New Zealand South Island Winter Workshop

1 Nature of the workshop

This is a land-based guided photography workshop conducted in an alpine winter environment.

The workshop may involve:

• Walking up to 3 km on formed tracks over uneven, steep, icy or snow-covered ground
• Carrying your own photography equipment, typically weighing between 3 and 7 kg
• Walking for 30 to 60 minutes to reach some photography locations
• Standing or moving slowly outdoors for up to 90 minutes at a time in cold or sub-zero conditions
• Sunrise, sunset, blue-hour and night photography sessions
• Using a headlamp and moving carefully on formed tracks in darkness
• Early starts, late finishes and disrupted sleep
• Vehicle travel on alpine and rural roads that may be affected by ice, snow, rain or surface water
• Rapid changes to the itinerary due to weather, road conditions, track closures or safety requirements

Most locations involve short walks from the vehicle. Some planned locations require longer walks on formed Department of Conservation tracks.

2 Risks associated with participation

Outdoor and night photography in a New Zealand winter involves inherent risks that cannot be completely eliminated. These include:

Cold and exposure

Cold temperatures, wind chill, rain, snow and prolonged periods of limited movement can cause numbness, reduced coordination, cold stress, hypothermia and other cold-related injuries.

Ice, snow and slippery surfaces

Tracks, steps, boardwalks, rocks, car parks and roadside areas may contain black ice, compacted snow, frozen puddles or slippery surfaces. These conditions can cause slips, falls, sprains, fractures or other injuries.

Uneven terrain

Formed tracks and photography locations may include loose surfaces, steps, inclines, rocks, exposed viewpoints and uneven ground.

Water-edge locations

Photography may take place near lakes, rivers, canals or glacial water. Hazards include slippery rocks, unstable footing, cold-water immersion and rapid loss of function following an accidental fall into water.

Darkness and reduced visibility

Night photography creates additional risks from unseen obstacles, disorientation, reduced depth perception and separation from the group.

Alpine weather

Weather can change rapidly. High winds, snowfall, rain, fog, reduced visibility and severe weather may require a location or session to be shortened, relocated or cancelled.

Roads and roadside photography

Some photography locations use designated viewpoints or formed roadside pull-offs. Hazards include passing traffic, low visibility, icy surfaces and winter driving conditions. Participants must remain within the safe area identified by Dylan and must never enter or stand on the road carriageway.

Remoteness

Some locations have limited or no mobile reception. Emergency assistance may take longer to arrive than it would in an urban area.

Fatigue

Early starts, night sessions, consecutive shooting days, cold exposure and disrupted sleep can affect coordination, judgement and physical performance.

Equipment

Camera equipment, tripods, bags and cables can create trip hazards. Batteries and electronic equipment may also fail or lose charge quickly in cold conditions.

3 Fitness and medical requirements

All participants must complete a confidential Fitness & Medical Declaration. This is mandatory.

Unless an activity modification has been agreed in advance, you must be capable of:

• Walking up to 3 km on uneven formed tracks
• Carrying approximately 5 kg of photography equipment for 30 to 60 minutes
• Standing outdoors in cold conditions for up to 90 minutes
• Moving safely while using a headlamp at night
• Following instructions and maintaining group cohesion

You must disclose any medical condition, injury, mobility limitation, medication or health consideration that could affect your participation or your response to cold, fatigue, uneven terrain or night activity. This includes conditions affecting:

• Cardiovascular health
• Breathing or respiratory function
• Balance or coordination
• Mobility
• Cold tolerance
• Alertness or judgement
• Management of diabetes, epilepsy or other ongoing conditions
• Recovery from recent surgery or injury

Dylan Knight Photography may request written GP clearance where a disclosed condition could materially affect safe participation.

You must also notify Dylan of any material change in your health between completing the declaration and the commencement of the workshop.

4 Required clothing and equipment

You are responsible for bringing and using the clothing and equipment specified in the final workshop kit list. This will include:

• A suitable cold-weather layering system
• Thermal base layers
• Insulated mid and outer layers
• Waterproof and windproof outer clothing
• Warm gloves and a beanie
• High-grip waterproof footwear
• A working headlamp with spare batteries
• Water and snacks
• Any personal medication or medical equipment
• Microspikes or ice cleats, which must be brought and used when directed

You may be excluded from a session if you do not have suitable clothing, footwear, lighting or other mandatory safety equipment.

Personal medication must be carried by you and protected appropriately from cold or freezing temperatures.

5 Travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of participation.

You must provide evidence of suitable cover before departure. Your insurance arrangements must include, at minimum:

• Overseas medical and hospital expenses
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation to Australia
• Trip cancellation and curtailment
• Travel delays and disruption
• Personal accident
• Appropriate insurance for your photography equipment and personal property, whether under your travel policy or a separate policy

New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation provides no-fault cover for qualifying accidental injuries sustained in New Zealand, including injuries to overseas visitors. ACC does not replace comprehensive travel insurance. It does not cover illness, repatriation, travel disruption or equipment loss, and it may not cover every cost associated with an injury.

6 Instructions and participant conduct

You must follow all safety instructions given by Dylan Knight Photography. This includes instructions to:

• Stop photographing
• Move away from a hazard
• Return to the vehicle or accommodation
• Leave or change a location
• Remain within a designated working area
• Turn around on a track
• Use specific safety equipment
• End or opt out of a session

During night sessions you must remain with the group, comply with the buddy system and remain within voice or torch distance.

You must not:

• Separate from the group without permission
• Leave a formed track or designated photography area
• Cross a safety boundary
• Enter a closed area
• Stand on a road carriageway
• Approach an unsafe water edge
• Continue against a safety instruction
• Attend a session while affected by alcohol, recreational drugs or any substance that materially impairs judgement, coordination or alertness

Failure to follow safety instructions may result in exclusion from a session or removal from the workshop under the Terms & Conditions.

7 Weather, access and itinerary changes

The published itinerary is a planned framework, not a guarantee that every listed location or session will operate. Locations, times and activities may change due to:

• Weather
• Snow or ice
• Road conditions or closures
• Track closures
• Department of Conservation instructions
• Landholder restrictions
• Visibility
• Wind
• Participant fatigue or health
• Any other factor affecting safe operation

Dylan Knight Photography has final authority to change, shorten, relocate or cancel an individual session where reasonably necessary for safety.

A change or cancellation of an individual session or location does not automatically create an entitlement to a refund. Any refund, credit or other remedy will be determined under the workshop Terms & Conditions and applicable consumer law.

8 Group safety and fatigue management

The workshop is limited to a maximum of four participants to allow close supervision and personal instruction.

Headcounts are conducted throughout field sessions. Muster points and safe working boundaries will be identified at each location.

Night sessions may be shortened or cancelled where cold, fatigue, wind, ice or visibility creates an unacceptable risk.

Participants may choose not to attend a particular sunrise, sunset or night session. There is no requirement to attend every session, and no participant should continue where they feel physically unwell, excessively fatigued or inadequately prepared.

You must immediately notify Dylan if you experience:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Breathing difficulty
• Confusion
• Severe shivering
• Numbness
• Loss of coordination
• Unusual fatigue
• Any other symptom affecting safe participation

9 Emergency arrangements

The workshop operates under a documented and independently audited Safety Management System. Emergency procedures include:

• Group headcounts and buddy systems
• Defined muster points
• First-aid equipment
• Emergency warmth and cold-stress controls
• Mobile and satellite emergency communications where required
• Documented evacuation and escalation procedures
• Daily weather, road and access checks

Mobile reception may be limited or unavailable at some locations. Emergency service response may take a considerable amount of time depending on location, road access and weather.

In an emergency, Dylan Knight Photography may provide relevant personal, medical and emergency-contact information to police, ambulance, search and rescue, medical providers or the Department of Conservation.

10 Department of Conservation and cultural respect

Activities within Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park operate under Department of Conservation concession 126046-GUI and remain subject to all concession conditions, closures, signage and lawful instructions.

Aoraki holds profound cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu and represents the most sacred of ancestors. Participants must behave respectfully and follow all cultural, environmental and access guidance provided during the workshop.

Participants must:

• Remain on formed tracks and approved standing areas
• Respect wildlife
• Remove all rubbish
• Avoid disturbing natural or cultural features
• Comply with closures and signage
• Avoid entering private or restricted land

11 Drones

Drones are not permitted during any Dylan Knight Photography workshop activity. This includes scheduled sessions, group meet-ups, accommodation departures and any activity conducted as part of the workshop.

Any private drone operation outside workshop activities is entirely separate from Dylan Knight Photography and remains subject to Department of Conservation approval, local restrictions, aviation rules and landholder permission.

12 Booking and documentation process

By completing the required acknowledgement at checkout, you confirm that:

• You have read and understood this page
• You understand the physical requirements of the workshop
• You understand the inherent risks of winter, alpine and night photography
• You agree to follow safety instructions and group rules
• You understand that locations and sessions may change for safety reasons
• You understand that weather, snow, clear skies and specific photographs cannot be guaranteed
• You are 18 years of age or older
• You agree to complete the signed Participant Risk Acknowledgement and Consent within 14 days of booking
• You agree to complete the confidential Fitness & Medical Declaration
• You understand that GP clearance may be requested where relevant
• You agree to provide evidence of comprehensive travel insurance before departure

The signed acknowledgement, Fitness & Medical Declaration and travel-insurance evidence form part of the workshop's participant safety records.

Nothing on this page excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable consumer law.

Questions about the workshop's risks, fitness requirements or safety processes should be raised with Dylan before booking.