HAMILTON
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Astro Photography and Sunset Session

Astro Photography and Sunset Session

Saturday 26 July
Waipa District - 4:30pm - 3 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
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
$155       5 places left
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Sunday 27 July
Baverstock - 12pm - 3 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
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. Zoo Entry Not Included Please bring 26

Zoo Entry Not Included: Please bring $26
book now
$155       3 places left
Dusk & Night Landscapes

Dusk & Night Landscapes

Saturday 09 August
Manu Bay Raglan - 4pm - 2 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
In this workshop, we will explore the art of capturing stunning and dramatic landscape images during the hours of dusk and night.

Our experienced instructor will guide you through the process of understanding and applying the principles of landscape photography, including composition, exposure, and lighting. We will cover topics such as capturing the mood and atmosphere of a scene, using long exposures to create unique effects, and using light sources to add interest and depth to your images.
book now
$49      

Sunrise Photography Meetup

Sunrise Photography Meetup

Saturday 16 August
Waipa District - 5:45am - 2 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
Students will learn how to use the proper settings to capture a beautiful sunrise. You will most likely need to use manual settings or switch to AV (aperture) mode.
book now
$49      
Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Saturday 23 August
The Blue Spring - 12pm - 2 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
One of the most basic tenets of composition is the Rule of Thirds. Although most people are familiar with this technique it is often forgotten in the haste to take a photo. However you ignore it at your peril as it can make an average snap into something which is has tension and dynamism.

In this meetup we will practice using the Rule of Thirds in a setting full of photographic possibility.
book now
$49      
Shallow Depth of Field

Shallow Depth of Field

Sunday 12 October
Ohaupo New Zealand - 1pm - 2 Hours
Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
In this workshop, we will explore the art of creating stunning images with a shallow depth of field.Our experienced instructor will guide you through the process of understanding and applying the principles of photography, including aperture, focal length, and distance. We will cover topics such as using a shallow depth of field to create a mood, blurring out distracting backgrounds, and how to use a shallow depth of field to give a bokeh effect behind our subjects to make them pop.
book now
$49      

ABOUT HAMILTON
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 Hamilton.

  • 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 Hamilton Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    Helen was kind and seemed to know her subject. For me it was a refresher following a night class 18 months ago. Finding out where we were to meet wasn't very clear to me. I had to email a few times to be sure. I would have liked to have had it suggested we bring along more than one lens if we had them I had a zoom lens at home I would have brought and used.
    4/5
    Trish
    2024-09-15
    Very informative class. I really enjoyed it.
    5/5
    Vipin
    2024-08-06
    Helen was a nice host and it was great to learn from her extensive experience.
    5/5
    Inge
    2024-06-24

    Helen was knowledgeable and helpful
    4/5
    Jethro
    2024-03-18
    Our group had a really enjoyable day with our tutor, many points were covered and so many questions answered.
    5/5
    Christine
    2024-03-18
    Thoroughly enjoyed the course. The tutor was relaxed and informative. It gave us confidence to ask questions without feeling intimidated. Appreciated that it was a small class.
    5/5
    Maria
    2023-10-23

    I really enjoyed catching up and sharing knowledge with fellow photography enthusiasts. Loved the red dragonfly that I was able to shoot! They always make for some gorgeous pictures.
    4/5
    Alta
    2023-03-19
    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Helen Louise Mclean-Knight
    Hi, I've been a photographer for a number of years now and traveled around NZ quite a bit. From the North to the South and beyond to Norfolk Islands. I have the patients of a saint standing watching nature at its finest The wildlife in NZ from the Tui to the Wild horses of the Kaimanawas. From the West Coast to the East coast. From the red moon to the Blue moon. Nothing astounds me more than traveling around our beautiful country.

    Helen Louise Mclean-Knight is available for private bookings

    PHOTOS
    Hamilton Photography Group
    2025-06-08
    Title or Location: Shelly Beach, Coromandel, NZ
    Taken from unit no.1 in the Shelly Beach camp ground with a Nikon D5200 on dusk. Hand held with 30th sec exposure. The nights we spent there were full of great sunsets from bush fires raging in Australia
    Credit: Alan Thomsen

    Hamilton Photography Group
    2024-09-01
    Title or Location: Taupo-New Zealand
    Taupo sunrise Made on my new camera canon r6 2 am very pleased with it.I get down to the lake about an hour before sunrise the colour in the cloud was great for about 10 minutes but had to wait to see the mountains come through.Made at f8 about 30th sec iso of 200 i often under expose to make the colours more rich i do use a denoise program to get rid of the extra noise.
    Credit: Stephen Jane
    Hamilton Photography Group
    2024-02-16
    Title or Location: Sunset beach, Port Waikato
    My wife and I have been wanting to visit Port Waikato to take photos for a while, so we booked a couple of nights at an off the grid stone hut in Onewhero. I'd also been wanting to upgrade my drone so I sold my Mavic Pro and ordered a DJI Mini 4 pro in time for the trip. We headed up there after work on Friday night and arrived at Sunset beach in time for sunset, The sun was still above the horizon when I took this photo which created shadows on the waves and the texture on the sand which added
    Credit: David Chell
    Facebook: david.chell
    Instagram: davidchell

    Hamilton Photography Group
    2024-02-12
    Title or Location: Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
    Following the banks of the Waikato River is Te Awa River Trails, is a pathway that highlights the vistas of Hamilton City (NZ), the river and its many bridges. This photo shows Claudelands Bridge (with the Railway Bridge running parallel) proving the best views are not always from the top, sometimes they?re found hidden underneath. Iso50 26mm f1.5iPhone 13 Pro
    Credit: Karen Purdy
    Facebook: MoorePurdyPhotographs

    Hamilton Photography Group
    2024-02-05
    Title or Location: Backyard garden
    I saw some floral images and got excited to try it... after a rainy day, those red flowers were looking very inviting...so took my samsung phone and took so many pics... and started finding for better ones... after that I played around a bit with snapseed and the result is what you could see.
    Credit: Jafar sadiq
    Instagram: @Jaann_1918
    Hamilton Photography Group
    2024-01-12
    Title or Location: Hamilton Gardens
    It was a cloudy day , personally I love cloudy days because Cloudy days, to me, are like nature's own Instagram filter for street photography ? the soft, diffused light turns ordinary scenes into a moody masterpiece, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the everyday hustle. So, that day at Hamilton Gardens was lit! All the kids were having a blast, flying kites like there was no tomorrow. Transported to the days of my youth, the sight evoked memories of flying kites in the nearby park, unveilin
    Credit: Don Tom
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutter_surprise_by_dontom?igsh=ZHFydHBtYmR6Z3I2&utm_source=qr

    Christchurch Photography Group
    2025-07-17
    Title or Location: Monavale Gardens Christchurch NZ
    I had some time to spare before taking some family photos. The colours of these flowers definitely stood out to me and I have always liked threes....
    Credit: Monita Baird
    Facebook: Monitamayphotography
    Instagram: MonitaMayPhotography and monsmay

    Montreal Photography Group
    2025-07-17
    Title or Location: Lachine QC
    Whispers of the SkyA long-exposure photograph taken at the Lachine Canal in Montreal captures a serene lighthouse standing at the end of a pier, guiding silently over still waters. The sky above, alive with motion, streaks with ethereal clouds that stretch dramatically across the frame?painting a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere over this peaceful riverside scene.Tags:Lighthouse LongExposure Seascape SkyDrama PierPhotography CloudMovement WaterReflection TranquilScene LandscapePh
    Credit: David Ifrah
    Facebook: @david Ifrah
    Instagram: @davidsiphoto
    Geelong Photography Group
    2025-07-16
    Title or Location: Photo was taken in my studio. The subject was cut from a flowering tree in my back yard.
    This image is part of a series I did called 'Square Flowers'.
    Credit: Rod Howes
    Facebook: Rod Howes
    Instagram: RodHowes_archive

    Las Vegas Photography Group
    2025-07-16
    Title or Location: Back Yard, Las Vegas, NV
    I enjoy macro photography highlighting parts of everyday object wee usually overlook. In this picture, I noted the opening of the white rose petals to reveal the reds and oranges of the stamens and pistil against a golden glow formed from the light diffusing through the scene, like the opening of a painted paper fan.
    Credit: Lee Stahl
    Instagram: ig_fretless.photo

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