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The Wild Garden
Ready to get up close and personal with the tiny wonders of nature?
Join me and macro photographer Chris Brockes for a fun, hands-on 2-day Macro Retreat at the beautiful Olgarden in Deurningen, The Netherlands.
We’ll spend two days diving into everything macro. From looking for gorgeous bugs at sunrise to mastering focus stacking and zooming in for creative compositions.
No matter your skill level or camera brand, this is your chance to learn, explore, and geek out over macro photography with likeminded individuals.
The next edition:
19&20th of JUNE 2026
A Little Backstory
After a few years of hosting macro photography workshops in my mom’s garden, I wanted to offer a new experience. One of the things that always bugged me (yes, pun intended), was the timing. I’d advise participants to go shoot very early in the morning; the best time to click bugs. But the workshop starts at 8:30AM, and then there is still a lot of theoretical ground to cover…
So the idea of a two day macro event was born. Having the benefit of teaching in the afternoon, looking for bugs in the evening and then get up super early all together to shoot the bugs we found the day before. Yes, that sounds like so much fun! But to do it all by myself? Hmm…
Enter friend Christian Brockes, a macro photographer from Germany. His knowledge on all things macro is extensive. He has a killer website that is full of blogs, tips and tricks. When we discussed this idea of a two day macro event, it soon began to take shape. And quickly we decided: let’s do this!
And do it we did. We had a fantastic 2025 edition and immediately decided that this event had to get at least a second edition. Read about the 2025 experience here.
What to Expect
The Wild Garden
Everything will be in the spirit of macro photography. Here you’ll find in short what to expect from The Wild Garden. An itinerary.
Friday Afternoon: Welcome & Gear Up
- Arrive and settle in at Olgarden
- Quick introductions, then straight into the action!
- Gear talk and camera settings—OM System sets available to try (all brands and skill levels welcome!)
Evening: Explore & Connect
- Guided stroll through the garden: learn how to approach insects and perfect your macro posture
- Multilingual support. We speak Dutch, German, and English.
- Dinner together in the garden, sharing stories and macro tips with like-minded enthusiasts
Night Session: Creative Techniques
- Dive into composition, insect behavior, and focus bracketing
- Evening bug hunt: put your new skills to the test!
*Note: Accommodation is not included. See below for local tips!*
Saturday Sunrise: Practice & Capture
- Early morning meet-up (around 6AM) for a magical sunrise shoot
- Apply what you’ve learned with hands-on guidance
Saturday Morning: Wrap-Up
- Enjoy breakfast together
- More time to shoot and chat
- Farewells before lunchtime, leave inspired and ready for your next macro adventure!
— All levels welcome, whether you’re just starting out or already obsessed with macro. The Wild Garden is for anyone with a passion for macro photography! —
We Will Cover These Topics
- Gear
- Settings
- How to get close?
- Posture
- Focus bracketing
- Colourful backgrounds
- Composition
- How and Why to use a Flash
- How and Why to use a Diffuser
- Observe Behaviour
- Identify Bugs
What is Included?
- Entrance Fee Olgarden
- Coaching Sessions and Presentations
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- OM System testing gear
- Snacks & Drinks
The Coaches
Location: Olgarden
Olgarden is the location where I do most of my photography. Its a private garden of 4000m2 on the outskirts of Deurningen in The Netherlands.
With more than 1500 species of plants, it’s an insect paradise. In August the dahlia’s are in full bloom. Their gorgeous colours are excellent backdrops.
There is a big barn with a canopy so if there is rain, we will have a dry place to sit. Toilet is inside the main building.
There is plenty of parking space on the side of the road, the street is a dead end.
Accommodation
To keep things flexible and comfortable for everyone, accommodation isn’t included in the 2 Day Macro Retreat. We know that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to where (and how!) they like to spend the night—some may want a cozy B&B, others a hotel, and a few might even prefer heading home. Rather than arranging a one-size-fits-all option, we thought it best to let you choose what suits you best.
Having said that, we do have a couple of recommendations. Our preferred option was Frans op den Bult in Deurningen, on 5 min (!) drive. Budget friendly, clean and easy to reach, but sadly it’s already booked solid for that day.
Suggestion 1: Sevenster in Delden. Wallet-friendly hotel in the beautiful city of Delden. I’m actually from here, so I might be a bit biased :D.
Suggestion 2: Van der Valk Hengelo | If you want a bit more luxury and easy access to the highway, this is the way to go.
Suggestion 3: B&B Erve Grootenhuys | Super ratings, the only B&B in Deurningen, you’ll be at the location in no time. The rooms look fantastic!
If you wanna take a look yourself: here is a list of options that are within 10KM of the location in Deurningen.
Food
We got you covered. There will be snacks, water, tea and coffee available at the location. Dinner we will enjoy together in the garden, and breakfast the next morning as well.