Explore Morvern, Mull and Lunga while learning how to take stunning nature images. Join us as we visit the mountains, forests, coastal landscapes and wildlife habitats which have many opportunities for terrific images. Weather permitting, we may also travel by boat to the remote island of Lunga to see and photograph the vast seabird colonies that call the Islands home.
This Nikon School Adventure is a great opportunity to explore the west coast of Scotland while learning how to take great nature images. An experienced wildlife and landscape photographer from Nikon School will be on hand to help you with all aspects your photography, showing you tips and techniques settings that will enable you to get great images. We will also be accompanied by a local guide to help us see wildlife such as white tailed eagles and to find the best locations to hopefully photograph wild otters.
On the workshop, we help you to make the most of the beautiful surroundings and cover landscape techniques such as settings for sunrise and sunset photography, long exposures and using ND & Grad filters (weather permitting). When encountering wildlife, we can advise on the fieldcraft needed to approach the animals without disturbing them and best settings for focusing as well as techniques for capturing birds in flight and how to get pin sharp images when using long lenses. Throughout the workshop we will also provide guidance on composition ideas and how to maximise the light available to us.
Each day will be spent ‘following the light’ and we aim to visit locations that have been specifically chosen for the chance of great nature photography depending on the prevailing light and weather. If the weather does go against us and we are forced to stay inside, we will host image review and editing workshops or camera and lens Q&A’s until the weather clears and we can return outside.
This workshop is limited to 6 delegates and a Nikon School tutor and plus a local guide. We will be working in groups of three delegates per guide / Nikon School tutor for some of the wildlife encounters to ensure the best outcome for great images and respect for the wildlife in their habitats.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Photographing spectacular nature on Morvern, Mull and Lunga.
Weather permitting, optional sunrise and sunset photography shoots.
Wildlife and Landscape photography in stunning locations.
Photography guidance, advice and hints and tips from Nikon School.
Expert wildlife guiding by a local expert.
Boat trip to the Lunga to photograph the seabird colonies including puffins (weather permitting).
Exclusive Boat charter around Mull and local Lochs to photograph White tailed eagles (weather permitting).
An outline itinerary is as follows, but please note this is very weather dependent. We may need to change the arrangements and locations at the last minute as the weather can be very unpredictable in Scotland even in May and June.
Sunday 31st May 2026
Meet at the hotel at 5pm for a welcome briefing by Nikon School and our guide. After introductions and the briefing, we will adjourn to dinner to continue the conversation and answer any questions about the workshop. After dinner, depending on the weather conditions we will aim to photograph the sunset and maybe explore some of the nearby Lochs looking for wildlife before returning to the hotel.
Day 1 - Monday 1st June 2026
Hopefully a pre breakfast Sunrise shoot and then after breakfast, depending on the weather and light we will start to explore the local landscapes and look for wildlife at various locations before returning to the hotel for dinner. After dinner depending on the light, further landscape or wildlife photography may be possible.
Day 2 - Tuesday 2nd June 2026
After breakfast, weather permitting we have an exclusive boat charter exploring Mull or local Lochs looking for White Tailed Eagles. After the boat journey and back on land, we will continue to explore various locations, photographing the landscapes and wildlife before returning to the hotel for dinner. After dinner depending on the light, further landscape or wildlife photography may be possible.
Day 3 - Wednesday 3rd June 2026
Hopefully a pre breakfast Sunrise shoot and then after breakfast, depending on the weather and light we will continue to explore the local landscapes, looking for wildlife at various locations before returning to the hotel for dinner. After dinner depending on the light, further landscape or wildlife photography may be possible.
Day 4 – Thursday 4th June 2026
Weather permitting, we will embark on an exclusive boat charter to Lunga to photograph the vast seabird colonies on the Island. This is an opportunity to get really close to the seabirds (without disturbing them) and is a fantastic experience to capture terrific images. This is approx a 1 h 30 min boat crossing which depending on weather conditions may be in choppy seas and we aim to spend around 4 hours here. Note there are no toilet facilities or shops. If you do not wish to join us on the journey, you can spend the day on Mull or Morvern until our group returns. On our return from Lunga, we might stop in Tobermory for lunch and then continue our journey by boat to hopefully see some more White Tailed Eagles before returning to the hotel. After dinner, depending on the light, further landscape or wildlife photography may be possible.
Day 5 - Friday 5th June 2026
Primarily a contingency day in case of bad weather earlier in the week this gives us options to reschedule one of the exclusive boat charters. If we don't need to do that, after an optional pre breakfast Sunrise shoot (weather permitting) and depending on the forecast and light we will continue to explore the landscapes and wildlife at various locations before returning to the hotel for dinner. After dinner, depending on the light, further landscape or wildlife photography may be possible.
Day 6 - Saturday 6th June 2026
Weather permitting, we start with an optional sunrise shoot and then return to the hotel for breakfast before our farewells and return journeys home.
To book:
Please contact us at Nikon School to book your space on this amazing photography adventure. This workshop is for photographers of all levels whether you are just starting out in photography or an experienced photographer. To secure your place on the workshop either book direct via the website to pay in full or contact us to pay a non refundable deposit of £500 with balance due around 2 months prior to the workshop starting. Further joining instructions will be sent out closer to the workshop as well as an invite to an online Zoom briefing prior to the workshop starting
Notes:
This is a Photographic workshop and will we prioritise the opportunity for you to shoot great images above everything. We will plan each day around the weather and light, which means that meal times may be at non standard times and we may start the the day very early and be out until late in the evening if the light and weather permits. Depending on the weather and light we aim to visit several locations that have been specifically chosen for spectacular photography. Please note that in the event of severe weather the locations may have to be altered at last minute.
Fitness: Most of the locations involve relatively short walks, but some of the locations will require a walk along uneven tracks and up mountain paths. When tracking wildlife we will also be crossing rocky, seaweed covered shorelines. As we are tracking wildlife we may also need to crouch and lay down on shoreline or mountains to increase the chances of getting great images. Because of this, a moderate to high level of fitness will be required on this course. Disembarking the boat at Lunga is done by a small tender boat and then crossing a rocky beach, a good level of fitness is required for this.
Loan Kit: We will have a selection of mirrorless cameras and lenses available for you to borrow on the course including 400mm, 600mm and 800mm lenses. However, If you would like to borrow any specific kit for this course please get in contact with us at [email protected] with your request. We require at least 2 weeks notice for kit requests.
Bird Flu: If the outbreak of Avian flu continues to persist in the Treshnish Isles and especially on Lunga, we will be unable to visit the Island and will then continue the workshop around Morvern and Mull
Boat Charters: Our exclusive boat charters to Lunga and around Mull and the Lochs are entirely weather dependent. So we may change our plans accordingly. If you do not want to take the optional boat trips, you are free to explore Mull or Morvern on your own until the group returns.
Accommodation: Is not included in this workshop. We will be based at the Lochaline Hotel in Lochaline and the workshop will start and finish at the Lochaline Hotel each day. Please contact Peter at the hotel on [email protected] if you wish to book a room. If the hotel is full, Peter can advise on other local accommodation in Lochaline which is either a short walk or car journey.
Meals: During the day we will endeavour to stop at a local cafe or restaurant for lunch or in the morning we can start at a local supermarket so you can buy lunch, snacks and drinks. These are not included in the workshop costs. Morvern and Mull has limited choice for restaurants and cafes, please contact us if you are thinking of booking the course and have any specific dietary requirements.
Transport: We will be travelling in a small convey of cars to ensure we do not disturb the wildlife. Our local guides plus the Nikon School tutor have a lot of experience at spotting wildlife in Scotland so for you to get the best from this workshop they do not act as drivers and as such we would look for volunteers to drive their own cars.
Arrival & Departure: Please arrive promptly by 5pm for introductions and the welcome briefing on Sunday 31st May. The workshop will finish officially after breakfast on the morning of Saturday 6th June.
Other: Please bring walking boots and suitable gear for being outside in the national parks. Bean bags that allow photography from cars could also be useful. Lunches, dinners, refreshments and drinks are not included nor are the ferry costs on the Corran Ferry (about £10 - £20 each way).
Note: During 2023 at various points both ferries that support the Corran - Ardgour route have broken down and have been out of service. If this happens again 2026 a road detour will be in place to get to the Morvern peninsular. This detour is approx 70 - 80 miles.
Joining Instructions: We will provide further information in joining instructions and a pre-workshop Zoom briefing closer to the workshop.
If you have any questions about this workshop, feel free to get in touch at [email protected]
A typically well organised course, ably led by Neil Freeman whose boundless energy and enthusiasm never ceases to impress. Good accommodation, expertly chosen locations, an experienced local guide, and invaluable hands-on expertise and tuition, from compositional guidance to ideal camera settings. Good fieldcraft and local knowledge resulted in great photo opportunities of Otters, White-tailed Eagles, Puffins & other Seabirds, Red Squirrels, Deer, Highland Cows, and landscapes.
Trevor H.
Knowledge of:
Nothing caught your eye yet?
Why not have a look at these...
