all different camera's and lenses. Totally recommend.
    5/5
    Robyn
    2025-05-21
    An opportunity to gain some knowledge. For a raw beginner, it would have been quite difficult. No constructive advice on different techniques and how to achieve a result in poor light. Thank you for a good session.
    4/5
    Garvin
    2025-05-15
    I really enjoyed it and Chris is always so helpful with settings to try and even other products that could help you achieve what youre after.r
    5/5
    courtney
    2025-05-13

    I enjoyed the meet up and learnt some things which I hope to put into practice soon. Thank you Chris!
    4/5
    Karla
    2025-05-12
    I really enjoyed the event and Christopher was very informative and made sure we were not having any issues
    5/5
    Kelli-Lee
    2025-05-12
    I was really happy with everything I learnt! Christopher is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about photography but delivered the content in a way that wasn?t intimidating. He managed to explain what was some very technical information in a way I could understand. I wasn?t sure my camera was going to be good enough but I was shown how to make the most of what I had and got some great shots! It definitely covered the basics and I feel confident in what I learned to now put it all into practice. The technical stuff can seem a bit overwhelming at first but once Christopher put it all into practice it made total sense and I am so excited to take some more great photos!
    5/5
    Alison
    2025-05-04

    interesting event and venue - thanks
    5/5
    Perry
    2025-04-14
    Workshop was great Chris explained things very well and I came away knowing more than I did before the event Thankyou
    5/5
    Steve Connors
    2025-04-14
    Interesting location and group of people
    4/5
    Perry
    2025-03-24

    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Christopher John
    Christopher is passionate about his photography and has been creating artistic interpretations of people, landscapes and the world around him for more than 40 years.

    Working with light, the environment, body language and people's emotions, Christopher creates images that are presented in either colour or monochrome, images that tell a story, convey the mood of a location or an individual's story. Photography in its purest form.

    Christopher John is available for private bookings

    Private tutoring for weddings, portraits and posing techniques, fine art photography, astro landscapes.

    Available by appointment, most Saturdays and some Sundays from 2pm until 6pm

    PHOTOS
    Newcastle Photography Group
    2025-06-10
    Title or Location: Crowned in Light - Tomago, NSW
    This epic sunrise was fanned by the tree, dispersing golden fingers into the mist - a sun-kissed land awakening in silence. The golden glow became a crown for the tree showing nature's complimentary dance: light and shadow, stillness and motion, presence and impermanence. Nothing forced, nothing held - simply the unfolding of what is. A moment neither grasped nor chased, but witnessed and captured.
    Credit: Jeff Scaife (Obscura Visions Photography)
    Facebook: Obscura Visions Photography
    Instagram: @obscura_visions_photography

    Newcastle Photography Group
    2025-03-29
    Title or Location: Tomago House Chapel
    I drive past this chapel every morning on my way to work. It's a historic building in Port Stephens, NSW. Built in 1860-1861 for Richard Windeyer, the late husband of Maria Windeyer. The sunrise looked magical on this morning. So, I pulled over and walked down to where I thought was a good spot to catch the sunrise shining upon this heritage listed property. The mist and the golden light brought the scene to life and also made it feel ethereal. It was the best sunrise I'd seen for a long time an
    Credit: Jeff Scaife (Obscura Visions Photography)
    Facebook: Obscura Visions Photography
    Instagram: @obscura_visions_photography
    Newcastle Photography Group
    2025-01-30
    Title or Location: Customs House
    This is a Fine Art B&W long exposure image capturing the southern side of the ocean baths at Merewether, Newcastle NSW Australia, where the overcast conditions and pounding seas come together to create mood and drama in this monochrome rendition.
    Credit: Christopher John
    Facebook: Christopher John Photo
    Instagram: Chrisjohnart

    Newcastle Photography Group
    2024-12-30
    Title or Location: Customs House
    Customs House in Newcastle, NSW Australia is an iconic and historic building and with the upgrades to the Foreshore Park nearby, makes for great framing of the building. I captured this well after sunset when there was still some colour in the wester sky.
    Credit: Christopher John
    Facebook: Christopher John Photo
    Instagram: Chrisjohnart

    Newcastle Photography Group
    2024-12-30
    Title or Location: Sunset Rendezvous
    This is a 30sec long exposure image captured at Newcastle Ocean Baths, Newcastle NSW Australia in early spring, late in the afternoon. A lot of people chill out at this iconic location all throughout the year and so it is with this image, where we have three girls sitting and chatting with the walkway dividing the two pools leading you to them and the Art Deco historic wall to the left also bringing your eye to the girls.
    Credit: Christopher John
    Facebook: Christopher John Photo
    Instagram: Chrisjohnart
    Newcastle Photography Group
    2024-12-30
    Title or Location: Sydney Harbour Bridge
    I recently purchased the Nikon Z6iii and the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. During a trip to Sydney, we decided to take the walk on the pathway next to the bridge. What better combination than an iconic structure ,my amazing wife and beautiful daughter.
    Credit: Paul White
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_white_photography/

    Charlotte Photography Club
    2025-06-21
    Title or Location: Miami, FL
    Right after a terrific storm, we went outside to see if any damage had been done to the waterfront and were amazed to see the clear lights of the city with a bright moon shining overhead. The peaceful, calm water made it look like not a drop of rain had fallen.
    Credit: How rd Stevens

    Baltimore Photography Group
    2025-06-21
    Title or Location: Vuyani Safari Lodge, South Africa
    This cheetah is one of two brothers we sighted roaming Vuyani Reserve during a game ride in 2018. The handheld image is from a Canon 5D4 with a 150-600 telephoto lense and was taken from the back seat of an open top range vehicle. The intense stare from those orange eyes os captivating.
    Credit: Warren Gitt
    Chichester Photography Group
    2025-06-21
    Title or Location: greenie
    I just love the green and the composition of this snake
    Credit: Ian Holloway
    Instagram: holloway68

    Reno Photography Group
    2025-06-20
    Title or Location: Carson City, Nevada
    Powwow Indian Dance Competition ? June 2025 This photo was taken on the first day of the competition in Carson City. I captured over 200 images of dancers from all categories?each one was incredible to watch and photograph.I used a Sony a7R IIIA camera with a Tamron 35?150mm lens. Camera settings for this shot: ISO 3200, 126mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec.In post-processing, I removed the distracting background elements (such as other people and vendor tents) and brightened the subject using Luminar Ne
    Credit: Damian Czajka
    Facebook: Nevada and Southwest
    Instagram: damian_LV_photography

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