Art of Macro Zoom Course
Learn how to shoot insects, flowers & fungi from multi-award-winning macro photographer Tony North, MPAGB
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Two parallel groups, Summer 2026
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Maximum 25 attendees per course
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Fee: £199
Course 1: Tuesdays 7-9pm, starting June 2
- only 9 places left!
Course 2: Wednesdays 7-9pm, starting June 3
Same content, same format - choose the day that suits you best
Optional extra: one to one 30-minute Zoom, £30
Book here →
'absolutely fabulous!'
'brilliant!'
more testimonials
Including practical videos like this one, showing you how to find insects in the field.
COURSE FEATURES​​
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In the summer of 2026 I am offering TWO identical courses of eleven 2-hour Zoom sessions on macro and close-up photography, suitable for beginners and intermediate macro photographers.
The sessions have been carefully designed to engage participants and maximise their learning and enjoyment. Each course has the following features:
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Ten initial weekly 2-hour sessions taking place from 7-9pm BST (2-4pm EDT) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays - see dates below
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Bonus review session three weeks later, giving you a chance to practice your skills
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Optional extra one-to-one 30 minute Zoom for only £30 (taking place at a time of your choice)
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Taking place in the summer so you can do outdoor insect/flower photography during the course
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A maximum of 25 attendees per course, to ensure each person gets plenty of individual attention
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Coverage of all the important skills needed to shoot and edit great close-up images
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A mixture of lecture, videos and discussion, with lots of opportunity to ask questions and share ideas, including small group breakouts
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Assignments to encourage you to maximise your learning
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Feedback on your images and advice on how to improve them including lots of processing demos
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A dedicated Facebook page for attendees to support each others' journeys
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Each session recorded and made available to attendees
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A free copy of my extensively detailed and illustrated pdf book, The Art of Macro (available in 2026)
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Course led by a multi-award winning macro photographer and experienced teacher, with a Masters in Education and a Masters in Developmental Psychology
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All this for only £199!​
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WHAT WILL YOU GET FROM THIS COURSE?
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In-depth learning of skills and knowledge to allow you create competition-level macro images
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Weekly assignments for real-world practical learning
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Frequent feedback & editing demos on your images
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Build an effective editing workflow
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Access to recordings of all talks
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Support from a professional educator
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Live Q&A every week
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A warm community of other learners including a dedicated Facebook group
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Free extensively detailed and illustrated PDF book​
FEES
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£199 per attendee (max. 25 attendees per course)
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£229 including the 1 to 1 30-minute Zoom
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Please note, VAT does not apply; these are the total amounts.​
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PLACES AVAILABLE:
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Tuesday course: 9
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Wednesday course: 24
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BOOKING
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Use the buttons below to pay by card or Paypal. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, please contact me.​​
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If you would like the 30 minute 1 to 1 Zoom, please select the '+ 1-1' option. If you have booked the course before the 30 minute Zoom option was available and would like to add this feature, please use the bottom button, labelled '30-Minute Zoom'.
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After booking, I will receive your details and I'll email you to confirm your booking. I will then send more information closer to the start of the course.
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WHY LEARN FROM ME?
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Multi award winning macro photographer, including:
- MPAGB
- ABPE with 6 gold & 4 silver medals
- Overall winner of IGPOTY 2023
Educator for more than 30 years
6 years' experience teaching and delivering talks on macro photography
Publications in Digital Camera, Amateur Photographer, N-Photo and more​​
Numerous competition-winning images published in The Times, The Guardian, Photography News, the BBC, and other publications
COURSE CONTENT​
Summary
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1. Introduction and Gear
2. Fieldcraft
3. Technical Skills
4. Artistry
5. Processing
6. Advanced Techniques
7. Revew sessions
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In Detail
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1. Introduction to the course - the aims and structure of the course; my background; attendees introduce themselves; a quick look at the best way to learn; what is macrophotography?; my gear; a look at lenses and other ways to achieve close-up; discussion/Q&A; share one close-up image each
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Assignment: try out your close-up/macro gear, take a few shots at home; find a good insect and/or flower location; take some shots there and share them on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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2. Fieldcraft - the knowledge of nature required to get good images; the importance of weather, time of year and time of day; insect behaviour; how to approach and handle insects; discussion/Q&A; a look at your images
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Assignment: visit your location early and look for inactive insects (or flowers); take some shots; try to identify the species; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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3. Technical skills part 1 - achieving good image quality & avoiding noise; discussion/Q&A; review your images
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Assignment: practice technical skills at home; visit your location and put those skills into practice, taking some shots; check the IQ of your shots while on location, and make changes if necessary; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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4. Technical skills part 2 - getting exposure right, ensuring a fast enough shutter speed, and achieving sharpness; using a tripod and lighting to set up shots; discussion/Q&A; review your images
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Assignment: practice technical skills at home; visit your location and put those skills into practice, taking some shots; check the exposure and sharpness of those shots, and make changes if necessary; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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5. Technical skills part 3 - depth of field and focus stacking; how to focus bracket and get full coverage of sharpness; manual and automatic focus bracketing; discussion/Q&A; review your images
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Assignment: practice focus bracketing at home, checking for full coverage as well as exposure and sharpness; visit your location and try focus bracketing an insect or flower; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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6. Artistry - how to create images which are not only technically sound but also beautiful; composition, lighting, colour, subject and perch choice, and more; discussion/Q&A; review your images
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Assignment: visit your location and take some shots which are technically sound, but also beautiful - that is, an attractive subject and perch, well composed and with pleasing light and colour; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session
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7. Processing part 1 - editing RAW images, with a demo in Lightroom; denoising and sharpening; focus stacking using stacking software (Helicon Focus and Photoshop); discussion/Q&A; review your images and demo editing with them
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Assignment: try editing using the principles learned in the session; think of questions for the next session
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8. Processing part 2 - fixing stacking and other errors; producing a finished image in Photoshop; discussion/Q&A; review your images and demo editing with them
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9. Advanced techniques - approaches to elevating your photography; using water droplets; lighting techniques; advanced compositions; creating a beautiful bokeh (background blur); foreground blur; special lenses; bokeh 'shadows'; discussion/Q&A; review your images
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Assignment: try at least one advanced technique; practice at home and then in the field; share images on the FB page; think of questions for the next session​
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10. Review session - go through my whole editing workflow; discussion and Q&A; review of your images with processing demos
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Assignment: continue taking images and posting on FB
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11. Final Review (three weeks after session 10) - look at your images, with processing demos; any final questions
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NOTE: course content may change as I develop it further
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​​​COURSE DATES 2026 AND TOPICS
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All times 7-9pm BST
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Course 1
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1. Tuesday 2nd June - Intro and Gear
2. Tuesday 9th June - Fieldcraft
3. Tuesday 16th June - Technical Skills 1
4. Tuesday 23rd June - Technical Skills 2
5. Tuesday 30th June - Technical Skills 3
6. Tuesday 7th July - Artistry
7. Tuesday 14th July - Processing 1
8. Tuesday 21st July - Processing 2
9. Tuesday 28th July - Advanced Techniques
10. Tuesday 4th August - Review
11. Tuesday 25th August - Final Review
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Course 2​
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1. Wednesday 3rd June - Intro and Gear
2. Wednesday 10th June - Fieldcraft
3. Wednesday 17th June - Technical Skills 1
4. Wednesday 24th June - Technical Skills 2
5. Wednesday 1st July - Technical Skills 3
6. Wednesday 8th July - Artistry
7. Wednesday 15th July - Processing 1
8. Wednesday 22nd July - Processing 2
9. Wednesday 29th July - Advanced Techniques
10. Wednesday 5th August - Review
11. Wednesday 26th August - Final Review
GEAR: ESSENTIAL
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Camera
Macro lens or other set-up which allows close-up photography (e.g. reverse ring, extension tubes, close-up filter, long lens)
Tripod
Tripod head
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GEAR: RECOMMENDED
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Remote shutter release
Clamp (for holding a plant)
Lighting (e.g, LED panel, flash, torch)
Light stand(s)
Scissors
Water spray
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RECOMMENDED KNOWLEDGE
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​How to find and operate the following camera controls:
- mode
- MF/AF
- filesize
- aperture
- shutter speed
- ISO
- live view
- zoom in on live view
- image review
- zoom in on image review
- exposure delay
- select/move focus point
- exposure compensation
- histogram​​​​
Testimonials
Feedback from the first Macro Course, delivered in 2025
''The course was absolutely fabulous! I learned so much and have been so inspired. Inspired enough to face the bete noir that was PS - that I have avoided for years! The FB group supplied just the right balance of camaraderie and peer-pressure and the other members of the course provided lovely feedback on images posted too.'
- Angela Wright
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'Very well organized weekly online classes given by an award winning instructor. The students come away with a wealth of new knowledge both technical and artistic to help them in creating images of macro photography.
'Well worth the time spent this summer learning more about macro photography. We explored the macro photography world through the expertise of a master.'
- Elaine Chubry
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I am in awe of Tony North’s macro photography and his accomplishments. His student image reviews during the course, macro photography technique recommendations and post-processing options all provided for a pack-filled learning experience. I highly recommend this course for anyone wishing to pursue the art of macro photography. Thank you Tony for an exceptional learning experience.'
- Abby Bookhultz
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'Thank you so much, Tony. You're a tremendously patient teacher and you impart your knowledge without arrogance. You freely share how you take award-winning photographs and give us every opportunity to compete with you - even though we never could!'
- Miles Turnbull
'I really appreciate the extensive amount of time you took with us. You are an excellent instructor.'
- Trudy Wright
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'Thoroughly recommend the course to anyone interested in macro work. Thoroughly enjoyed the course - interesting and stimulating. Excellent content. All aspects of macro well explained in interesting, well illustrated talks.'
- Sarah Horrocks
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'I think you're an amazing photographer and teacher, Tony. You are a most patient person with your photographic subjects, camera and lighting setup, and post-processing workflow. You're also patient with the myriad questions we all have and kindly encouraging about our growing skills.'
- Sally Stone
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'I thought the course was excellent, Tony. It really moved my photography forwards, not just with macro, but more generally as it challenged me to improve many other aspects such as exposure and processing. The consistent structure inspired me to learn more about my camera and photography generally and be inspired to do more!'
- Sue Cranmer
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'It was a very informative course with lots to learn. Everything was explained well and it was up to us to say if we didn’t understand something. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, didn’t want it to end!'
- Helen Davies
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'Very comprehensive coverage of the subject that covered both technical and artistic elements of macro photography'
- Nigel Wells
'Tony was very patient with questions and extremely thorough when answering those questions.'
'I really enjoyed the course. It was very comprehensive and I appreciate the effort put in by Tony.'
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'I enjoyed the course, and feel that I shall use some aspects of it, having learnt a lot.'
'You did an excellent job teaching this course!! I would highly recommend it to others.'​​​
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Feedback from a 5-part macro course given on Camversation in 2024
'Thank you so much for this great series.'
'Great lessons so much info.'
'Thank you so much. I have learnt so much each week that I can apply to all genres of photography, not just macro.'
'Excellent series. Tony explained things very well and made me want to try despite the obvious challenges. Very much appreciated the sessions many thanks.'
'Have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and have learned so much. Beautiful images.'
'What a wonderful 5 weeks of fabulous sessions, thanks so much for sharing all of your knowledge and stunning images, Tony.'
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Feedback from Phlorography talk on Macro Jan 25
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'Wow! An awesome presentation'
'Amazing presentation, Tony. I appreciate the technical depth you shared.'
'This has been awesome! Thank you so much, Tony.'
'Wonderful detailed instruction.'
'Tony - you are a great teacher! Thank you.'
'Thank you Tony, it was a wonderful presentation, I learned so much.'
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Attendees' Images
Coming soon!
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