SPIRIT OF THE NORTH: MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL & LEEDS

Grab your camera and join me and award-winning British photographer Jonathan Vaines as we explore northern England. Steeped in history -- it was the backdrop for the War of the Roses -- today it pulsates with modernity, and provides an abundance of photo opportunities to learn, expand and master creative photography techniques, like ICM and multiple exposure, and vision. We will concentrate on the cities of Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool where we will push — and often ignore — the boundaries of traditional representational photography in order to capture the essence of of these remarkable cities in unique and unconventional ways.

Description

The base for our workshop will be in or close to the vibrant city of Manchester. One of National Geographic’s “Best in the World” and the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester offers unending photo opportunities for creative photography. Each day we will grab our gear and aim our cameras at visual gems from the modernist HOME center and Whitworth art gallery to the gothic Manchester Cathedral and the John Ryland Library to seeing what we discover as we wander the streets of Manchester’s Chinatown. The nearby cities of Salford and Trafford, which blend seamlessly into each other, offer the gleaming architecture of Salford Quays, the L.S. Lowery art collection housed in a striking steel and glass building and the Imperial War Museum North.

We will head to the other side of the Pennines — the hills that divided the white roses from the red roses — to Leeds. Sitting among the old mill towns, Leeds has transformed itself into a modern urban landscape with an fabulous city skyline. We will traverse Leeds to capture the essence of its contemporary architecture and skyline, its canal waterfronts and, hopefully, catch a water taxi for a unique perspective on the city skyline.

Close to Leeds are two special stops on our journey. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is set in 5,000 acres of parkland and dotted with a large number of art installations, including works by Henry Moore, Damien Hirst and Barbara Hepworth. The Hepworth Gallery is a mecca for for stunning architectural shots, not to mention the wonderful art inside.

Following in the footsteps of The Beatles we will make our way to Liverpool, one of Britains largest ports. A bustling waterfront, the Museum of Liverpool with it’s modernist architecture and impressive spiral staircase and the Central Library, where old meets new, offer a plethora of photographic opportunities.

Just north of Liverpool life slows and the coastline softens to small dunes and long beaches, providing the perfect tableau for ICM and pastel seascape imagery. At Crosby beach, we can capture sculpture Anthony Gormley’s men: originally 100 life-size cast-iron figures embedded in the rocks where they stand as the tide was around them. They never look the same way twice.

Each location allows participants to practice different techniques, pursue their individual photographic styles, hone their skills and increase their creativity quotient. And, as with all of our workshops, our plan for each day will remain flexible to ensure we take advantage of the best light, the best weather and those unexpected opportunities that we wouldn’t want to miss.

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet individually with Jonathan or Deb (or both) for a one-on-one session to review images, ask questions, talk photography or fine tune photoshop skills during the course of the workshop. The agenda for the hour is up to you.

The workshop will start at approximately 4:00 PM on the 19th for a "meet & greet" followed by dinner, and end after breakfast on the 25th. Then, four to six weeks after the workshop, there will be a Zoom meeting to share images from our time in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, ask still unanswered questions and see firsthand how Jonathan approaches post-processing.

Details

DATES:

October 11 - 17, 2026

COST:

- $4,250 per person (single accommodation)

- $750 deposit required at time of booking

- Balance of payment due 90 days prior to departure

MAXIMUM OF 7 PARTICIPANTS / ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME

INCLUDED:

- 6 nights, single occupancy

- 6 breakfasts, Welcome & Farewell dinners

- Ground transportation during the workshop to photographic locations

- Individualized photographic instruction in the field

NOT INCLUDED:

- International airfare

- Ground transportation from airport to hotel

- Lunch and dinner, other than specified above

- Personal items such as laundry, snacks, etc.

Your Workshop Leaders

Deborah Loeb Bohren

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, Deborah Loeb Bohren is a travel-inspired fine art and editorial photographer focusing on the creation of intimate and grand portraits of natural and man-made environments around the globe. She won her first photography contest at P.S. 27 in Yonkers, NY when she was in the 6th grade and doesn’t remember when photography wasn’t a part of her life. She uses her camera as an artist would use a paintbrush and think of her work as visual alchemy: a transformation not of matter into gold but rather of light, color, line and gesture into images. Techniques such as intentional camera movement (ICM), in-camera multiple exposure, minimalism and abstraction are the primary tools of her alchemy. These techniques work allow her to challenge reality and capture a feeling, emotion or impression rather than simply recording what lies in front of the lens. Her images are part of individual, private and corporate collections across the country and have been in gallery and museum exhibitions. She serves as a judge and guest presenter at camera clubs across the country, and teaches a range of photography courses. She is also a regular contributor to Everett Potter’s Travel Report, sharing her global travels through words and images.

Jonathan Vaines

British Photographer Jonathan Vaines bought his first camera in 2011, joined his local camera club the following year and quickly began winning local and national photography competitions. In 2018 he began exploring in-camera multiple exposure and intentional camera movement and from his earliest experimentation with these techniques, a new style would emerge and lead to a whole new way for him of seeing — and capturing — what lies in front of his lens. He has spent the last six years pursuing novel and innovative ways of wielding his camera and moulding ideas to produce unique, one-of-a-kind images of the world around him. He frequently works in sets of up to 25 related images and believes the seeing eye of art is an ever-evolving journey and he advocates for visualization, the understanding of light and appreciation ofcolor to produce meaningful art. His unique approach and work have made him a sought after photographer in the UK and internationally. He teaches workshops for Royal Photographic Society, is a frequent presenter for international photography organizations and camera clubs, offers one-to-one development programs for photographers seeking to advance their own technical and creative skills and he runs one-day photography workshops in London. His work also appears in photo magazines.

Terms & Conditions

1. PAYMENTS, REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS

Payments

A $750 deposit is required at the time of booking.

The receipt of a deposit does not automatically imply that the workshop is going ahead. We will confirm the workshop by email as soon as we have the minimum number of participants required to run the workshop but no later than 120 days before the workshop is set to begin.

The workshop balance of $3,500 is due 90 days before the start of the workshop. If full payment is not received by the specified dates we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and retain the deposit.

If a booking is made less than 90 days prior to the start of the workshop, the full cost of the workshop is due at the time of booking.

Deposit Refund Policy

More than 120 days before the workshop commences the deposit will be refunded minus $100 administration fee.

Less than 120 days before the start of the workshop, no deposit will be refunded.

Any cancellation by the client must be made in writing. The date on which the email is received by us will determine the cancellation charges applicable.

If The Traveling Lens, LLC cancels the workshop due to an insufficient number of participants all deposits will be refunded in full.

Balance of Payment Refund Policy

The balance of payment due is non-refundable EXCEPT if we find someone to take your place we will refund the balance in full minus a 10% administration fee.

Any cancellation by the client must be made in writing. The date on which the email is received by us will determine the cancellation charges applicable.

If The Traveling Lens, LLC cancels the workshop for any reason less than 120 days before the start of the workshop, all monies paid will be refunded in full. Reasons for cancellation may include, but are not limited to: failure to meet the necessary number of participants; force majeure (unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control such as war or the threat of war, riots, terrorist activity, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood or adverse weather); or the incapacitation of one or both of the workshop leaders.

2. TRAVEL INSURANCE

By booking the Spirit of the North workshop you agree to obtain the appropriate travel insurance coverage prior to the start of the workshop. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the workshop from participants side, personal accident and injury, medical, loss of baggage, theft of camera equipment, personal money and belongings, and repatriation costs, as well as flight cancellations and delays.

3. RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION

All participants must be in possession of a valid passport, visas, permits and certificates, including medical certificates, as applicable, and accept responsibility for obtaining the same.

4. CODE OF CONDUCT / RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMISSION

We reserve the right to refuse participation in our workshops. Each participant shall conduct themselves in a civil manner to other workshop participants and workshop leaders. The Traveling Lens, LLC has a zero tolerance policy to aggressive behavior and/or rudeness on our workshops. We reserve the right to ask any participants who are not respecting the code of conduct to leave the workshop.

All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

5. FLIGHTS

Flights are not included in the workshop fee. Participants need to arrange their own travel to and from London, including transportation to/from the workshop hotel.

6. MISCELLANEOUS

Dietary Requirements

If you have any special dietary or other requests you should inform us of these prior to departure. We will advise the relevant supplier of your requirements, but we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met and will have no liability to you if such requests are not met.

Marketing and Advertising

By attending a workshop participants hereby give their permission for images and/or videos taken of them during the workshop to be used to promote, market and/or advertise photography workshops run by The Traveling Lens, LLC.

7. LIABILITY WAIVER

Every participant is required to sign Traveling Lens Photo, LLC’s Waiver of Liability before departure for the workshop. A copy of the Waiver of Liability will be provided to the participant upon registration and receipt of deposit.

8. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS & CONDITIONS

By signing up for the Spirit of the North and paying the deposit and balance due, participants are agreeing to accept all of the above conditions.