It’s no surprise to those who visit Scotland that it repeatedly gets nominated as the best place in the UK for landscape photography. With mountains aplenty and picturesque lochs, islands, shorelines, rivers, waterfalls and woodland there really is no better place to learn about - and improve your landscape photography skills.

The Isles of Harris & Lewis are in fact one island, with Lewis to the North with its hard granite-like moonscape terrain amid a myriad of small lochans and dramatic and craggy coastline. To the south is Harris, with its sweeping turquoise shoreline and coral beaches of Luskentyre, Seilebost, Ushinish and others. This workshop will be based in Tarbert in the centre of the Island, which is perfectly placed for easy access to the North and South. We will explore many beautiful locations around the Island as well as discovering old lighthouses and long-abandoned sheilings - many of which still have contents inside as if the owners just left one day, never to come back.

For those also interested in wildlife, you will find a bounty of it on Harris & Lewis including sea-eagles, golden eagles, otters, stags and deer plus many other species. We will also visit the Callanish Stones, the famous standing stones built near the end of the Neolithic period over 4000 years ago.

Itinerary.

Participants will arrive on the Sunday by ferry or plane prior to the workshop starting after breakfast on the Monday morning.

During the workshop, all participants will be transported around the Island by Mark.

As there is a maximum of just 4 people on this workshop there will be plenty of one-to-one practical tuition time, which will guarantee you leaving with the most beautiful images of this most amazing Hebridean Island.

During the evening or at times of inclement weather, Mark will help with processing your images using Adobe Lightroom software, either using Mark's laptop or your own. We will discuss all things photographic, and you are invited to bring along some prints for us to discuss in an informal setting at the Hotel.

Camera Equipment

Here is a list of recommended equipment you should bring…

• Camera body and a selection of lenses that cover wide-angle to medium telephoto (for instance 25mm to 100mm). 
• At least two camera batteries and a charger.
• Tripod
• Hot-shoe spirit level (if your camera has a level indicator built-in that’s fine).
• 6-stop and/or 10-stop filters if you wish to do some long exposure photography
• A small set of graduated filters (optional).
• Lens cloth
• A selection of up to 10 images in print or digital for a portfolio review (optional)

Clothing

It’s important to be equipped with the correct clothing.

• Plenty of layers to keep warm
• Hat
• Gloves
• Waterproof coat
• Waterproof trousers
• Walking wellingtons and/or boots
• Umbrella

Fitness Level - Easy | Moderate | Challenging

A Moderate level of fitness is required for this workshop - but all locations have been carefully selected for their stunning views, safety, convenience and ease of access.

Getting there

By Train, Road & Ferry

Harris and Lewis are accessiblle via Calmac ferry from Uig on Skye or Ullapool on the mainland. Mark is offering a collection and drop-off service from Glasgow for those willing to travel there by train or plane.

By Plane

Stornoway has an airport which regularly runs services from other UK airports - but mainly Inverness, with connecting flights via there. Mark is offering a collection and drop-off service from Glasgow or Stornoway airport, so please contact him to discuss.

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 is payable 12 weeks before the course commences.

The balance of the cost of the workshop will be due 12 weeks before the workshop starts. If a booking is made less than 12 weeks prior to the beginning of the workshop, the full cost is payable at the time of booking.

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.