Free analogue photography workshops with Demelza Kingston

Tuesday 16 September 5-7pm Ardenconnel Woods
Meet at Lineside Walk Car Park.
Some analogue cameras will be supplied or bring your own. Performance by local musician and composer Louise Burnet.

Rhu and Shandon Community Trust are delighted to invite everyone to the first public event at Ardenconnel Woods, Rhu on Tuesday 16 September between 5pm – 7pm.  Please meet at Lineside Walk carpark at 5pm.

Well-known local composer and flautist Louise Burnet of Shandon has composed a special piece inspired mainly by birdsong in the woods and it will be performed by Louise on flute and the wonderful local singer Sian Winstanley – whatever the weather! There will also be a woodland song based on the writings of John Muir which everyone can join in with.

Running alongside the musical performance  will be an analogue photography workshop run in partnership with Cove Park as part of the Nature Networks Springboard event.  The Springboard event at Cove Park on Friday 26 September (1.30- 6pm) is a partnership event with Culture for Climate Scotland and Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN) will see an afternoon of talks, performances and workshops addressing creative climate action.  The images captured during the photography workshop will be exhibited at this event. Please contact Cove Park to book for the Springboard assembly event (link below).

The photography workshops will be led by Glasgow based artist Demelza Kingston who held the Shore Photography Residency at Cove Park in January 2025. Demelza describes her work, which explores human connections and relationships with nature in the past, present and future, as a kind of ‘speculative archaeology’.

The analogue (i.e. old pre digital cameras) photography workshop will be capturing images of the woods in black and white and exploring our connections to nature. There is a follow up workshop on Saturday 20 September at Cove Park, 1.30-3.30pm, to develop the images using natural materials. 

Rhu and Shandon Community Trust said, ‘We are delighted to be holding our first public event at Ardenconnel Wood.  Whilst the legal work to transfer title to the Trust is ongoing, and we hope will be completed very soon, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the woodland through music and a photography workshop exploring human connections to nature.  Everyone is welcome to come along and join us for a fun, interesting and entertaining evening.’

Some cameras and all film will be provided but if you have an old pre digital camera please bring it along for the workshop led by Demelza.  The Trust would also be delighted if people could also take digital images and films that can be used to help celebrate the woods on the Trust’s website (in development). 

The event at Ardenconnel Wood and at Cove Park on Saturday are free to attend and no booking is necessary.

For further information, and to send in photographs and films, please contact rhushandontrust@gmail.com   For further details of the overall Nature Network Springboard programme and developing the films please go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cultureforclimatescotland/1834786

Saturday 20 September 10-11am Peaton Woods
Meet at the entrance on Shore Road, Ardpeaton
Some analogue cameras will be supplied or bring your own. Please consider staying to help with the woodland work party and joining
us in the afternoon at Cove Park to develop the images.

Saturday 20 September 1.30 – 3.30pm Cove Park, Peaton Hill
Part of Doors Open Day – Drop in workshop, photography developing using natural darkroom techniques.