Join Leica Store Miami and fine art photographer Richard Sexton for an all-inclusive, 10-day Monochrom workshop through the captivating landscapes and rich history of Northern Ireland. Our journey will take us from the vibrant streets of Dublin and Belfast to the rugged coastlines of Bushmills, the walled city of Derry, and the wild beauty of Donegal — with countless hidden gems along the way. This thoughtfully curated experience will blend the region’s complex history with its natural wonders and cultural landmarks, offering stunning photographic opportunities at iconic sites such as the Giant’s Causeway, the Dark Hedges, Glenveagh National Park, Grainan Aileach, Dunluce Castle, and the soaring Slieve League Cliffs. Whether you’re drawn to the dramatic scenery, ancient ruins, or the fascinating history of this part of the country, this workshop promises both inspiration and adventure at every turn.
Craggy coastlines, lush forests, quaint villages, cosmopolitan cities, prehistoric ruins, castles, rolling hillsides, lively pubs, all steeped in a rich, complex history, make Ireland the perfect location for a destination workshop, particularly for black and white photography. This style of photography is not easy, nor is it merely color photography absent the color. It is more subjective, more interpretive. And it requires a certain vision, an ability to interpret a reality rendered only through shades of gray. Light and shadow is the language of the image. It is a separate, challenging medium and Ireland is the perfect proving ground.
The Leica Monochrom is not simply a camera setting, it is a purpose-built instrument devoted entirely to black-and-white capture. Its files possess a depth, tonal subtlety, and luminous quality that cannot be replicated by converting color images to grayscale.
Working with a Monochrom requires intention. Throughout the workshop, we will focus on:
Seeing & Capture
• Pre-visualization and committing to black and white at the moment of exposure
• Recognizing contrast, texture, gesture, and light as primary compositional tools
• Achieving precise exposure with a monochrome sensor
Color Filters in Black & White
• Using yellow, orange, red, and green filters to translate color into tonal value
• Shaping skies, skin tones, and architectural detail at the moment of capture
Post-Production Workflow
• Optimizing Monochrom RAW files in Adobe Lightroom
• Refining tonal structure and local contrast in Photoshop
• Developing a consistent monochrome aesthetic
Printing
• Understanding why monochrome printing is more interpretive and nuanced than color
• Producing one or two gallery-quality black-and-white prints to take home (or ship)
• Exploring paper choice, tonal separation, and final presentation
Participants will enjoy exclusive location shoots, thoughtful critiques, hands-on processing sessions, and meaningful dialogue about photographic intent and authorship. Each attendee will also receive a signed book from Richard Sexton.
Richard Sexton will be your instructor. He is a widely published and exhibited photographer, who is also a lifelong Leica photographer, beginning with a used M4 in the 1970s and continuing to the present day with the M10 Monochrom. Along with Richard, Jonathan Traviesa of Richard Sexton Studio will help to guide you during your printing session. Leica Specialist Brandon Woods from Leica Store Miami will be on hand to give assistance and advice. He’ll share his favorite tips and tricks to getting the most out of these exceptional cameras. Take a look at a few behind the scenes images from a previous workshop.