Chasing Light: Vivid Sydney Photography Workshop 2027
Join photographer Rick Budai for an immersive two-day photography experience exploring the creativity, colour and spectacle of Vivid Sydney.
Small group. Personalised guidance. Two days and two nights of Vivid Sydney.
Suitable for photographers of all experience levels.
Maximum 5 participants.
What previous workshop participants say
“Fantastic experience. No matter your level of experience Rick doesn’t make you feel like you are being a hinderance and is willing to help with even the most basic of questions/problems and explains in a way that is easy to understand without getting lost in technical terms. The advice given on how to improve your steps, technique and/or style in capturing an image doesn’t second guess anything that you currently do but expands on your current knowledge without trying to reteach and change.”
Jim Irvine
Tasmania
August 2026
Meet Your Instructor
Hi, I'm Rick Budai.
Photographer & Workshop Instructor
I've spent years photographing Tasmania's wild landscapes and helping photographers develop the skills and confidence to create images they're proud of.
My teaching style is relaxed, practical and highly personalised — whether it's a workshop, a private lesson, or a multi-day tour, you'll receive individual attention and guidance tailored to where you're at.
I'll help you understand not just the camera settings, but why they work — so you leave with real skills you can use long after the day is done.
Why People Love This Workshop
- Shoot Vivid at its best — Two guided evenings photographing Sydney alive with light, colour and spectacle.
- Small, personalised group — Maximum 5 participants with individual guidance from Rick throughout.
- Plan by day, shoot by night — Daytime scouting and planning so you're ready when the lights come on.
- Master low-light technique — Real-world coaching in long exposure, cityscape and low-light photography.
- Post-processing Q&A — A 1-hour online session about a week after to review and refine your images.
- Flexible to conditions — Itinerary adjusts to weather, light and Vivid's ever-changing opportunities.
Workshop Overview
What makes this experience special
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By the end of the workshop, you'll understand:
- How to shoot long exposures at night
- Cityscape and low-light composition
- How to capture light trails and reflections
- Manual exposure for mixed city lighting
- Focusing techniques in the dark
- Planning and scouting a night shoot
Detailed Itinerary
Your day-by-day photography journey
Please ensure you have had lunch, or bring it with you.
Ensure you have sufficient snacks and drinks for the day/evening.
We will have a break from 4pm - 5.30pm to allow everyone to fuel up for the evening ahead!
Photography Highlights
- 12:00pm – Meet and Introduction. Workshop briefing, Camera settings and equipment discussion. Introduction to photographing Vivid Sydney
- Afternoon - Location scouting. Composition and creative planning. Discussion of photographic techniques and image-making approaches
- Evening - Guided photography session through selected Vivid Sydney locations. Individual coaching and image review in the field. Finish approx 10pm
Please ensure you have had lunch, or bring it with you.
Ensure you have sufficient snacks and drinks for the day/evening.
We will have a break from 4pm - 5.30pm to allow everyone to fuel up for the evening ahead!
Photography Highlights
- 12:00pm - Meet and review previous day's learning and experience.
- Afternoon - Advanced techniques and photographic planning. Explore additional locations and perspectives
- Evening - Guided photography session through selected Vivid Sydney locations. Applying techniques, and refining creative vision. Finish approximately 10:00pm
What's Included
Everything you need for a successful photography experience
Vivid Sydney is a dynamic event, with changing weather, crowd movements, lighting conditions and photographic opportunities influencing where and when we shoot. For this reason, the workshop itinerary remains flexible. While Rick will have a carefully planned route and a range of locations in mind, the schedule may be adjusted throughout the workshop to take advantage of the best conditions, emerging opportunities and participant interests. This flexible approach allows us to maximise photographic outcomes and ensures participants can make the most of the unique and ever-changing nature of Vivid Sydney.
Included
- Two days of photography tuition and mentoring
- Two guided evening photography sessions
- Location scouting and planning sessions
- Individual photographic guidance and feedback
- Small group learning environment
- One-hour online post-processing and image review Q&A session approximately one week after the workshop
Not Included
- Accommodation
- Meals, Snacks, Drinks
- Photographic Equipment
- Flights/Transport to and from Sydney
- Public Transport and Ferry Fares
- Travel Insurance
Tour Gallery
Locations and moments from our tours
Vivid Sydney Photography Workshop 2027
Join photographer Rick Budai in Sydney for an immersive two-day, two-evening workshop at the Vivid Sydney Light Festival. Daytime scouting and planning set you up to photograph the city at its most spectacular — long exposures, light trails, cityscapes and low-light mastery in a small group of up to 5 participants.
Vivid Sydney Festival
Two guided evening sessions photographing Sydney's iconic installations, harbourside light shows and cityscapes
Sydney Locations
Daytime location scouting around the Opera House, Circular Quay and the Harbour — so you're ready when the lights come on
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you book
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