Simon is the Director of the Peak District Photography Centre and is widely recognised as a photographer and for his Digital Imaging expertise, having had 20 years of experience in professional photography. Featured regularly in the national photographic magazines, he specialises in portraiture and weddings and attracts clients nationwide in this field. He is an experienced tutor with a unique and entertaining style and has the ability to produce a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Having gone digital over 5 years ago, he steered the business down this route only, hence all our courses have always attracted mainly a digital client.

Having done two major worldwide trips before the age of 30, his ever growing interest and natural passion for travel photography has lead the business branching out into the overseas market. The Peak District Photography Centre now runs overseas trips to Nepal, Morocco and India where Simon is the main guide and tutor. He is also the main tutor on the digital portrait and wedding courses.
Web: web.mac.com/simonwatkinson1/home

Karen is a professional landscape photographer and writer living in the Peak District National Park. She is one of the leading landscape artists within this area. Her first book, 'The Ramblers Guide to the Peak District’, was written by Roly Smith and is illustrated throughout with her images. The work was highly commended in the Year 2000 OWG Photographic Awards. ‘Peak Villages’ was again illustrated throughout by Karen Frenkel. Her work (including illustrations and editorials), regularly appears in major publications, such as ‘Outdoor Photography’, ‘Derbyshire Life’ and ‘Peak District Magazine’ and she has also supplied major landscape calendar producers. Karen knows the Peak District inside out and knows how to optimise the seasons and the scenery. Karen uses mainly Nikon equipment but has an indepth knowledge of all leading brands.
Web: www.karenfrenkel.info

Fran Halsall LBIPP, BA (Hons) trained in Fine Art at Manchester Metropolitan University. She approaches her practice with an artistic sensibility, creating bold and memorable images. Fran is passionate about the natural world, its history and its conservation, and her photography reflects these interests. She can impart detailed knowledge of Peak District geology and habitats alongside the technical aspects of landscape photography.

Fran has contributed images for many books, writes and illustrates articles for magazines, exhibits in galleries and works on commissioned projects. Her first solo book: “The Peak District”, was published by Frances Lincoln in March 2008 and is now available for sale from us (RRP £14.99).

Using Canon digital cameras and Adobe Photoshop has allowed Fran to follow her inclination to experiment with photography. She has been teaching with the centre for 4 years, and has a good knowledge of all leading camera brands.

Web: www.fran-halsall.co.uk

Mark Wood is n experienced teacher, with fifteen years of experience delivering courses in digital imaging to professionals and under-graduates. Responding to trends in photography Mark has written a one-day course in Colour Management and has become an Apple Certified Pro User of Aperture. In 2008 Mark will become an Apple Certified Trainer.

Mark has a diverse portfolio of photographic work, including commercial, editorial and studio portrraiture work, through to critically acclaimed fine-art.

As well as working at the Peak District Photography Centre. Mark delivers short courses at universities as well as Apple Authorised Training Centres. Although steeped in all things Macintosh, Mark also teaches using Microsoft Vista.
Web: www.mw-info.co.uk

Mike Williams has been a professional photographer for 35 years working with a broad range of clients from local businesses to the National Trust and English Heritage, the common theme being his love for the natural landscape. He worked as the official photographer for the Peak District National Park Authority during the mid 1970's where he captured awesome landscapes for  their information and interpretation services.
In 1977 he visited American National Parks meeting with the great Ansel Adams and attended his renowned photography workshop in Yosemite National Park.
Since 1978 he has worked as a freelance photographer with an enduring love for the English landscape. He is widely known and highly respected in the photographic industry and has illustrated many books on the countryside and landscape interpretation. During his many commissions around the UK he has found time to teach on various photographic courses including Losehill Hall Study Centre and at the Photographers Place both here in the National Park. For some years during the 1980's he was a visiting lecturer at Sheffield College of Art and Design.
Web: www.peak-pictures.com

Alex Hyde is a professional digital landscape and natural history photographer based in the UK. He currently assists on our Digital Imaging courses as he has expertise in this field. Taking a creative view of the natural world, Alex has an image library of over 30,000 photographs that he is continually expanding. Alex's in-depth knowledge of natural history underpins his imaging, allowing him to capture intimate portraits of wildlife in its natural habitat. Also a keen explorer, his landscapes convey a real sense of wilderness. Whilst his portfolio contains images from many exciting locations around the world, he specialises in the Peak District National Park and has a detailed knowledge of the region.
Web: www.alexhydephotography.com