The Isle of Harris, ScotlandIntroduction and practical information

Harris and her sister island Lewis are in fact just one island, the two halves separated by mountains, not by the sea. Together they are Scotland’s largest island. They are the northern part of the Outer Hebrides, the last string of islands to the north-west of Scotland, facing the vast North Atlantic Ocean on the very fringe of Europe.

Harris is known around the world for its tweed, Harris tweed, a very resistant and beautifully woven woollen cloth which lends its particular pastel tones and its so Scottish style to fine trousers, jackets and hats, but it is also known for its amazing sandy beaches and turquoise sea…

Lewis is famous for its own rock, the very noble lewisian gneiss, formed back at the beginnings of time to be worn down for billions of years to create the lovely curves of the Harris hills. You have probably also heard of the Lewis chessmen, carved by vikings out of walrus ivory and found by chance in a sand dune on the beach of Uig in 1831 by a very lucky man. Lewis is also home to the Calanais standing stones, a remarkable megalithic work of art almost 5000 years old.

Our base for my workshops is on Harris’ west coast at Scarista facing out over stunning scenery. Our accommodation is modern and very comfortable, each participant has their own large bedroom, slippers and dressing gown provided, and en suite bathroom. It is possible for you to be accompanied by a non-participating partner (contact me for details). We also have a large living area and huge bay windows looking out over Scarista bay and the Atlantic. The atmosphere is very homely and comfortable, we eat around a large family table. You will be on full-board throughout the workshop, all our meals have a delicious Scottish flavour prepared by Fanny. We don’t have a phone connection which is peaceful but we do have wifi.

We will be out photographing whenever it is possible. We will see the best sites, i will always try to be in the right place at the right time ! Sunrise is around 9am, sunset around 4pm, the lowlight can be stunning. We will walk through the wind and over the dunes, our walks will be easy and short, we don’t plan any major hiking. We will leave our boot prints on the deserted beaches beside those of the rabbits the sea birds and otters as we choose our next shot. The landscape/seascape is enormous, deserted and stunning, it is everchanging and totally inspiring, crashing waves, fleeting light, heavy skies and distant mountains. It is a great location for photography, the exciting sometimes complicated conditions mix so well with the scenery beckoning us on to photograph the details in the vast landscape but also more minimalist pastel compositions and long exposures. It is likely that we will have snow on the hills, maybe even down to the beach if it really goes off.

I will be leading several critical class room sessions during the week where we will be looking at and discussing your work, projected on a large screen. These critique sessions are very popular and bring us all new inspiration and an understanding of photography as a whole. I will also show you how to keep your photo developing simple with camera raw and photoshop.

Getting there

Harris is surrounded by the sea, the easiest way to get there is by plane to Stornoway, the capital of Lewis. It is possible to come on the ferry if you are traveling by car or by bus if you prefer. Both these options need the ferry to be operating, beware if it is stormy. You need to arrive in Stornoway on the Saturday before the workshop, i will pick you up on Sunday morning around 10am. There are plenty places to stay in Stornoway, i can recommend the Crown Inn: www.crownhotelstornoway.com.

There are 2 flights to Stornoway from Glasgow on Saturdays, you can book one of those here: loganair.co.uk I will drop you at the airport for your departure the following Saturday.

If you decide to cross over by ferry: www.calmac.co.uk

And for Scottish national bus services: www.citylink.co.uk