Photography Workshops and Tours in the Scottish Highlands

It's late in the evening around 10pm, there's not a breath of wind and soft scents of a Highland summer fill the air. With the moon rising there's no better place to be than gazing into the void that is Scotland's most famous loch.

There's something about Mull. I can't quite put my finger on it. It is wild, moody, pristine, exposed and feels lost in its own time and space. I guess that can be said of all the Hebridean Islands but Mull for me is special. I spent 4 days taking in the island in early spring. Wild camping, I hardly saw a sole. I took this image along the shores of Loch na Keal. The heavy skies and subtle earthy tones complemented each other without one being over dominant. The road hugs the shore of the headland in the distance, every corner revealing another classic but seemingly unique Mull vista.
It's also a launching pad for Iona, Staffa and Coll. Visit and you will forget the rest of the works exists. You just have to go there, I will be again soon!

From the Quiraing south, the primevil landscapes along the Trotternish ridge are just mind blowing. A giant landslip, the ridge extends for over 20 miles. I've only just began to explore and experience this well photographed iconic location. This image taken mid-afternoon in summer displayed some classic Highland soft light. Rolling clouds form soft shadows which complement the juxtaposition of the soft green slopes against the abrupt craggy ridges.

Fifteen minutes before taking this shot, myself and my Australian companion were taking shelter under a rock from the elements. After a very early rise, an eventful drive from Carbost which including hitting a deer on the road and walking up the track in pitch dark and less than suitable weather. My friend was beginning to wonder if it all wasn't just a big waste of time. Rain abaiting and faith restored we continued up into the aptly named sanctuary. In postition, we waited for a few minutes. With clouds funneling over head, something stirred, a glimmer of light in the gloom and then the early morning sun burst through. It's warm light bathed the rocks beside me and transformed the scene, providing me with my signiture Lightstalkers Scotland image.

As some one wiser than me once said "Luck is preparedness in the face of opportunity"

(A3+ custom signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper, limited edition of 50).

Scouting the loch side for interesting foregound elements I discovered this old boat shell that reminded me of a fish skeleton (complete with tail). On a glorious spring evening during a Torridon weekend workshop the sublte soft light set the scene with monolithic Slioch looming over an almost still Loch Maree.

Late in the day and soft light, high cloud and a subtle pallette of warm hues painted the landscape giving form, texture and a luminous glow to these magnificent Highland mountains.

(size 24 x 8 inch. Custom, signed print on fine art 100% cotton rag archival paper)

At the end of a long day on Skye, this unfamiliar location proved to be a memorable one. At first the "stepping stones" in the foreground were exposed on the beach but within a matter of minutes the tide was around the base of the tripod. The late afternoon sky began to fill with colour and with the snow capped mountains of Harris just visible in the distance I captured the last warm rays of the sun on Tulm Island.

(custom, signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper)

Print size 15inch x 13 inch (approx)

On one of the coldset days of the year (-10), I decided to venture up to Torridon. As I desended down to Loch a Chroisg, beyond Achnasheen, I entered a pocket of freezing fog. Everything seemed to be frozen in time and with visbilty limited an omni-directional light filled the space around me. Giving a sense of isolation the conditions provided an almost perfect light for my subject, this semi - frozen, frost covered tree.

(custom, signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper)

This well know location never fails to dissapoint. I always run out of time and never get the feeling that I've done the location justice. Each visit offers a different experience and perspective. I just kept this image simple, black and white with a little dodge and burn. Looks fantastic on heavy textured fine art paper.

(custom, signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper)

Stac Pollaidh stands like a monument over Inverpolly. At only 612m it's one of the more accessible mountains in the area. This shot was taken in fading light on my way back to Inverness after a day spent walking around the Quinag further north. This view made an instant impression on me, the wild open expanse of ground and fence in the foreground adds a great sense of perspective and depth. A simple composition, it works equally well in colour or black and white.

(custom, signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper)

Taken early morning, 6AM during a workshop based at Kinlochewe, Torridon. The hard light of the sun's rays just start to strike the bracken near the base of Liathtach, one of Torridon's great mountains. It looms above a still Loch Clair in the cool early morning soft light.

(custom, signed print on fine art, 100% cotton rag archival paper)