Martin Osner Photography School

A CREATIVE JOURNEY IN SWELLENDAM 🌿

We love seeing what unfolds when photography is given room to move beyond the photograph.

This beautiful mixed-media artwork by Tina Roche was created during our recent Art Photography Retreat in Swellendam, combining photography, paint and newspaper montage to build a richly layered and expressive final piece.

Our retreats are about experimenting, breaking away from the expected and discovering new ways to bring your photographs into the world of art.

Missed the last retreat? We’re heading back to Swellendam.

📅 07–11 September 2026
📍 Swellendam, Western Cape
✨ Only a few places remain

If you’d like to spend four creative days exploring photography, mixed media and new artistic techniques with us, this is your chance.

Find out more >> https://artphoto.academy/swellendam-art-and-photography-retreat

🎨 Artist Spotlight: Ruth Anne Smit
Marloth Park Art Photography Workshop
Artwork: Yellow Billed Hornbill
Technique: Watercolour Paint & Pencil

Ruth Anne Smit beautifully captures the character of the Yellow Billed Hornbill using watercolour and pencil to highlight the bird's distinctive features. The vibrant beak becomes the focal point, while soft earthy tones in the background create a natural setting that complements the subject perfectly.

To complete the artwork, Ruth incorporated two textured overlays—a painted texture using the Overlay blend mode and a photographed stone texture using Colour Burn—adding depth and a rich, organic feel to the final piece.

Congratulations on this beautifully crafted artwork, Ruth! 👏✨

🎨 Artist Spotlight: Kiren Maharaj
Marloth Park Art Photography Workshop
Technique: Layered Photography, Tea, Coffee, Sand & Rust Textures

For Kiren Maharaj, photographing a leopard was a moment more than five years in the making. Inspired by the unforgettable sight of a leopard resting in one of Mashatu's magnificent leadwood trees, this artwork celebrates both the beauty and quiet power of one of Africa's most iconic predators.

Using layered photography with tea, coffee, sand, and rust textures, Kiren has created a rich, earthy composition that reflects the spirit of the African bush while drawing the viewer into the leopard's captivating gaze.

Congratulations on this striking artwork, Kiren! 👏✨

🎨 Artist Spotlight: Steve Trimby

Marloth Park Art Photography Workshop
Technique: Acrylic Paint & Photography
Artwork: Hornbill

Steve Trimby captures the unmistakable character of the African hornbill in this vibrant mixed media artwork. Inspired by the colourful beauty of toucans, Steve used expressive acrylic paint to introduce bold splashes of colour, creating an abstract interpretation of one of Africa's most iconic birds.

A wonderful combination of wildlife photography and artistic expression. Congratulations on this fantastic artwork, Steve! 👏✨

Learn more about this wildlife Art Retreat - https://artphoto.academy/wildlife-art-photography-workshop-marloth-park

Part 2 of Martin Osner’s conversation with fine art photographer and artist Sandy McLea has just been released on YouTube.

In this concluding episode, Sandy takes us deeper into the creative process behind his remarkable Idle Quarters collection — exploring panoramic stitching, complex 3D assembly, watercolour finishing, and the way photography can move far beyond the traditional print.

This is a fascinating masterclass in creative evolution for photographers, artists, collectors, and students of the Art Photography Academy.
If you haven’t yet watched Part 1, we recommend starting there before continuing with Part 2.

Watch Part 2 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81KZroR2eug

➤ Sign up for Osner Atelier:
https://martinosner.com/atelier

Fine Art Photography Masterclass: 3D Techniques with Sandy McLea (Part 2) In this concluding episode, we dive deeper into the world of fine art photography as Sandy McLea reveals the intricate art photography techniques behind his ...

Martin recently sat down with fine art photographer and artist Sandy McLea for an inspiring conversation about photography, creativity, and the making of art.

In this first part of their two-part discussion, Sandy shares how his journey evolved from commercial photography into a deeply personal artistic practice, using photo montage, photo collage, and layered photographic techniques to create unique works of art.

From early panoramic black-and-white pieces to the Urban Facade collection, this conversation offers a wonderful insight into Sandy’s creative process and the way a photograph can become so much more than a captured moment.

watch full video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfKQp1OzmSg

Martin Osner 10 likes, 1 comment. "From Camera to Fine Art — Martin Osner & Sandy McLea | Art Photography Techniques | Part 1"

There’s something powerful about stepping away…

Away from the noise, the deadlines, the constant movement of everyday life. It’s often only in those quieter spaces that creativity has room to breathe again.

We’ve found, time and time again, that when you remove yourself from the busyness of the world and place yourself in nature—something shifts. You begin to see differently. Think differently. Create differently.

Our upcoming Swellendam Art & Photography Retreat (22–26 June 2026) is designed around exactly that.

A five-day immersive experience in the beautiful Overberg, where you can slow down, reconnect with your creativity, and explore new ways of seeing and expressing your work—guided by Samantha and myself.

We still have a few spots available, and we would love to have you join us.

Find out more and secure your place here:

https://artphoto.academy/swellendam-art-and-photography-retreat

At some point, many photographers hit a quiet wall…

The gear is there. The eye is there.
But the work starts to feel flat.

If that sounds familiar, join us for a relaxed live Zoom conversation on
Wednesday, 22 April at 7:00 PM (GMT+2)

We’ll be talking about:
• Why creativity stalls
• How to move forward again
• And what truly helps shift your work

This isn’t a lecture—just an honest conversation.

👉 Save your spot here: https://forms.gle/VhDgzHyd8fe35zNeA

Spaces are limited.