Kiama Seascapes
Photography Workshop
3 day, 2 night small group photography workshop on the NSW South Coast, capped at 3 participants. Led by Australian Geographic 2023 Nature Photographer of the Year, Samuel Markham
Workshop Overview
Experience an immersive 3-day, 2-night photography workshop focused on capturing some of Australia's most iconic and dramatic seascape locations on the NSW South Coast. This is a hands-on workshop where Samuel will help you develop your own personal photographic style, sharing the methods, tips, and field knowledge he has built over more than a decade of photographing this coastline.
Samuel has spent more than ten years working the same handful of locations — Bombo Quarry, Cathedral Rocks, Minnamurra Headland — through every season, every tide, every kind of weather. He knows exactly where to stand, when to be there, and what conditions produce the strongest images. That local knowledge is what makes the difference between a workshop that takes you to a famous location and one that puts you in the right place at the right light.
Across the three days, you will work through Samuel's full photographic workflow — fundamentals through to advanced photography techniques, plus his complete post-processing routine in Adobe Photoshop and Camera RAW.
Workshop Details
Dates: See booking section
Photo Locations: Bombo Quarry, Cathedral Rocks & Minnamurra Headland
Group Size: Maximum of 3 participants
Skill Level: Suitable for photographers of all skill levels
Difficulty: Minimal walking — must be comfortable on uneven and slippery surfaces beside the ocean
Accommodation: 3 nights at a stunning seaside location
Price: $1,985 AUD per person ($500 AUD deposit)
Locations We’ll Explore
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![Vibrant sunrise over Bombo Quarry with waves crashing along the coastline]()
Bombo Quarry
Bombo Quarry is one of the most photographed seascape locations on the entire NSW coast. Towering hexagonal latite columns dating back to the Late Permian rise from the ocean, hammered out in the late 1800s when the quarry was active and abandoned in 1940. Today it is a protected headland — and the most consistently dramatic stretch of coast in Kiama. On the workshop, we work the southern and northern channels at sunrise and sunset depending on swell direction, tide, and cloud cover. Long-exposure technique, fast water work in the 1/4 to 1/10 second range, and creative use of the basalt columns are all covered in the field.
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![Sunrise light illuminating Cathedral Rocks on the New South Wales coast]()
Cathedral Rocks
Cathedral Rocks, located at the northern end of Jones Beach, is the second iconic seascape on the workshop. Stacked basalt formations stand exposed to the open ocean, with cave openings and channels that make for some of the most distinctive frame compositions on this coastline. Sunrise at Cathedral Rocks is the priority window — first light hits the rock face on the right tides and the shapes become photographable in ways that are simply not available later in the day. Workshop participants work both the wide composition from inside the cave looking out, and the tighter rock-stack compositions from the beach.
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![View of Stack Island from the Minnamurra Headland with coastal scenery]()
Minnamurra Headland
Minnamurra Headland sits ten minutes north of Kiama and offers the most varied compositional opportunities of the three primary locations. Wide rugged cliffs that look more at home in Iceland on one side, jagged inshore rocks pointing into the swell on the other, and Stack Island sitting in the distance off Mystic's Beach in winter alignment. The headland is best worked with both wide-angle and short telephoto lenses, with composition decisions made on the morning depending on light direction and tide.
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![Massive wave breaking over the Kiama Bombie reef off the coast of Kiama, with towering white spray and powerful ocean swell]()
The Bombie
The Kiama Bombie is a powerful offshore surf break near Kiama where massive ocean swells rise suddenly over a shallow reef, creating thick, explosive waves known for their size and power. This location is perfect for wave photography.
Workshop Information
What’s Included
✅ 3 full days of personal photography tuition tailored to your goals
✅ Direct access to dramatic seascape locations with an experienced instructor
✅ Camera fundamentals through to advanced manual mode technique
✅ Complete post-processing instruction in Adobe Photoshop and Camera RAW
✅ Weather, tide, swell, and condition reading for landscape photography
✅ Compositional theory and field technique
✅ 2 nights accommodation in a local Airbnb (private room)
✅ Transport for the duration of the workshop
Not Included
❌ Meals, drinks, and snacks
❌ Flights and transport to and from Kiama
❌ Travel insurance and medical cover
❌ Visa fees (if required to enter Australia)
Book Your Spot
Workshop Dates
14th - 16th August 2026 - ONE SPOT LEFT
12th - 14th March 2027 - THREE SPOTS LEFT
29th - 31st October 2027 - THREE SPOTS LEFT
Secure your spot with a deposit. The final payment is due 30 days before the workshop starts date. The final payment invoice will be sent before the workshop.
Price: $1,985 AUD per person ($500 AUD deposit)
Who’s Samuel?
Samuel Markham was born and raised on the South Coast of New South Wales. He has been photographing the Kiama region — Bombo Quarry, Cathedral Rocks & Minnamurra Headland for more than a decade. This stretch of coastline is where his landscape photography career started, and where he still works today.
The 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year winning image, "My Country Burns", was captured during the Black Summer bushfires while protecting his home in this region. Sam has photographed the Sapphire Coast through every season, every tide, every kind of weather.
What does that mean in practice for participants?
Sam knows exactly where to be when conditions hit. He knows the tide windows that open and close certain compositions at Cathedral Rocks. He knows when Bombo Quarry catches first light. He knows the swell directions that produce the strongest seascape conditions at Minnamurra Headland. That kind of local knowledge cannot be replicated by an operator running a workshop in a region they visit twice a year.
What Past Participants Say
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Kiama workshop is capped at a maximum of 3 participants. This is well below the industry average of 6 to 12 participants and is what allows for genuinely personal instruction at every location.
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Bombo Quarry is a former basalt quarry on the NSW South Coast, just north of Kiama township. It was active from 1881 to 1940 and is now a protected headland. The quarry is famous for its hexagonal latite columns dating to the Late Permian period, which combine with crashing ocean swells to create one of the most dramatic seascape locations in Australia. It is widely regarded as the most photographed seascape on the entire NSW coast.
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This workshop involves a low to moderate level of fitness, with short walks between shooting locations.
Participants should be comfortable moving over uneven coastal terrain, which may include rocks, sand, and slippery surfaces, often in low light conditions around sunrise or sunset. Head torches will be required, and sturdy, supportive footwear is essential. A good awareness of changing ocean conditions is also important when photographing near the oceans edge.
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A digital camera with full manual mode (DSLR or mirrorless), a tripod, and at least one wide-angle lens are the core requirements. A neutral density filter is helpful for long-exposure work. A full gear list is provided after booking, but Samuel will help you make the most of whatever camera you currently own — gear upgrades are not required.
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A digital camera with full manual mode (DSLR or mirrorless), a sturdy tripod, and at least one wide-angle lens are the core requirements. A neutral density filter is helpful for long-exposure seascape work. The Sapphire Coast involves coastal scrambling, so a waterproof bag and sturdy footwear with grip are recommended. A full gear list is provided after booking.
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Yes, Samuel will guide you through editing your images using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Camera Raw, helping you develop a complete workflow from capture through to final edit.
Ready to Photograph the Kiama Seascapes?
Spaces on the Kiama Seascapes workshop are limited to 3 participants and tend to book out months ahead. Secure your spot with a deposit or download the brochure for more information.