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.
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 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.
Cost: £770 - covers en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, transport during the trip, ferry to Iona, tuition, but excludes transport to/from Mull, any admission charges and additional boat trips eg to Staffa.
Book directly with Duncan McEwan
ASSYNT and COIGACH Sunday 14th - Saturday 20th OCTOBER 2012
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 Polly and Suilven in particular have iconic achieved 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. 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 heading out the rugged headland that leads out to Stoer Point where there is a 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. There will be opportunities for dawn and dusk photography.
Accommodation will be in the 4*Ardvreck Guest House, just outside Ullapool, with evening meals being in restaurant(s) in Ullapool.
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. Inverness pick-up can be arranged.
Cost: £505 (sharing), £595 (single) - covers en suite accommodation, packed lunches, tuition, transport during the trip but excludes cost of evening meal.
The Island of Eigg lies to the South of the Isle of Skye and is only ten miles from the mainland, making it easily accessible. It is managed by the islanders themselves in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Highland Council in order to ensure a viable future while sustaining its unique environmental and cultural heritage.
The fantastic coastline and beaches at Laig and Camus Sgiotaig (the Singing Sands) will be visited on several occasions. With the Isle of Rum as a backdrop, fascinating rocks and shore details for foregrounds, variety provided by high and low tides as well as different times of day, there are endless photographic opportunities at these two locations alone. A walk to the summit of the pitchstone ridge of An Sgurr (1291ft) gives commanding views of the island and beyond to Rum, Canna, Muck, Skye and the mainland. An afternoon excursion to the Isle of Muck (30 minute sail) is planned, allowing three hours ashore to explore the island. Eigg is rich in wildlife including golden eagle, corncrake and otter, and many springtime flowers will be in bloom, providing colour and interest. The landscape is typically Hebridean – isolated crofts, some ruinous and with abandoned agricultural machinery, dot the landscape in picturesque settings. Those at Cleadale nestle under the towering cliffs of Beinn Bhuidhe, while the abandoned 17th century township of Grulin lies at the foot of An Sgurr.
Getting there would be by car/train to Mallaig followed by a 70 minute ferry crossing. Special arrangements have been made to have our own transport on the island, greatly reducing the amount of walking – the only strenuous aspect will be the 1 hour uphill walk to reach the Sgurr ridge. Midges will not be troublesome at this time of year. Accommodation will be in the comfortable Glebe Barn, which we will have exclusive use of. The food is excellent. Sharing will be necessary (single rooms unlikely).
Cost: £815. Covers accommodation, meals, packed lunches, tuition, trip to Muck but excludes insurance, transport to/from Mallaig.
Book directly with Light and Land.
ORKNEY Saturday 1st - Saturday 8th SEPTEMBER 2012
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: £1,395 (covers en suite accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, transport during the trip, tuition but excludes insurance and transport to/from Stenness.
HARRIS & LEWIS Co-led with Lee Frost
Monday 10th Sept - Monday 17th September 2012
Explore the beauty of Harris and Lewis in the remote Outer Hebrides. For the first 4 nights we will stay in 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 Tolsta where again there are magnificent beaches - Traigh Ghearadha has impressive rock stacks arising from the sand, which itself has some amazing sand patterns.
Following that, we move to Harris for a three night stay at 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 wonderful architecture and carvings which present a different photographic challenge.
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 12. Travel during the course will be by hired minibus.
Cost: £1,195 - covers 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 Photo Adventures.
Bespoke tours can be arranged to suit the needs of individuals or small groups of photographers.
