My name is Petr Malek and I am recently retired officer from the NSW Fire Brigades. About 15 years ago I started to study photography in earnest; it was always my passion, and has completed a Diploma in Arts/Photography ay Sydney UTS.
I then started a photographic business and worked in it for about 12 years, doing weddings, portraits and lot of printing for many Sydney based firms. But my passion was always fine art photography which I frequently exhibited. My shows to date were in Sydney, Blue Mountains and in Mitchelton in Victoria and my photographs hung in many countries. Now I mainly teach photography to local young people and oversee students.
My studio is in the Blue Mountains, which is an area within a National Park, about 80 km from Sydney. We offer several courses in photography from beginners to advanced, traditional and digital and darkroom techniques, again from a simple print to advanced print manipulation.
My photography has been exhibiting fine art photography for many years in Sydney and Blue Mountains. My images hung in many private homes in Australia, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, and Germany.
I studied at Penrith TAFE to obtain a Photography Certificate and then at Sydney Institute of Technology to obtain an Associated Diploma of Art - Photography which established me as a commercial practicing photographer. My laboratory in the Blue Mountains produces Black and White prints for many Sydney based photographers for commercial and exhibiting purposes.
I mainly teach 1 to 1 in darkroom situations or in small groups in photography for beginners. Courses are held in the Blue Mountains National Park at Glenbrook or in my studio darkroom at Winmalee.
We also provide an accommodation in a B&B set up and if required full board is available. Evenings are taken up by classes or a movie in local cinemas at Glenbrook or Richmond. Students find local area ideal for evenings walks in the National park or if weather is suitable for a dip in our pool. Our dog Millie is a constant companion to one and all in the pool, running around and barking.
I also belong to a Blue Mountains Artist Network and I have been exhibiting fine art photography for many years in Sydney and Blue Mountains. My images hung in many private homes in Australia, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, and Germany.
I was fortunate to attend a printing course given John Sexton in California, USA. (John was an assistant to the late Ansel Adams). This and my love of B&W photography and printing has inspired me to share gained knowledge with upcoming photographers as I feel photography is not only a viable commercial enterprise but also a very visually exiting art form.
Workshops offered are:
- Camera handling and exposure, film and digital (1 day workshop) - Workshop in Blue Mountains National Park at Glenbrook, aprox. 6-7 hours;
- Development of B&W negative, proofing and test printing (1 day workshop);
- Darkroom introduction, (proofing of negatives) learning to print from any negative, print manipulation (dry and wet) techniques of various development methods, understanding of chemistry and producing a test print (1or 2 day’s workshop);
- Advanced printing techniques for pulling a fine art print such as: flashing and fine contrast tuning, bleaching, and toning, D max enhancement, etc. (1 or 2 day’s workshop);
- Archival techniques for print conservation, introduction to print matting and final print display (1 day workshop, participants must be able to print or have attended my 2 day darkroom introduction workshop);
- Darkroom introduction and printing techniques are recommended as a 2-day workshop for students without prior darkroom experience. (1 to 2 students per workshop);
- One to one workshops are available in: Advanced contrast-printing controls, lith printing, bleaching and redevelopment, bleaching and toning, toning /duo toning, photo and chemical solarization, mordancage and Polaroid transfers.
Faculty Information:
Courses are held in our home which has studio attached. Large darkroom is available for printing and camera courses are held in the Blue Mountains National Park or in house if weather is not suitable. Tuition is in small groups for camera handling courses and one to one, max one to two students for all other courses to allow plenty on time on enlargers.
I have been exhibiting fine art photography for many years in Sydney and Blue Mountains. My images hung in many private homes in Australia, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, and Germany.
Other Activities:
- Springwood Village (our studio and home are near Springwood) is in the Blue Mountains National Park, approximately 80 Km’s west from Sydney
- Blue Mountains National Park has numerous attractions around Springwood or in vicinity like Katoomba, Leura, Mt. Tomah Botanical Gardens and such
- Walking or mountain bike riding in the Blue Mountains National Park, just around the corner from our home
- Mountain bike available for hire
- Numerous galleries in vicinity
- Horse riding
- Swimming in house pool
- Choice of local cinemas in Glenbrook, Penrith or Richmond
- Restaurants, coffee shops and hotels.
Facility Information:
We offer such facilities:
- Fully equipped dark room with 2 enlargers
- Extensive range of chemicals for making of experimental developers, bleaches and such
- Large range of photographic papers
- Unlimited time after hours to experiment in learned techniques
- Large garden with plenty of motives for photography
- National Park within minutes walking for nature photography and close up studies (macro photography)
- B&B accommodation at reasonable cost
- Room with large bed, TV, DVD, air conditioned
- Full board available
- Pick up and drop off from train to and from Sydney.
Notes:
Lith printing, redevelopment printing, bleaching, solarization, etc or one to one tuition to fine-tune your darkroom skills is also available.
- Cost approximately 220 per day, plus materials used.
- Camera handling: (SLR camera with manual control required)-110.00
(Walking boots required, manual camera with standard lens, tripod, cable release, filters if available-red-yellow-ND etc., B&W negative film is provided, bring lunch and drinks and suitable camera bag)
- Development and proofing of negatives: 165.00 (lunch and all materials are provided.)
- Darkroom introduction: 220.00 (lunch and all materials are provided)
- Advanced printing techniques: 220.00 (lunch and all materials are provided)
- Darkroom introduction and Advanced printing if taken as 2 day course are offered at: 400.00.
- Price depends on topic/s, material usage and duration of course.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Photography and Film Workshops
Australia and Oceania
Australia
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
 |
| Check out these similar vacation offers: |
|
|
