The aim on each trip is to lead participants to scenic locations, to exploit the potential of a scene and to
provide instruction to improve their photographic techniques in relation to:
Finding subjects to suit the prevailing light Composition and viewpoint Perspective Focal point/centre of interest Depth of field/choice of aperture Filters – polariser and graduated ND Exposure – compensation, histograms Capturing mood and atmosphere Recognising pattern, texture and small details Making the most of your lenses Evaluation of images
Courses are suitable for photographers of widely varying abilities and experience, whether working with film or digital. As much instruction as possible will be done out-of-doors, while on location. Indoor sessions will include illustrated lectures, discussions, as well as opportunities to view and evaluate participants’ own work. Digital users will benefit by bringing their own laptop but this is not essential.
ISLE OF MULL Friday 19th - Thursday 25th APRIL 2013
Mull is one of the larger islands that make up the Inner Hebrides and is only a 45 minute ferry crossing from Oban. The trip will concentrate on the southern half of the island which provides an interesting mixture of mountainous terrain (Ben More is over 3000 feet), wild moorland, 300 miles of varied coastline, freshwater lochs, sea lochs, burns and waterfalls, plus several attractive villages and castles.
Accommodation will be in the Ardachy House Hotel near Bunessan at the western end of the Ross of Mull - the long peninsula at the South end of the island. The food is outstanding and we will have sole occupancy of the hotel. Ardalanish Bay with expansive sands and small dunes is just a short walk from the hotel. There are several other very attractive bays nearby and pink granite outcrops are prominent around Fionnphort, from where there are good views over to the Isle of Iona and where a full day will be spent. Iona is one of the earliest Christian settlements in Scotland and renowned for its peace and tranquillity (no visitors’ cars are allowed). The Abbey, with its open cloisters and 9th/10th century Celtic crosses, provides good photographic opportunities. Away from the religious sites there are beaches of pure white sand and colourful rocks. It may be possible to walk to the tidal island of Erraid which was the setting for part of R. L. Stevenson’s Kidnapped. Depending on the weather, a visit to Staffa may be considered (extra cost) to see the amazing columnar basalt formations and cliffs, plus the legendary Fingal’s Cave. Two of the main sea lochs, Loch Scridain and Loch na Keal have lots of variety to offer at any time of day. At Carsaig Bay on the South side of the peninsula there are many interesting geological features including concretions, cliffs, rock formations and black volcanic sands with artistic patterns. A trip to the colourful town of Tobermory, Calgary and the rugged NW coast may be undertaken if time permits. Throughout Mull there is abundant wildlife, with otters, golden eagles and sea eagles being regularly seen.
There will be an opportunity to regularly review and evaluate work taken during the trip.
Maximum number of photographers is 8. Travel during the course will be by hired 9 seater minibus. Meeting in Oban for 2pm sailing but collection at Glasgow Airport before 10am can be offered (no charge).
Cost: £815 - covers 6 nights en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, transport during the trip, ferry to Iona, tuition, but excludes insurance, transport to/from Mull, any admission charges and additional boat trips eg to Staffa.
Book directly with Duncan McEwan
HARRIS & LEWIS Thursday 20th - Thursday 27th June 2013
Explore the beauty of Harris and Lewis in the remote Outer Hebrides. For the first 3 nights we will stay in the Harris Hotel in Tarbert from where we will explore the delights of this Hebridean gem. There is a marked contrast between the east and west coasts - the former is a barren landscape of rock, moorland, peaty lochans and narrow sea inlets, while the latter has some of the most stunning stretches of sand to be found anywhere – at Luskentyre, Seilebost, Horgabost, Traigh Iar, Borve, Scarista, Borve. Evening light anywhere along the west coast can be absolutely stunning. At ebb tide, the colours and patterns in the sand and sea at Luskentyre are something to marvel at. In the south of Harris, the interior of the 12th century St. Clements Church at Rodel has some interesting architecture and carvings which present a different photographic challenge.
Following that, we move to Lewis for a four night stay at the Doune Braes Hotel near Carloway on the west coast of Lewis. Wonderful locations are within easy reach, from Uig in the south to the Butt of Lewis in the north - fantastic sandy beaches, dunes, machair, boulder shores, sea cliffs, sea stacks, as well as bleak peat moors broken up with numerous lochans. The renowned bays at Dalmore and Dalbeg are only a short distance away, as are the iconic landmarks of the Callanish Standing Stones and the Pictish Broch at Carloway - these make ideal locations at sunrise and sunset. The many abandoned croft houses and shielings that dot the landscape always appeal to photographers. A visit may be made to Stornoway and the east coast, reaching as far as Tolsta where again there are magnificent beaches - Traigh Ghearadha has impressive rock stacks arising from the sand, which itself has some amazing sand patterns.
Getting there is by ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway or by air from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Stornoway, from where collection may be arranged.
Maximum number of photographers is 8. Travel during the course will be by hired minibus.
Cost: £1020 - covers 7 nights single en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, transport during the trip, tuition but excludes transport to/from Lewis, any admission charges, insurance.
Book directly with Duncan McEwan
ASSYNT and COIGACH Monday 21st - Sunday 27th OCTOBER 2013
This workshop will be based in Ullapool and will explore the area that lies just to the North – known as Coigach and Assynt. There is a wonderful variety of inland and coastal opportunities. The mountains may not be the highest in the West Highlands but they are among the most distinctively shaped and assume a grandeur due to their separation and the fact they arise steeply from the flat surrounding moorland – Stac Pollaidh and Suilven in particular have achieved iconic status.
The road from Ullapool to Achiltibuie is one of the most scenic, with several lochs providing great foregrounds for the mountains beyond, while from the lovely beach at Achnahaird, there is a full panorama of the Coigach and Assynt peaks. Further on, other great coastal locations, around Polbain and Old Dornie, look westwards over the Summer Isles. The narrow coastal road from Inverpolly to Lochinver offers a similar blend of coastal and inland scenery including excellent views of Suilven. The main road from Ullapool to Lochinver passes through some geologically important areas before reaching Loch Assynt where Ardvreck Castle and several tree-clad islands will prove irresistible.
North of Lochinver is a wonderful coastline that includes fantastic sands at Achmelvich, Clachtoll and Clashnessie before reaching the rugged headland that leads out to Stoer Point and its lighthouse. A cliff-top path leads to a view of the sea stack called the Old Man of Stoer. The narrow, twisting road that runs through Drumbeg seems to have changed little over the last hundred years and leads to Kylesku, which will mark our most northerly point. Here there is a fine curving bridge with views across to Quinag and up Loch Glendhu to some very remote mountains. The time of year should ensure good autumn colours, particularly on the moorlands, but also in the birch and rowan trees.
Accommodation will be in the 4*Ardvreck Guest House, just outside Ullapool and great home-cooked evening meals will be provided.
With sunset before 6pm, there will be ample opportunity to regularly review and evaluate work during the evenings.
Maximum number of photographers is 8. Travel during the course will be by hired 9 seater minibus. Inverness pick-up/drop-off can be arranged (no charge).
Cost: £705 (sharing), £795 (single) - covers 6 nights en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, tuition and transport during the trip,but excludes insurance.
ORKNEY (Co-led with Lee Frost) Wednesday 4th - Wednesday 11th SEPTEMBER 2013
The 70 islands that make up the Orkney archipelago are steeped in Norse and Viking history, as well as having some of the finest Neolithic sites in Europe - Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Brough of Gurness and The Tomb of Maeshowe are within easy reach of the Standing Stones Hotel, Stenness, where the course will be based.. The Atlantic coast offers wild, dramatic scenery – geos, caves, sea stacks, arches, the cliffs at Marwick Head and Yesnaby. The cliff top at Yesnaby has amazing rock details that could keep one busy for hours. The Bay of Skaill is interesting and a walk across the causeway to the Brough of Birsay is likely to be undertaken.
Away from the coasts, freshwater lochs, green fertile farmland and a hilly terrain give added variety. The towns of Kirkwall and Stromness have narrow, flagstone paved streets and Kirkwall also has the ancient St Magnus Cathedral where photography is permitted. Two interesting folk museums also offer good indoor photographic opportunities as does the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war from scrap materials.
A trip will be made from Kirkwall across the Churchill Barriers to Lamb Holm, location of the Italian Chapel, Burray and finally to South Ronaldsay, the most southerly of the Islands.
A highlight of the week in Orkney will be the visit to the Island of Hoy where Rackwick Bay is considered one of the most beautiful places in Orkney – it has a beach of sand with amazing patterned boulders. If time permits, a 4.5 mile walk (round trip) would be undertaken to the Old Man of Hoy, an impressive 450 ft sea stack – the highest in the UK and one of the icons of Orkney. The East coast of Hoy has fine views over Scapa Flow, which played such an important naval role in both World Wars.
The quickest way of getting there is by air from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports to Kirkwall, thus avoiding a long drive and ferry crossing. Travel during the course will be by minibus.
Orkney is a place where, apart from the exciting and varied photographic potential, there is much to see and many historical places to visit.
Cost: £1395 (single), £1295 (sharing), covers 7 nights en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, transport during the trip, ferry crossing to Hoy, tuition but excludes insurance and admission to certain historic sites. Transfer to/from Kirkwall Airport can be arranged, also Stromness Ferry Terminal.
Book directly with Photoadventures.
ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
(Northern Region)
PERTHSHIRE AUTUMN Sunday 13th - Saturday 19th OCTOBER 2013
This workshop has been organised through the Royal Photographic Society, Northern Region, and is primarily for RPS members, but places not taken will be open to non-members.
This is an opportunity to experience and capture the delights of Autumn in an area of the Highlands that undoubtedly ranks as one of the top locations in the whole of Scotland for autumnal colour. Accommodation will be in the Balnearn Guest House in Aberfeldy, which is about 30 miles north of Perth and 14 miles west of Pitlochry. There is easy access to some of the finest mountains, glens, woodlands, lochs, rivers and waterfalls in the Central Highlands. To the west lie Loch Tay, Kenmore village, Falls of Acharn, Taymouth Castle, Killin and the Falls of Dochart, although the most spectacular colour is often to be found around L.Tummel, L.Rannoch, L. Faskally, the wooded Pass of Killiecrankie and in Glen Lyon, which some rate as one of the finest glens in Scotland. The Queen’s View is one of Scotland’s most photographed scenes – a viewpoint that looks westwards along Loch Tummel, with the near perfect conical peak of Schiehallion as a focal point. Both Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch have roads on north and south shores, allowing for good circular tours and giving the best opportunities at different times of day. The eastern edge of Rannoch Moor provides a more wilderness location where the colour lies in the moorland grasses rather than in the trees. Within walking distance of the guest house, is the beautiful wooded gorge known as the Birks of Aberfeldy, made famous by the writings of Robert Burns and a favourite haunt of photographers at this time of year. An evening visit to the Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry will be considered for those wishing to attend this spectacular show of light, sound and colour (admission extra). Apart from wonderful colour, dramatic and varied moods are often experienced at this time of year – morning mist, stormy skies, rainbows and frost are highly likely and even the first snowfall of winter on the mountains is not uncommon. Travel during the trip will be on a car sharing basis. Although evening meals are not provided by the guest house, there are several good eating places in Aberfeldy.
Cost: £325 includes 6 nights en suite accommodation B&B, packed lunches, but excludes evening meals, insurance, contribution to travel, any admissions eg Enchanted Forest.
Enquiries to Duncan McEwan but book directly with Jane Black 0191-2522870 (Regional Organiser of RPS, Northern Region).
Bespoke tours can be arranged to suit the needs of individuals
or small groups of photographers.
