Price is £3,995 - a deposit of £500 is required (if you book within 3 months of the start, the full price is due when you book)
Five nights on the Isles of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, co-led by Nigel Danson and Rhiannon Lawler, from 18th to 23rd February 2027. This is a workshop built around time in the field rather than sightseeing, with a small group of six, a base at the Harris Hotel in single en-suite rooms, and a plan that follows the weather and the light.
Why Harris and Lewis in winter
Winter changes the islands. The light is low and clear, the weather moves quickly, and snow on the hills can sit above turquoise water and pale sand. It is a good time to be out with a camera, as long as you are wrapped up warmly.
Nigel spent 30 days photographing a single beach on Harris, Luskentyre, and found that the best images came from staying put and looking again. We will work in the same spirit. Rather than rushing between viewpoints, we will go back to places as the light and weather change, and slow down enough to notice what you would otherwise walk past.
A small group, a flexible plan
With six people and two of us, there is time for relaxed one-to-one help in the field. Most days we will shoot in two or three locations, including sunrise and sunset when the weather allows, and the plan will shift to suit the conditions. Nigel will guide you through composition, light and his way of working in the landscape. Rhiannon will help you slow down, see things differently and find new angles, with plenty of time to experiment, and ask questions. In the evenings we review your images together.
Start to take photos you want to hang on your wall
I believe that if you want to improve your photography you need to be in the right mindset. I will show you how I take less photos but end up with more keepers and photos to hang on the wall
I will talk you through what I use as the 4 key elements to producing great image.
- Composition
- Light
- Subject
- Timing
As we wander through the landscape we will also chat to you about the technical aspects of photography. Understanding your camera and settings but keeping it simple. Typical areas that I work with are the exposure triangle of f-stop, ISO and shutter speed.
I also can help with appropriate use of filters. I think that getting the image correct in camera at the time of shoot is a good practice and helps you spend less time sat at a computer and more time out in the fresh air improving your photography.
Once we have taken the photos we can review the photos together and understand how to get the most out of the image through post processing.
Workshop Key Features
- Maximum of 6 people
- Led by Nigel Danson and Rhiannon Lawler
- Moderate walking at a pace that works for everyone. A moderate level of fitness is required for this workshop.
Your photographers
Nigel is a UK landscape photographer whose YouTube channel, nigeldanson, has around 500 videos on landscape photography, composition and editing. Through Capture Landscapes he runs small-group workshops focused on helping photographers create images they want to hang on their wall.
Rhiannon Lawler is a UK-based landscape and wildlife photographer who loves finding great images both close to home and further afield. Her photography ranges from the landscapes and wildlife of Buckinghamshire to the Arctic and Antarctic.
Rhiannon is passionate about helping people slow down, see things differently, and make the most of the landscape in front of them. Her teaching style is relaxed, practical and encouraging, with plenty of time to experiment, ask questions and, hopefully, have a laugh along the way.
Be inspired! What you will get out of the workshop
- Help with composition and how to find unique angles
- Help with understanding light and how it can impact on the mood of the image
- Understand the key technical elements, demystifying the often overwhelming array of camera settings (focus, exposure, histogram, lenses, tripod, filters)
- Dedicated time to slow down and think more carefully about taking fewer but better images
- How to visualise an image and then see that through to the final print
- An understanding of how to effectively get the most out of your image in post processing with Lightroom
What is included?
- 5 nights at the Harris Hotel, in a single en-suite room, with breakfast
- Guidance from Nigel and Rhiannon throughout, with plenty of time for one-to-one help
- Shooting in two or three locations each day, including sunrise and sunset when the weather allows
- Help with Lightroom and post-processing in the evenings
- Evening image reviews
- Photo of the day competition
- Sharing and comments on your images after the workshop
Not included
- Lunch and dinner
- Travel to and from Harris and Lewis
- Travel insurance
What should I bring along?
- Winter clothing - it could be windy, wet and very cold
- Waterproofs and walking boots
- Camera (obviously) and spare batteries as they will soon go down in the cold
- Tripod
- Filters if you have them (but not necessary)
- Head torch
- Phone
Itinerary
The plan follows the weather. Most days we will shoot in two or three locations, including sunrise and sunset when the weather allows, and we will go back to places as the light and conditions change.
Travel information
We will meet either at Stornoway Airport on Lewis, where we can collect you, or at the Harris Hotel in Tarbert if you are driving. The meeting time will be confirmed closer to the workshop.
Recommended flights and meeting points will be provided on booking. Please do not book your travel until the trip is confirmed.
The workshop finishes on the morning of Tuesday 23 February, and we will take you to Stornoway Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What can I expect from the workshop?
Time in the landscape, not a classroom. We shoot in two or three locations each day, including sunrise and sunset when the weather allows, and the plan changes to suit the conditions. Nigel and Rhiannon will be out with you, helping with composition, light and your camera settings. In the evenings we review your images together.
Do I need to be an experienced photographer?
No. Beginners and experienced photographers are both welcome, and we work at your level. With a maximum of six people there is plenty of time for one-to-one help.
How fit do I need to be?
A moderate level of fitness. The walking is moderate and at a pace that suits everyone, but it could be windy, wet and very cold.
What will the weather be like?
Changeable. In February you can expect wind, rain and cold, and possibly snow on the hills. That is part of the appeal, as winter light and weather can make for atmospheric images. We follow the conditions, so the plan stays flexible.
What should I bring?
- Warm winter clothing, waterproofs and walking boots
- Rubber boots if you'd like to stand in the surf to get wave photos.
- Camera and spare batteries, as they drain quickly in the cold
- Tripod
- Filters if you have them, though they are not essential
- Lens cloths
- Head torch
- Phone
What lens and kit do I need?
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera
- A wide-angle lens in the 16-35mm range
- A zoom lens in the 70-200mm range or more
- A mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm range
Can I bring a drone?
Drones are welcome but not the focus of the trip, and flown subject to weather conditions.
Will you help with editing?
Yes. There is help with Lightroom and post-processing in the evenings, and we share comments on your images after the workshop.
What is included in the price?
Five nights in single en-suite rooms at the Harris Hotel with breakfast, guidance from Nigel and Rhiannon, shooting in two or three locations a day, evening image reviews and the photo of the day competition. Breakfast each day is included. Lunch, dinner and travel insurance are not included.
How do I get to Harris?
Recommended flights and meeting points will be provided on booking. Please do not book your travel until the trip is confirmed.