Torridon & the beaches of Wester Ross : 6 night photography workshop

Torridon & the beaches of Wester Ross : 6 night photography workshop

Wester Ross is home to some of the most impressive scenery in the British Isles - it has everything from rugged mountain scenery to stunning lochs and lochans, to beautifully remote beaches and plenty of amazing woodland. We will be based in Torridon, very close to Loch Maree – the Queen of Lochs – and Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.

Scots Pine and birch trees are prevalent in the area, the geology is a delight and the mountains are truly magnificent. There are also some wonderful beaches a little to our north that we will visit. We have chosen to visit in winter time in the hope of our visit coinciding with snow on the mountains, if not lower down - this makes the backdrop to many of our images all the most impressive. However, it is a stunning part of the world at any time of year.

You will undoubtedly see some great vistas but we will also be concentrating on the smaller, more intimate details to be found within the landscape - looking at ways of capturing our surroundings with more abstract interpretations, helping you to get out of your comfort zone and try a few different techniques and approaches to photographing woodland, rock and water.

Our location photography is then developed during our digital skills sessions where we will show you some of the different techniques available when processing your photographs, including exposure blending, using layers and masks and how to work efficiently in both Lightroom and Photoshop. The emphasis is on encouraging group discussion and lively debate between all participants and we will also use this time to look over and review some of the photographs from our outings.

This has proved a very popular part of our trips, as it helps take the photographs shot on location through the digital darkroom, ready for print or web display. Lizzie and Alex will share their processing tips with you and are also on hand for support and questions post workshop. We believe this strikes a good balance between shooting on location and practical help with the necessary post production side so that you can leave with a wealth of new knowledge and skills to compliment your photography out in the field.

Our workshops are very much informal in style - we like to work with our group to ensure we give you the best possible experience and are flexible in our approach to ensure you have a fulfilling and rewarding workshop. We also place great importance on our meals together and always seek hotels that can provide beautifully cooked meals.

This is a Tripod Travels workshop - running in conjunction with good friend and super photographer / teacher, Alex Hare. Alex and I have thoroughly enjoyed working together for several years now and I’ve included a link to Alex’s website here. Also, for more information about my approach to photography workshops, please have a look at this page. If you'd like to see a few testimonials from previous clients, then please look here.

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page for some more detailed information in question and answer format.

Practicalities

  • What is the cost of the workshop?

    The hotel's nine rooms are a mixture of double and single rooms. If you'd like to book one of the two single rooms, or a double with external bathroom, the cost is £1850; all the other rooms are £1950. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so please let us know what you'd like when booking.

  • Where will we be staying

    We will be staying at the lovely and very conveniently located Kinlochewe Hotel, where we will enjoy superb home cooked food and a fabulous bar.

  • How do I get there?

    It's a fair old drive up to Kinlochewe, but there are many incredibly picturesque routes to choose from so, if you have time, driving is a lovely option. We will, however, be offering a pick up and drop off service from Inveness - times to be agreed but, based on current flights, we'd expect to be meeting the Easyjet flight from Gatwick c. 3.15pm on 20th February and dropping off around 2.00pm on 26th February to coincide with the return Easyjet flight to Gatwick.

  • What time will the workshop start and finish?

    We will all meet up early evening on 20th February, although if we are picking you up from the airport, we'll of course see you a little earlier in the day! The workshop will officially end after breakfast on 26th February, but those having a lift to the airport will be leaving early afternoon.

  • What level of photographer will this suit?

    Photographers of any level are welcome - whether a beginner or with many years experience. With a small group of only 7-8 participants, and two tutors, there will be more than enough opportunity to cover everything from the basic skills of landscape photography (if required) to more advanced, creative techniques. We are there to give you as much help as you would like.

  • How much walking is involved?

    Although there are plenty of locations within a short distance of the road, to make the most of what the area has to offer, we expect to do the occasional longer walk, possibly one of several miles, although this one is on pretty flat terrain. There are a few steeper locations that we sometimes visit, but conditions very much dictate which areas we focus on. A reasonable degree of fitness will help you get more out of the trip, but please ask, if in doubt.

  • Can I borrow a Lee filters kit?

    You are welcome to borrow a Lee filter kit - including big stopper, little stopper and ND grads. Please note this is at your own risk, although we've had no breakages to date! Please ask in advance and advise of the filter ring sizes of any lenses you may be bringing.

  • Why have you included a carbon footprint offset contribution?

    Given the fragile state of our environment, we feel that it is vitally important we all do what we can to help protect and preserve our precious planet. All of our workshops now include a very small fee - typically up to £10 per person - which we donate to a number of certified carbon offset schemes. You can read more about this here.