Art Photography Workshops and Retreats
Fine art photography retreats, masterclasses, and expeditions in South Africa, Namibia and France
Every on location workshop, retreat and expedition with a date on it, from now through to 2028, in the order it happens. Groups are small on purpose, most of these run once, and several are already closed. The online courses are further down, and those start whenever you do. Live in Cape Town? See photography courses in Cape Town, including private lessons in Hout Bay.
New dates, February 2027
Gardens of INARA, The Art of Photography Workshop
11 and 12 February 2027, INARA Manor House, Cape Winelands
Limited to ten guestsTwo days in a private garden in the Cape Winelands with Martin and Samantha Lee Osner. You create your own photographs in the garden, then learn to turn them into painted, photo alchemy artworks. The group is small enough that everybody gets time with both of them.
SEE THE GARDENS OF INARA WORKSHOPJust completed. The Gardens of INARA workshop, 22 and 23 October 2026. The next Gardens of INARA workshop runs 11 and 12 February 2027 and is now booking.
Every Thursday in Hout Bay
The Osner Art Experience, an afternoon art workshop
Thursdays, 1pm to 5pm, Osner Gallery, Hout Bay, from 3 December 2026
No more than five guestsA four hour art workshop at Osner Gallery in Hout Bay with Martin Osner and Samantha Lee Osner: a talk on Photo Alchemy, a walk through the gallery with the artists, a full demonstration in the studio, then your own artwork made at the studio table, and a wine tasting to finish. R4,450 each, about US$270.
SEE THE ART EXPERIENCE AND BOOKIn the diary
Workshops, retreats, expeditions and live classes, by date
2026
Swellendam Art and Photography Retreat
Swellendam, Overberg
This retreat has now run. Four days in the Overberg with Martin and Samantha Lee Osner, creating in the field in the morning and working the images up in the afternoon.
Next dates, 21 to 25 June 2027.
Art of Painting Breakaway
Napier, Overberg
This one has moved. We have closed our Napier gallery, and the Art of Painting Breakaway now runs from Bloupunt Winery in Montagu, where our own work has hung for the past five years.
Next dates, 16 to 20 August 2027 in Montagu.
Gardens of INARA
The next Gardens of INARA workshop is on 11 and 12 February 2027.
The Osner Art Experience
Osner Gallery, Hout Bay, every Thursday
A four hour art workshop at Osner Gallery in Hout Bay with Martin Osner and Samantha Lee Osner: a talk on Photo Alchemy, a walk through the gallery with the artists, a full demonstration in the studio, then your own artwork made at the studio table, and a wine tasting to finish. Every Thursday from 3 December 2026, 1pm to 5pm.
2027
Next Level Fine Art Photography
Live on Zoom
Lessons eleven to fifteen, live with Martin on nine Thursdays from 21 January to 18 March 2027, 3pm to 5.30pm South African time. Projection, heat and emulsion, distortion and encaustic wax, ending in a portfolio you could exhibit.
Gardens of INARA
INARA Manor House, Cape Winelands
Two days in a private garden, small enough that everybody gets time with both Martin and Samantha Lee Osner, learning to create their own photographs of flowers and texture to use for painting and photo alchemy.
Wildlife Art Photography Workshop
Marloth Park, alongside Kruger
Wildlife created as art rather than as record, on the fence line of the Kruger National Park.
Wildlife Art Photography Workshop
Marloth Park, alongside Kruger
The same workshop run a second time, the week after the first, for people who cannot make the earlier dates.
Swellendam Art and Photography Retreat
Swellendam, Overberg
The Overberg retreat run again in winter light, four days of creating in the field and working the images up afterwards.
Art of Painting
Montagu, Western Cape
Five days from photograph to painted work, at Bloupunt Winery on Long Street. The Breakaway has moved here from Napier.
Château Art and Photography Workshop
Loire Valley, France
A week in a Loire Valley château with Martin and Samantha Lee Osner, painting and creating, everything included once you arrive.
Landscape Photography Course
Stilbaai, Western Cape
Five days on the Southern Cape coast. Seascapes at first and last light, a day in the fynbos, and a day photographing the fishing community at the harbour.
2028
Photograph by Koos van der Lende
The first one of its kind
Fine Art Photography Expedition, Skeleton Coast
Namibia
6 to 19 March 2028
Fourteen days on the Skeleton Coast, and the expedition itself is only the middle of it. You are taught before you go and your work is curated after you come back, ending on a gallery wall rather than on a hard drive.
- 1Before you goLive classes on Zoom, teaching the skills the coast will actually ask of you.
- 26 to 19 March 2028The expedition itself, on the Skeleton Coast.
- 3When you are backTwo more live sessions on Zoom, curating your work and preparing it for exhibition.
- 419 to 22 April 2028The exhibition, at the Osner Gallery in Hout Bay. Printed, framed, on a wall.
The Art of Landscape Photography
Stilbaai, Western Cape
Landscape photography combined with photo alchemy, turning the coast into artistic impressions rather than straight records of it.
Full details are being finalised.
No date needed
The online art photography courses start whenever you do
Recorded, self paced, and yours to keep. Nothing here waits for a group to fill or a date to come round.
Essentials Photography Course
The course that comes before every other course. Exposure, light, composition, and how the camera actually thinks.
See the Essentials courseAdvanced Photography Course
For when the basics are behind you and you want the control, the technique and the reasons behind the rules.
See the Advanced courseGet Started in Art Photography
The first step out of recording what is in front of you and into saying something about it.
See the Get Started courseGoing Further in Art Photography
Deeper into abstract and experimental work, once the first ideas have started to land.
See the Going Further coursePhotoshop for the Artist
Taught by Samantha. Photoshop demystified and folded into a creative workflow instead of sitting beside it.
See the Photoshop courseBefore you book
Not sure which one is right for you?
Group sizes are small and most of these run once, so it is worth asking before you commit rather than after.
Tell us where you are with your photography and what you want out of it, and we will say plainly which of these fits, including when the honest answer is none of them yet.