Photography Training Isle of Skye Diaries
Photography Training Isle of Skye Diaries
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
Photography Training Isle of Skye Diaries...
This year I have decided to make it my goal to create a diary of what we get up to during our annual 5 day Isle of Skye Landscape photography training week. I'll include as much information and as many pictures as possible. I'll include camera settings and data. I'll even show a "before" and "after" post-production picture each day. This is just to demonstrate the importance of a solid workflow and how a good knowledge of Photoshop (or similar software) is.
DOWNLOAD THE HI-RES PICTURE FOR PRINTING - it's on us! 🙂
FREE QUALITY WALL ART PICTURES TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT:
At the end of the blog, I will choose the best 10 pictures from this trip and make them available for download COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. The images will be offered "ROYALTY FREE" you can use them for whatever you like! Print, frame and display them anywhere - they're on us!
Sunday (Travel Day)
After collecting the attendees Sunday morning from various locations in Yorkshire and Morecambe, we then began the extensive trip north; let's just say things didn't go as smooth as we had hoped, but we did eventually arrive at the stunning Beinn Edra House B&B at 23:30 and in fine spirits! 🙂
Unpack the van, plan the day's activities for tomorrow whilst drinking beers, we eventually hit the sack at 02:00... alarm set for breakfast at 07:00 - Goodnight John-Boy!
DAY 1
Weather: Sunny with very little Cloud
(The first day is always an easy day. This is just so the attendees can find their feet and become aware of where we are location-wise on the Island)
Breakfast and catch-up with Rachel and Dougie the B&B Proprietors and then it's all systems go...
F8 - 1/500 - ISO 800 - 5D MKIII (Canon 400mm)
Before & After Post Production
The before is actually the shot as taken directly off my Canon 5D MKIII - I know it really doesn't look like it, but it's 100% correct. I had to double check it myself. This just proves how invaluable post production really is.
Places visited:
Quiraing
Kilt Rock Waterfall
Portree
Staffin Island
DAY 2
Weather: Sunny with very little Cloud
Up at 05:45 in order to catch the sunrise at Loch Leathan... As much as you might feel tired, the view just makes it all "so worthwhile" The only downside was the lack of clouds, cue the grumpy face 🙁
As a landscape photographer pictures are usually more dramatic and visually more appealing on the eye than boring blue skies. The up-side, however, were the temperatures, 14 degrees. We pretty much worked all day in T-shirts. Great but I'd instantly swap this for cold weather and cloudy skies.
Despite the lack of dramatic skies, we pushed on to one of IOS's most photographed and iconic bridges, Sligachan Bridge. The pictures speak for themselves.
During sunset, we photographed one of the worlds prettiest Lighthouses. Even if you're generally not a fan of lighthouses, you simply can't fail to appreciate how breathtaking Neist Point Lighthouse is. From the best view-point, high-up on the cliffs all you can say is WOW! I can certainly understand why this view is high on most photographers bucket lists. Can you imagine taking the same picture under different lighting and weather conditions? Google it and see what I mean.
F16 - 1/15 - ISO 100 - 5D MKIII (Canon 24mm)
Places visited:
Sligachan Bridge
Neist Point
Loch Leathan
DAY 3
Weather: Sunny
A very relaxed day was on the cards especially after seeing the weather forecast for the day, sun, sun and more sun pfff - This time of the year at IOS we are normally struggling to keep warm and dry but clearly this year was going to be different.
The plan for the day was to simply head to the "Fairly Pools" via the Church ruins at Broadford, and generally make discoveries on the way. It's amazing what you come across, especially when you peruse your surroundings instead of rushing to go from A to B. We weren't disappointed.
Cill Chriosd 7th Century Church ruins
Before & After Post Production
F5.6- 1/500 - ISO 250 - 5D MKIII (Canon 140mm)
Cill Chriosd, Broadford, Isle of Skye... The stunning 7th Century Church ruins stand proud on the landscape and can easily be photographed from all four sides. Each angle just offers different backgrounds, all of which are just stunning!
Places visited:
Cill Chriosd Church, Broadford
Fairy Pools
DAY 4
Weather: Sunny & Cloudy
At last the clouds made an appearance!
Today we headed towards Portree, the Fairy Pools (again), and generally stopping every 10 minutes to discover new areas and places to shoot. You can quite literally stop the car without travelling too far and find some amazing places to photograph.
My favourite by a long stretch was the chance finding of a few abandoned boats by the sea. If I'm honest they didn't look too impressive from the roadside but when you get close to them you soon realize you've fallen upon a real golden opportunity to capture some amazing pictures. I can't make my mind up whether I prefer the haunting black and white of the wreck in the water or the blue boat that still sits proudly on the beach - I just love them! 
Places visited:
Portree
Loch Chriosd
Fairy Pools (again)
Boat Wrecks on the coastline - We drove so much I can't remember where they were 🙂
FREE QUALITY WALL ART PICTURES TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT:
At the end of the blog, I will choose the best 10 pictures from this trip and make them available for download COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. The images will be offered "ROYALTY FREE" you can use them for whatever you like! Print, frame and display them anywhere - they're on us!
DAY 5
Weather: Cloudy / Low Cloud
Clouds, clouds and more clouds!
OK set the scene... alarm goes off at 04:30, showered and out the door for 5 am. A short 5-minute drive and we were there, "The Old Man of Storr" well at least the base anyway!
It took us just over an hour to climb up to meet the Old Man but where is it? WATCH THE VIDEO BEFORE YOU READ ON...
This is why photographers set their alarms for 04:30
I just couldn't believe it... we hiked to the top and waited for sunrise, but it just wasn't to-be! The cloud was so low we were actually in them. Visibility was reduced to around 20 feet at it's best. The wind was up and the temperature was freezing. We sheltered for an hour and a half and then jointly decided enough was enough. At this point we were freezing cold and wet through. We wanted to hang on but it was clear the weather was here for the day - cue sad face 🙁
We were literally only 10 minutes into our descent when the most amazing thing happened, there were periodic breaks in the cloud. The breaks were short but they were just enough to grab the shot below.
Even though it seems an awful lot of work and effort to grab just one shot, this is just how this job goes sometimes. But looking at the result I'd say it was well worth it!
Places visited:
Old Man of Storr
Eilean Donan Castle
The next date is already in the calendar... FANCY IT?
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
DOWNLOADS
As promised I have made all of the below available to download for FREE
All Hi-Res, large and ready for printing - it's on us, ENJOY!
Personal use only.
DOWNLOAD THE HI-RES PICTURES FOR PRINTING - thy're on us! 🙂
DOWNLOAD THE HI-RES PICTURES FOR PRINTING - thy're on us! 🙂
I hope you enjoy them - Gary
The next date is already in the calendar... FANCY IT?
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
CLICK >>>>>>> COURSE INFO + COURSE DATES + PRICES <<<<<<< CLICK
7 Responses