A Bespoke Nature Experience...

I recently had the pleasure of guiding Sam on a two-day custom-designed Scottish Nature photography adventure. Sam, a passionate young photographer from the south of England, was eager to immerse himself in both landscape and wildlife photography. Scotland, true to its unpredictable weather patterns in late winter, decided to showcase all four seasons throughout the two day workshop. All part of the experience!…

As we journeyed towards Glencoe on the first day, we found ourselves navigating through a fresh blanket of snow, adding an unexpected twist to our experience. However, this change in weather provided us with the perfect opportunity to capture the beauty of dramatic landscapes amidst challenging weather conditions.

In pursuit of remote vistas, we ventured down the road to Glen Etive, seizing the chance to photograph the iconic Buachaille Etive Mòr along the way. Continuing our journey, we were fortunate to encounter a group of Deer foraging for fresh food further down the road. However, as the day progressed, we found ourselves increasingly challenged by escalating rain showers and intensifying winds in the remote and steep-sided valley of Glen Etive, eventually conceding defeat to the elements. I was looking forward to letting Sam fly the drone so he could experience a completely different view on the landscape, but alas it was not to be…

I hadn't anticipated yet another storm brewing overnight, which threw a wrench into our plans for the following day. A powerful swell storm from the North Sea brought strong winds, forcing the cancellation of our scheduled trip to the Isle of May. However, I wasn't ready to concede defeat just yet. This turn of events provided an invaluable lesson for Sam—to adapt plans in response to unpredictable weather, a common challenge when capturing the essence of nature.

We pressed on with our plans and set off for Fife. Our first destination was the RSPB nature reserve at Loch Leven, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The reserve was teeming with a wide variety of birdlife, providing ample opportunities for photography. As lunch approached, we indulged in lunch at the local chippy down in Anstruther before embarking on a photography journey back down the East Neuk of Fife. Despite encountering some rather formidable winds along the coast, we embraced the experience, feeling thoroughly windswept by the end of it.

The feedback from our adventure was overwhelmingly positive, especially with Sam's mum accompanying us from a distance. The joy on Sam's face said it all—a radiant smile from ear to ear.

If you or someone you know is interested in creating a tailored nature photography experience in Scotland, don't hesitate to reach out today…

Jason Baxter16 May 2024#wildlife, #besopke, #fife, #nature, #workshop, #eastneuk