John Arnold (37, UK) is a british photographer and podcaster. With a keen interest in photography from boyhood and a focus purely on digital since 2000 he explores as many aspects of photography as he can, enjoying post processing with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop in particular.

Since January of 2006 John has produced and hosted his own photography and post processing focused video podcast, PhotoWalkthrough, where he teaches not just how to use Photoshop but also the artistic decisions and concepts that go into the production of a fine art print.

John and Chris, together, formed the Photocast Network in August 2006 and have both been regular contributors to the network's round table discussion show, The Focus Ring.

Chris Marquardt (38, Germany) has been in photography for over 22 years, with his main focus being on digital photography since 1999.

Since 2005 he has hosted and produced Tips from the Top Floor , a podcast for digital photographers, with which he won the PodcastAward in the Education category in 2005 and 2006. Since 2005 he has also been producing the photography podcast Happy Shooting in the German language.

With his production company top floor productions , Chris also offers services around mobile recording, graphic design and internet production.

Hosts: John Arnold (host of PhotoWalkthrough) and Chris Marquardt (host of Tips From The Top Floor)

Dates: May 5th, 6th and 7th 2008

Times: Workshop begins 10am on the 5th and finishes at 4pm on the 7th. Regular workshop days begin at 9:30am and end at appoximately 5:30pm with lunch breaks from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Social activities in the evenings are encouraged!

Number of participants: 15-20

Location: Crewe Hall, Cheshire, UK

Please bring: A digital camera (no specific requirements. DSLR recommended but not required), camera equipment (lenses, flash, tripod etc), laptop computer with photo editng software (optional but encouraged)

Workshop fee: £470 per person early booking fee. The full course fee is £520 but if you book before the end of Dec 2007 you'll get a £50 discount.

What's included: Accomodation for 2 nights at Crewe Hall hotel, plus breakfasts, lunches and evening meals.

What should I bring?

Bring your digital camera, any other photogaphy gear you'd like to have with you (lenses, tripods etc) and your enthusiasm for lots of shooting, learning and making new friends.

Is this just a photoshop course?

Definitely not. In fact the main focus will be on shooting and getting as much right as possible in-camera. But this is a PhotoWalkthrough workshop so of course there will be a healthy slice of post processing using Lightroom or Photoshop. Many of the techniques you learn can be translated to the other popular photo editing packages. Bring a laptop with whatever package you use and John will be happy to show you how to translate those techniques.

How much does the workshop cost?

£470 per person early booking fee. The full course fee is £520 but if you book before the end of Dec 2007 you'll get a £50 discount.

What's included in that cost?

That cost includes the course fee plus the cost of 2 nights accomodation at Crewe Hall and breakfast, lunch and evening meal during your stay. Crewe Hall is a true luxury 4 star stately home hotel. You won't be disappointed!

Is there an option to just attend the course and arrange my own accomodation without staying at Crewe Hall?

Strictly speaking it could be done by special arrangement but it's an important part of the course that the attendees get to know one another. Staying at the same hotel is a big part of that. If you're really keen to discuss this option then please email me.

How do I sign up?

Sign-ups are now open. Please download the sign up form, complete it, sign it, scan or photograph it and email it back to me at photowalkthrough@gmail.com.

How do I pay?

You can pay using Paypal, Bank transfer or cheque (in pounds).

How many people will be attending?

Ideally between 15 and 20 people will attend the course. Experience with Chris' workshops in Tubingen have shown that this is just the right number of people for making friends, getting to know each other and learning!

Who are my hosts?

John Arnold (host of PhotoWalkthrough) and Chris Marquardt (host of Tips From The Top Floor)

Does it matter that I'm a beginner or that I have a point and shoot camera?

Absolutely not. You can use almost any camera as long as it's digital. It would help if your camera has some manual shooting modes available and we'll help you understand how to get the most out of those.

Are film cameras allowed?

We have nothing against film but really this course is very much aimed at digital photography. With a film camera you would be unable to take part in the assignment critique sessions and these are an important part of the course.

Will I need a car?

Not once you're at the course no. How you arrive at Crewe Hall is up to you. There is parking available at the hotel.

What airports/train stations/bus stations are nearby?

The nearest airports at Manchester International and Birmingham International. Both are approximately 1 hour's drive from Crewe and both have rail services at the airport that should get you to Crewe without having to change trains.

Crewe train station is one of the UK's main rail hubs and is very well served by all parts of the UK rail network. The bus station in crewe is nearby the rail station and Crewe Hall is approximately a 10 minute cab ride from both.

If you were feeling fit you could walk from Crewe bus or rail station to Crewe Hall. It would take 30mins to an hour but if you fancy it drop me an email and I'll sort you out with a map.

What materials will be provided at the course?

Printed hand-outs will be provided for the photography and post processing elements of the course. You are welcome to take notes if you wish but the handouts should be sufficient and we wish our main teaching mechanism to be through hands-on experience.

I want to learn (fill in blank) photography. Will that be covered at the workshop?

Check out the workshop content section above for the main subjects we'll cover. If there's something you'd like us to cover that isn't listed there please email me and we'll consider it. No promises, though.

Do I have to watch PhotoWalkthrough or listen to Tips From the Top Floor to come along?

Of course not! We understand that not everyone listens to podcasts and that's OK with us. Everyone wanting to improve their digital photography is welcome to attend. If you *are* a member of either the PhotoWalkthrough or Tips From The Top Floor community, though, this might be an excellent opportunity to meet in person friends you've known only on the screen before now.

I'm an advanced amateur/semi-pro photographer with good technical skill. What would I get out of the workshop?

Many of the amateur/semi-pro participants on the last workshops who were really good with the technique and technical side of photography took away a lot in terms of learning more on the creative side. Some also mentioned that the "shop talk" outside of the actual workshop framework and the fact that they could do all this away from the daily treadmill in a very relaxed atmosphere gave them a lot of new ideas and impulses.

Can I bring my partner if he/she doesn't want to attend the course?

Of course! In fact we've arranged a special rate for partners of £50 per night, which includes evening meal, bed and breakfast.

Crewe Hall is a beautiful hotel with loads of wonderful facilities that partners can enjoy while you're off shooting and learning. There should even be a brand new spa block available to hotel guests by next May when we hold the course.

Can I arrive the day before and stay at the Crewe Hall hotel so I'm fresh for the first morning of the course?

Absolutely. We've arranged a bed and breakfast rate of £108 for single occupancy or £128 for double occupancy for workshop guests wanting to stay for the night before.