NEWCASTLE
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Intro to Astro Photography

Intro to Astro Photography

Saturday 17 May
Noamunga Street - 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      
Astrophotography Meetup

Astrophotography Meetup

Saturday 24 May
Birubi Lane, Anna Bay - 6pm - 2 Hours
Christopher John
During this 2 hour meetup we are going to examine the art and techniques associated with Astrophotography as we capture the Milky Way. Learn the settings you need, selecting the location to photograph from and many other techniques. You will walk away with some incredible images from this evening.

NOTE: This meetup will be a follow-on from our Intro to Astro Photography and will involve taking separate sky and foreground images.
book now
$47      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 07 June
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
$148       2 places left

Street Art Photography

Street Art Photography

Saturday 14 June
Wickham NSW 2293 - 9am - 2 Hours
Christopher John
Street art is a unique and colorful art form and can be found in all kinds of nooks and crannies in cities all over the world. Capturing art in the streets in photographs can be tricky because these urban art pieces are in public spaces, that are busy and usually filled with a decent amount of traffic. Sometimes you include the people and sometimes, you don't.
book now
$47      
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      
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       5 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      

Nearby Photography Groups

Intro to Astro Photography

Intro to Astro Photography

Saturday 24 May
Maitland Bay Track, Bouddi - 6pm - 2 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
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.

Putty Beach
book now
$49      
Shaping of Light & White Balance in Photography

Shaping of Light & White Balance in Photography

Saturday 31 May
Nora Head - 9am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
Light and shadow photography is a type of photography that focuses on capturing the interplay between light and shadow in a particular scene. This style of photography often produces dramatic and compelling images that can evoke strong emotions in the viewer.Harsh light and the contrast between light and shadow can provide some interesting photoopportunities, as well as some challenges! In this meetup, we will be looking at how you can use your camera's settings to nail the exposure.
book now
$148       5 places left
An Introduction to Adobe Lightroom

An Introduction to Adobe Lightroom

Saturday 07 June
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
$148      

Walk With Camera Street Photography

Walk With Camera Street Photography

Sunday 15 June
The Entrance - 9:30am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
A fun and relaxed walk with our cameras covering a variety aspects of photography from street, landscape, architecture, seascape and abstract.
book now
$155      
Introduction to Smartphone Photography

Introduction to Smartphone Photography

Saturday 21 June
Shelly Beach Rd - 8am - 3 Hours
Central Coast Photography Group
Nicholas Gibbins
Ready to unlock the full potential of your smartphone camera? Now's your chance! Join us as we dive into the essentials of smartphone photography—from understanding your camera's settings to mastering composition and lighting. With hands-on guidance from a professional photographer, you'll learn how to take stunning photos using just your phone and start seeing the world through a whole new lens.
book now
$155       4 places left
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      

Other Nearby Groups

Merewether Baths - Mini Photo Session

Merewether Baths - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 31 May
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       10:00am       $270

book now       10:30am       $270
King Edward Park - Afternoon Mini Photo Session

King Edward Park - Afternoon Mini Photo Session

Saturday 07 June
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 07 June
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

Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Woodbury Inn Park - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 14 June
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       10:00am       $270

booked       10:30am

book now       11:00am       $270
Nobbys Beach - Mini Photo Session

Nobbys Beach - Mini Photo Session

Saturday 21 June
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
Beginner's Crochet Class

Beginner's Crochet Class

Saturday 21 June
Newcastle East - 10am - 3 Hours
Newcastle Crochet Club
Rachael Sylvester
If you are brand new to crochet, haven't picked up a hook in years, or simply want a little more guidance on those all important basic stitches this is the class for you. We will start with techniques for holding the yarn before moving onto forming the stitches that make up a traditional granny square.

Crochet materials are included as well as a free tea or coffee.
book now
$98      

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

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

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

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 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
    I really enjoyed the event. I took away some good tips on light and comparison.
    5/5
    Caroline
    2025-03-24
    Enjoyed the meetup and some great tips about composition and available light. Looking forward to some future events.
    5/5
    Kylie
    2025-03-24

    Chris was very nice, easy to understand when he explained things. Liked how he took photos of things and showed you the difference in the various lights etc. Had a great afternoon.
    5/5
    Kellie
    2025-03-24
    First event I've attended, will definitely do more. Liked the relaxed informal way it was run.
    5/5
    Karla
    2025-02-24
    Very easy to access and attend. Christopher is knowledgeable and imparts the knowledge well.
    4/5
    Shirlene
    2025-02-10

    Chris was very thorough and showcase?s experience and expertise in guiding every person with personal attention in bringing them up to speed with the techniques.
    5/5
    Dr Nanda Kumar Sakaleshpura Chandrashekar
    2025-02-10
    The location and time were good and Christopher is knowledgeable and helpful
    5/5
    Bette
    2025-02-06
    Very informative and learnt a lot
    4/5
    Peter
    2025-02-02

    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
    2025-03-29
    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/
    Newcastle Photography Group
    2024-11-04
    Title or Location: Days End - Shoal Bay Jetty
    This image was captured about 30mins after sunset during winter with a 157sec exposure using a Sony A7RIII and Sony 20mm lens. The long exposure allowed the clouds to move across the sky adding to the drama in the scene. I waited till this time in the evening to take this image as I wanted the jetty to be illuminated by the nearby streetlights to balance the lighting in the picture.
    Credit: Christopher John
    Facebook: Christopher John Photo
    Instagram: Chrisjohnart

    Richmond Photography Group
    2025-05-12
    Title or Location: Bald Head Island, North Carolina, USA
    This blossom was on a small Magnolia tree sheltered from the wind and weather on Bald Head Island. When I spied this blossom the sun light was beginning to illuminate the petals. Time time spent waiting for the pictorial moment gave me time to more deeply appreciate the beauty of this transient blossom. Taken with a Nikon D850, tripod, 70-200 in close distance. Single image-no stacking.
    Credit: Ted Peck

    Birkenhead Photography Group
    2025-05-10
    Title or Location: New brighton Lighthouse
    So after waiting months for some decent weather and perfect lighting conditions, as well as the tide to go out.. I was finally able to get the perfect photograph that focuses on the Lighthouse in all of its glory!
    Credit: Ryan Scott Davis
    Facebook: RAWFRAMES PHOTOGRAPHY
    Instagram: The_Cryptex
    Portland Photography Group
    2025-05-10
    Title or Location: The Oregon Zoo
    The Oregon Zoo is a symphony of colors, a vibrant tapestry of life from every corner of the world. But on that particular day, it was the intrigue of the flamingo exhibit that caught my attention. As I approached, camera in hand, the light was perfectly casting a glow on the water as the flamingos glided along. Among the flock, one particular bird stood out. It approached me with an equal curiosity as I. It captured me as I captured it. The result, I believe, speaks for itself. It's more than ju
    Credit: DeVante Flores
    Facebook: Devante Flores
    Instagram: northwest.lens

    Reno Photography Group
    2025-05-09
    Title or Location: Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary
    Gracie is one of our North American Black bears that we have rescued. A private owner kept her as a pet, illegally when she was a cub. She was confiscated by NDOW and was brought to us 19 years ago. Now, she is living her best life with all the love and care she could ask for. I took the photo while assisting with her care that day.
    Credit: Gabriel Rijborz
    Instagram: snapshots_by_gabe

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