by Helen Davies, 2025 attendee

by Miles Turnbull, 2025 attendee

Art of Macro Online Course

Transform Your Macro Photography in 11 Weeks!

A complete online course with personal guidance, live sessions, and the most in-depth macro learning materials available anywhere.

Two parallel groups, Summer 2026
Maximum 25 attendees per course
Fee: £199

Two parallel groups, Summer 2026
Maximum 25 attendees per course
Fee: £199

Course 1: Tuesdays 7-9pm, starting June 2
- fully booked
Course 2: Wednesdays 7-9pm, starting June 3
Same content, same format - choose the day that suits you best

What if you have to miss a week?
Every live session is recorded, so if you have to miss a week (holidays, life, etc.) you can catch up in your own time — no problem at all. You can still do the assignments and submit images for feedback & editing demos, and watch that on the recordings.

Optional extra: one to one 30-minute Zoom, £30

Book here →

Including practical videos like this one, showing you how to find insects in the field.

WHAT YOU WILL GET FROM THIS COURSE

In-depth learning of skills and knowledge to allow you create competition-level macro images
An understanding of my artistic approach - focused on looking, composition, and light
Optional weekly assignments for real-world practical learning
Frequent feedback & editing demos on your images
Build an effective editing workflow
Access to recordings of all talks
Support from a professional educator
Live Q&A every week
A supportive community of fellow macro photographers, including access to a private Facebook group shared with current and past attendees.
Free extensively detailed and illustrated PDF book

2nd, Macro Art, IGPOTY 2022

COURSE FEATURES

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:

Ten initial weekly 2-hour sessions taking place from 7-9pm BST (2-4pm EDT) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays - see dates below
Bonus review session three weeks later, giving you a chance to practice your skills
Optional extra one-to-one 30 minute Zoom for only £30 (taking place at a time of your choice)
Taking place in the summer so you can do outdoor insect/flower photography during the course
A maximum of 25 attendees per course, to ensure you get plenty of individual attention
Learn all the important skills needed to shoot and edit great close-up images
A mixture of lecture, videos and discussion, with lots of opportunity to ask questions and share ideas, including small group breakouts
Optional assignments designed to help you practise and consolidate each technique at your own pace.
Feedback on your images and advice on how to improve them including lots of processing demos
A private Facebook group where attendees can share work, exchange ideas, and support each other’s progress throughout the course.
Each session recorded and made available to attendees
Receive a free copy of my extensively detailed and illustrated pdf book, The Art of Macro (available in 2026)
Learn from a multi-award winning macro photographer and experienced teacher, with a Masters in Education and a Masters in Developmental Psychology
All this for only £199!

If you have any queries, please contact me.

TESTIMONIALS

What previous attendees say:

'Absolutely fabulous!'
'Brilliant!'
'Excellent content!'
MORE TESTIMONIALS →

VIEW ATTENDEES' IMAGES →

WHY LEARN FROM ME?

Multi award-winning macro photographer, including:

- RHS Portfolio Gold Medal

- MPAGB

- ABPE with 6 gold & 4 silver medals

- Overall winner of IGPOTY 2023

Educator for more than 30 years

7 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, Outdoor Photographer, RPS Magazine, and other publications

View my awards View press

COURSE CONTENT

Summary

1. Introduction and Gear

2. Fieldcraft

3. Technical Skills

4. Artistry

5. Processing

6. Advanced Techniques

7. Review sessions

1. Introduction

Course aims; foundations of macro photography; learning approach; gear considerations; discussion & image sharing.

2. Fieldcraft

Understanding subject behaviour; seasonal timing; weather; approach techniques; discussion & Q&A; image reviews.

3. Technical Skills I

Image quality fundamentals; noise control; capture technique refinement; discussion & Q&A; image reviews.

4. Technical Skills II

Exposure; shutter speed; sharpness; stability; lighting considerations; discussion & Q&A; image reviews.

5. Technical skills III

Depth of field control and focus stacking; how to focus bracket and get full coverage of sharpness; manual and automatic focus bracketing; discussion & Q&A; image reviews.

1st, World of Fungi, IGPOTY 2022; Overall winner, N-Photo POTY 2024; 1st, Nature, ReFocus Awards 2023; Runner up, Adaptalux Awards 2026

6. Artistry

Moving beyond technical correctness to visual beauty; composition, lighting, colour relationships, subject and perch selection; discussion & Q&A; image reviews.

7. Processing I

Editing RAW images, with a demo in Lightroom; denoising and sharpening; focus stacking using stacking software (Helicon Focus and Photoshop); discussion & Q&A; image reviews, and demo editing with them.

8. Processing II

Correcting stacking and capture artefacts; refining and finishing images in Photoshop; discussion & Q&A; image review.

9. Advanced techniques

Creative approaches to elevating your macro photography; water droplets; lighting refinements; bokeh control; foreground/background blur; specialist lenses; discussion & Q&A; image review.

10. Review session

Discussion & Q&A regarding any course topic; review of your images with processing demos.

11. Final Review (three weeks after session 10)

Image review session with processing demonstrations and final questions.

NOTE: Course content may be refined as I continue to develop the programme.

by Angela Wright, 2025 attendee

Me with my gold medal-winning panel at the opening of the RHS Portfolio Competition, June 2025

FEES

£199 per attendee (max. 25 attendees per course)

£229 including the 1 to 1 30-minute Zoom

Please note, VAT does not apply; these are the total amounts.

PLACES AVAILABLE:

Tuesday course: 0

Wednesday course: 15

BOOKING

Use the buttons below to pay by card or Paypal. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, please contact me.

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'.

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.

Booking

1st, Macro, Photography News POTY 2025

Course dates 2026

COURSE DATES 2026

All times 7-9pm BST

Course 1

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

Course 2

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

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

GEAR: RECOMMENDED

Remote shutter release

Clamp (for holding a plant)

Lighting (e.g, LED panel, flash, torch)

Light stand(s)

Scissors

Water spray

RECOMMENDED KNOWLEDGE

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

Book here →

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

'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

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

'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

'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

'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

'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

'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

'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.'

'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.'

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.'

Feedback from Phlorography talk on Macro Jan 25

'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.'