Great Ocean Road & Otways Photography Workshop (VIC) – Waitlist
A premium small-group workshop built for photographers who want limestone sea stacks, surf movement, rainforest texture and waterfalls with calm, hands-on coaching. We plan around conditions first (wind, rain, swell, track status and crowds) and adapt the route for safety and the best workable light.
Note: locations and session timing are always subject to conditions, access, approvals and safety.
Answer-first: This is a premium Great Ocean Road & Otways photography workshop in Victoria (future dates TBA). You’ll photograph limestone sea stacks, cliffs, surf long exposures, Otways rainforest and waterfalls, with an optional night session when conditions allow. With max 4 participants, Dylan coaches you in the field, then locks in a repeatable workflow through image reviews and an editing session.
“Small group meant I actually learned how to shoot long exposures, not just copy settings.”
“Calm coaching and a solid plan. I left with a workflow I can repeat anywhere.”
Want first access when dates drop? Join the waitlist here.
Workshop snapshot
Short version: shoot hard in the right conditions, learn fast, and leave with a workflow you can repeat.
Limestone coast at sunrise/sunset, plus Otways waterfalls and forest texture when conditions suit.
Composition, settings, sharpness, filters and timing with quick 1:1 help (max 4 people).
We adapt to wind, rain, swell, track status and crowds. No forcing unsafe locations.
If skies, access and fatigue management line up, we’ll run a night session for clean technique.
Why the Great Ocean Road & Otways is special for photographers
Two worlds in one workshop: the wild limestone coast and the soft, green Otways rainforest.
- Limestone drama: cliffs, stacks and surf patterns change minute to minute with tide and swell.
- Fast weather = better light: cloud breaks, squalls and clearing systems create short, high-impact windows.
- Blue hour strength: the coast holds shape and mood even when the sun is gone.
- Crowd strategy matters: icons are busy, so we build alternatives and angles into the plan.
- Rainforest control: ferns, moss, and myrtle beech demand slower, more technical composition.
- Waterfall craft: shutter control, polariser use and highlight protection under canopy light.
- Short drives, big variety: coast to forest lets us pivot quickly when conditions change.
- Outcome: you don’t just “visit” the GOR; you learn how to photograph it.
Access note: specific locations and session timing are always subject to conditions, access, approvals and safety (including track closures and changing surf conditions).
The 10-shot list (what we’ll chase)
A realistic target list designed to fit changing conditions and crowd levels.
- Sea stacks at sunrise with clean horizons and controlled surf motion
- Cliff-top compositions that show scale without clutter
- Backwash and foam trails (abstract patterns and timing)
- Blue hour minimalism (shape, separation, subtle tone)
- Storm-light seascapes (safe viewpoints only)
- Otways waterfall long exposures with clean highlights
- Rainforest layers: ferns, trunks, moss, depth control
- Panoramas that stitch cleanly (tripod discipline + overlap)
- “Quiet coast” alternatives (when icons are overcrowded)
- Optional night: stars over a coastal silhouette (when permitted and safe)
Plan A / Plan B / Plan C (built for real conditions)
The Great Ocean Road rewards flexibility. We match locations to conditions, not the other way around.
Moderate wind, manageable swell and safe footing. We prioritise stacks, gorges and long exposures around sunrise/sunset windows.
High wind or aggressive surf? We shift to sheltered angles, forest work and waterfalls where soft light and drizzle can be an advantage.
If conditions are genuinely unsafe, we keep shoots short and conservative, then go deeper on image review and editing so you still leave with a repeatable process.
All plans are subject to conditions, access, approvals and safety. We do not promise specific locations or “empty” viewpoints.
What you’ll learn (and take home)
Built around repeatable systems: how to plan, shoot and finish images with less trial and error.
- Seascape composition: foreground logic, subject separation, horizon discipline
- Long exposures made simple: shutter targets, filter choices, wave timing
- Sharpness under stress: tripod discipline, focus checks, wind management
- Waterfall technique: controlling highlights, polariser use, clean flow
- Working fast in changing light: decisions you can repeat
- Image review: why it works (and what to change next time)
- Editing workflow: consistent colour, believable contrast, local adjustments
- Panorama workflow: capture discipline for clean stitches
- Optional night technique: safe setup, focus routine, cleaner high ISO choices
- Planning logic: how we choose locations based on swell, wind and access
Planned itinerary (indicative)
A realistic structure that changes with conditions. Exact bases and locations are confirmed closer to release.
Day 1 — Arrive + coast fundamentals + sunset
- Meet and travel toward the region (meeting point and base towns TBA)
- Gear/settings check and long exposure foundations
- Sunset + blue hour shoot on an accessible coastline option
- Short debrief: what to refine for Day 2
Day 2 — Rainforest + waterfalls + sunset
- Optional sunrise shoot (conditions-led)
- Otways rainforest walk + waterfall technique session
- Rest window + image review
- Sunset shoot on a different coast aspect to vary foregrounds
- Optional night block if clear, safe and permitted
Day 3 — Transition day + wild coast options
- Sunrise shoot (conditions-led)
- Transit west/east as needed (timed for light, fatigue and safety)
- Scouting + composition building for the next major sessions
- Sunset on a limestone coast location (subject to conditions/access)
Day 4 — Limestone icons + quieter stacks
- Sunrise at a major viewpoint (timed for the best workable light window)
- Midday: gorges/arches/stacks sequence (chosen for safety and conditions)
- Sunset at an alternative stretch when conditions allow
- Evening: editing/review session to lock in the workflow
Day 5 — Final sunrise + editing wrap + depart
- Final sunrise session (your strongest technique focus)
- Structured editing wrap: finish your best files with a repeatable process
- Return travel + workshop close
Reality check: closures, swell and weather changes are normal here. The workshop is designed so you still build a strong portfolio without forcing Plan A.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Tuition is the focus. Logistics are kept flexible so you can choose your comfort level.
Guided sunrise/sunset sessions, conditions-first planning, hands-on in-field coaching, at least one structured image review, and at least one editing/workflow session. Permits/permissions are used where required for workshop activity.
Accommodation, meals, and travel to the meeting point are self-booked. Any park entry/fees (if applicable) and travel insurance are also your responsibility.
The Great Ocean Road is long. A split-base approach often reduces pre-dawn driving. Base towns and meet times are confirmed when dates are released.
The goal is consistency: colour, contrast and local adjustments that match the scene. Bring a laptop if you want direct help; if not, you can still follow along via guided examples.
Dates & pricing
Dates and pricing are to be announced. Waitlist members get first notice when the route, bases and inclusions are confirmed.
Joining the waitlist is free and doesn’t obligate you to book.
Safety, access & conditions
This is an exposed coastline and a slippery forest environment. Safety and responsible access come first.
- Expect early starts and some uneven ground, including steps and wet surfaces.
- We plan around tide/swell/wind and use conservative positioning near waterlines and cliff edges.
- Night sessions only run if access, visibility, energy levels and conditions make it sensible.
- We operate with permits/permissions where required (where applicable to the workshop activity).
- Dylan Knight Photography holds $20M public liability insurance for peace of mind.
- All locations and timings are subject to conditions, access, approvals, closures and safety.
FAQs
Direct answers to common questions (and the real objections).
Is this a tour or a photography workshop?
I’m a beginner. Can I join?
How fit do I need to be?
What gear should I bring?
Do I need filters for Great Ocean Road long exposures?
Will we definitely photograph the Twelve Apostles?
What if it’s crowded?
What’s the weather like and what if it rains?
Is astrophotography included?
Do I need to bring a laptop for editing?
Are permits included?
Can I fly a drone on the workshop?
How does the waitlist work?
Quick links: Waitlist page · Dates & pricing · Email Dylan