Cradle Mountain Winter Workshop 2027

Location: Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Dates: June 2027 (5 days)

Instructors: Benjamin Maze & Paul Hoelen

Physical Activity: Low-Moderate

Group Size: 6

Price: $6450

Join me and Paul Hoelen for an incredible 5-day winter workshop exploring the iconic beauty of Cradle Mountain!

Cradle Mountain is popular for a reason. Not only is this area amazing for photographing what is arguably Australia’s most iconic mountain, reflected in Dove Lake and its surrounding tarns, it’s also surrounded by incredibly lush, photogenic rainforest. The winter timing gives us a chance to capture a dusting of snow resting on the peaks, frosty water foregrounds, and even potential snow down into the forest! Whether it’s foggy, snowing or shining with sun, we’ll have plenty to photograph and learn during our time here. For anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife (besides the wombats you’ll see roaming through the landscape), a feeding tour of the Devils @ Cradle is included. If we get lucky, we might even have the opportunity to capture the aurora dancing in the night skies being the twin peaks!

Overview

You’ll learn how to capture dramatic, refined and unique images with personal instruction from myself and Paul every step of the way, as we explore creating engaging wide-angle compositions alongside the fascinating smaller scenes that can be found in nature. We’ll be keeping a flexible itinerary, with a range of possible locations in order to maximise our opportunities. Both Paul and I will be there to instruct you on capturing unique perspectives and what makes a compelling composition, settings for maximum quality and creative control, techniques for front-to-back sharpness, maximising dynamic range, reacting to conditions, and much more. Our group size of no more than 6 guests will ensure you receive plenty of 1-on-1 tuition from your two expert leaders throughout the experience.

Back at our nearby spacious accommodation at Cradle Mountain Hotel, we’ll be spending time in educational sessions to maximise your learning. This will entail presentations on theory and technique, covering everything from the beautiful mountains to chaotic forest scenes and the smaller details of nature. When time allows, we’ll also go through some 1-1 post-processing sessions to help you make the most of your files.

Time spent in the field is the priority, however, which is why every guest is entitled to a complimentary post-workshop 1.5-hour online session. These can be used to go through start-to-finish edits on images captured during the workshop, critique & feedback, or whatever else would be most beneficial to your learning experience. In these sessions, you’ll be able to learn the proper editing application of the in-field processes you were taught, from focus stacking to exposure blending, as well as creative techniques and workflow tips that will result in natural yet striking images that stand out amongst the crowd.

To really round out your experience, we are also offering Dove Lake helicopter flights for an opt-in additional fee. These flights provide a completely different perspective on this iconic Tasmanian landscape; please reach out with any expressions of interest.

Most of all, you’ll get to enjoy a fun week of nature photography led by two passionate photographers who have created internationally recognised imagery in the area and love to guide people along in their creative journey!

If you’re unsure about the benefits of joining a workshop or want to learn more about my approach as a leader, you can read more about my workshop philosophy here.

By booking you acknowledge and accept our Terms and Conditions

Got questions? Read on for more info!

Accommodation

We’ll be staying at the comfortable and convenient Cradle Mountain Hotel for the duration of the workshop, providing us with a comfortable and convenient base for our 5 days. Each guest will have their own Split Level King Room, which includes a king bed, modern private ensuite, sunken lounge/study area, private balcony, complimentary wifi, television and more. The hotel is also home to our private board room from which we’ll run presentations and editing sessions, as well as a permanent Peter Dombrovskis gallery for those looking for inspiration during down time. We’ll primarily be eating dinner at the hotel’s own restaurant, while in the mornings a buffet breakfast is included. Lunches will be sorted on a day-today basis depending on conditions and whether we plan to be in the field during this time. 

Activity Levels

The workshop requires a low-moderate level of fitness. Participants must be comfortable with short walks to locations with a head torch before sunrise/after dark, on slippery rainforest trails, and in cold/wet/snowy conditions (if safety allows). Some inclines, unsealed paths and steps will be encountered whilst accessing certain locations. Comfortable walking/hiking shoes that have sufficient grip, as well as warm walking-appropriate clothes and waterproof layers, are a must. Our two 4x4 cars for transport mean we will still be able to access the park even in snowy conditions that block access to non-4WD vehicles.

Some longer walks will be available as an option to guests that are capable and willing. Examples include Crater Falls from Waldheim Huts (5km return, 185m elevation) and the Ballroom Forest (5km return, 100m elevation). However, the great benefit of our two-leader format means that those wanting to opt out of such outings can instead participate in photography at easier-to-access locations, or lodge-based editing/image feedback, simultaneously.

Further information, including a packing list, will be provided after booking; please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. 

For questions & enquiries, get in touch below

Testimonials

“Ben delivers on his offer with a blend of care, clarity, technical skill and artistic sensitivity. His process is client‑centred, thoughtful, organised and genuinely collaborative. He listens closely and works to understand what you're hoping to achieve, shaping the experience around your needs while remaining mindful of other workshop participants. Ben is an attentive and flexible workshop facilitator who brings both warmth and professionalism to his practice.” - Kelvin K; Cradle Mountain Winter Workshop 2026

“Ben has a superb photographic eye and an expert knowledge of post-processing, and shares his insights and experience in ways which are constructive and sensitive to the needs of individual group members. If you're looking for expert photographic tuition with a dash of outdoor adventure, Ben's workshops come highly recommended.” - Don O; Cradle Mountain Winter Workshop 2026

“Ben is a superb teacher who is always willing to provide help when needed. He provided an excellent mix of theory in his presentations with practice out in the field. He was patient and understanding, and was able to answer any questions asked of him. I would have no hesitation at doing another of his workshops, or recommending his workshops to others.” - Anne W

“Ben is a great teacher and creates an atmosphere where you can ask anything, and ask again if you need. The field tuition was great; learning how to create compositions, getting real time feedback; learning additional technical features of my equipment and so much more.” - Jenny H

“Ben's workshop is highly recommended. He is generous, knowledgeable and patient. We had a wonderful time being taken to amazing locations while staying in lovely accommodations.” - Kamal R

“Ben's … workshop was the best I've done. He is an incredibly talented photographer, but also a gifted teacher: patient, intuitive, encouraging and enthusiastic. He went above and beyond to ensure everyone got the help they needed; the schedule was flexible to made best use of weather and tides; he was well-organised and great company. Highly recommended and hope to do another workshop in the future.” - Kerry L

“This is the second workshop I have done with Ben. He is a passionate and focussed professional photographer. He is continually pushing participants the “raise” the bar with their photography. A great person." - Jim I

“Ben is so knowledgeable and is willing to share ideas on composition and processing … Ben’s help in the field gave me new composition options and things to consider: shapes, spacing and balance. And his help in processing gave me confidence to explore new techniques. Ben is very generous with his time and knowledge. I would recommend his workshops to anyone at any stage of their photography journey.” - Kate M

“Ben … carefully planned our excursions to take advantages of the tides and the morning or afternoon light and he provided one-on-one instruction to all the participants in a caring, thoughtful and skilled way. The editing part of the workshop was also very informative and provided opportunities for participants to develop their skills in either Lightroom or Photoshop. I would highly recommend attending one of Ben's workshops.” - Karen S

Cradle Mountain Winter Workshop Gallery