Mark is a proud member of the Royal Photographic Society and runs practical photography workshops for them around the UK. These workshops are a great way of accelerating your photographic skills along with meeting up with like-minded RPS members with a passion for landscape photography. If you are a member of the RPS these workshops offer great value for money! You do not have to be a member of the RPS to attend this workshop.

The Cairngorms is the largest National Park in the UK and has a huge mass of woodland, beautiful lochs and mountains awaiting any keen landscape photographer to explore. This week-long workshop will find us in the most exquisite places for mist and autumn colour as well as exploring areas that afford grand vistas over the Spey valley and the Cairngorm mountain range itself. Mark will be on hand throughout each day offering advice, tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this beautiful and dramatic location.

Accommodation

We will be based at the lovely Rowan Tree Hotel in Aviemore where Dinner, Bed and Breakfast are included in the price. Transport to all locations will be provided throughout the duration of the workshop.

This 5-day (6-night) workshop will suit landscape photographers from beginner to advanced - with tuition provided by professional landscape photographer, Mark Banks. Mark will also be assisted by the very talented Mark Reeves to primarily help with transport and smooth running of the workshop but will also be happy to help participants where he can. Transport will be provided to all locations for the duration of the workshop.

During the evenings (or days of particularly inclement weather), Mark will be on hand to help process images taken during the workshop using Adobe Lightroom Classic on Mark’s laptop or your own if you have one. Participants are also encouraged to bring along prints or digital images to discuss composition, processing and advice about printing.

The workshop will officially start at 9.30 am on Monday 27th September but you will arrive the day before on Sunday 26th September. Your accommodation and evening meal for the Sunday is included in the price of this workshop.

Fitness

Moderate fitness level is required for this workshop and due to the terrain, this workshop would be unsuitable for people with limited mobility. All locations are carefully selected by Mark for ease of access and within walking distance of his vehicle at all times. Daily temperatures are usually in single figures at this time of year, so it’s important that participants come equipped with suitable warm outdoor and waterproof clothing, plenty of layers and good walking shoes/boots. Walking Wellingtons are recommended to bring with you as we may shoot close to shallow pools and lochans.

Transport will be provided throughout the workshop and we will visit nearby cafes at lunchtimes where applicable (or request packed lunches from the hotel). Please note that midday lunches are not included in the price of this workshop.

Equipment to bring

Please bring/wear:

• Warm, waterproof outdoor clothing with plenty of layers,
• Comfortable footwear (ideally wellington boots)
• Umbrella
• Hats, scarfs and gloves
• Camera, charged batteries, memory card, tripod.

The workshop will officially close at 5 pm on Friday 2nd October and after an overnight stay, we will depart after breakfast on Saturday 3rd October.

Autumn images from the Cairngorms

Cairngorms images by Mark Reeves

Payment must be made in full when booking a single day workshop (you will be sent an invoice). For residential workshops, a deposit of £500 is required (unless otherwise stated) and the balance paid 12 weeks before the course commences (20 weeks for overseas workshops).

If you, the client, cancel a booking any money you have paid (including the deposit) is non-refundable unless I can find a replacement to take your place after all other places have been filled. If a replacement is found an admin fee of £100 will be deducted from the refund. If I cancel a booking any payment received will be refunded in full. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance in place. It is a term of the contract between us that you will obtain the appropriate travel insurance cover before you set out on the workshop. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the workshop (whether in whole or in part), personal accident and injury, medical and repatriation costs, loss of baggage and personal money and belongings, flight cancellations and delays as well as your inability to arrive at the workshop destination due to fuel shortages and other such disruptions out of my control.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, I regret I cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of my obligations under my contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of “force majeure”. In these booking conditions, “force majeure” means any event which I or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, (whether actual or threatened), war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, epidemics/pandemics, fuel shortages and all similar events outside my control.

Please note, I cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to me by you concerning your booking prior to me accepting it, I could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if I breached the contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by myself where I am responsible for them, my suppliers. Additionally, I cannot accept liability for any business losses.

You will be allocated either a single room or a double/twin room for single occupancy. There is no single occupancy surcharge. Where double or twin rooms are available, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of check-in.

Mark Banks Photography reserves the right to cancel any workshop. In the event of any cancellation, I will offer either a total refund or a place on an alternative workshop. If the alternative workshop is cheaper, I will refund the difference, and if it is more expensive, you will be required to pay the balance.

All applicants participate at their own risk and Mark Banks Photography accepts no responsibility for injury or damage done to their persons or property. It is recommended that applicants hold their own personal Public Liability Insurance.

The type of workshops I offer require flexibility and must allow for alternatives. For this reason, the outline itinerary and workshop description must be taken as an indication of what may take place on the workshop, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Mark Banks Photography.

I do not accept responsibility or liability for death, bodily injury or illness caused to you during the workshop, unless arising from the negligent act and/or omission on my part or on the part of any of my employees (providing they were at the time acting within the course of their employment). Please note that any itinerary noted on the workshop description is subject to change due to weather conditions and/or the capability of participants.

By booking a workshop with Mark Banks Photography you are agreeing to accept all of the above conditions.