Photography Retreat on the Isle of Harris, Nov 2019

Landscape photography retreat with Margaret Soraya

Dates: 10-16 November 2019
Location: Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Tutor: Margaret Soraya
Activity. Landscape photography
Cost: £1700 per person (no single supplement)
Suitable for all skills levels

This retreat is perfect for those who love truly remote, beautiful places as well as a little luxury. It includes a small group, very personalised photography workshop with Scottish photographer Margaret Soraya where you can develop your photography on Harris, one of the most stunning Hebridean islands.

Book your place

About the retreat

Expect to be cut off from the real world for a few days, immersed in the wild open spaces of some of the finest and emptiest beaches you will ever see. As well as capturing landscapes and seascapes, this is an opportunity for you to recharge your personal batteries and reinvigorate your photographic practice through connecting with nature.

Our accommodation will be in two luxury self catering houses directly opposite Scarista beach, one of the most beautiful and wild beaches of the island. It is possible to walk over to the beach at your own leisure if you wish.

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During the days, we will be out in the landscape but will match our pace to those taking part so that everyone can feel relaxed and suitably rested.

When the light fades, we will spend evenings with a range of inspirational talks, videos, teaching and stories. Margaret is keen to understand your story and in turn help you find your own niche, your own style.

This is a workshop for those who love the outdoors, truly wild and remote beautiful places as well as a little bit of luxury when they return. There will only be up to 6 guests so it is very much led by who is on the course and each of you will have personal attention and the day to day will be adapted according to what suits this group.

This is how our days are likely to look:

7.30 am Breakfast in house
8.00 am On location shoot
12.00 pm Lunch on location or cafe
2.00 pm Second location shoot
4.00 pm free time / rest back at accommodation
6.30 pm Dinner
7.30 pm Talks and reviews of the day

The location: the Isle of Lewis & Harris

The Outer Hebrides is tranquil, peaceful and welcoming – one of the remotest places you will ever go. And Harris is regarded as the jewel of the Hebrides: it is mountainous with absolutely stunning beaches which are regularly listed as among the best in the world.

It can look like the Caribbean in the summer months and in the winter feels like an island on the edge of the world.

The weather can be wild, changeable and bracing – perfect for great landscape photography.

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Daylight will be at its most atmospheric at this time of year with some great weather patterns. On Harris, you can often see many seasons in one day – experience fast-moving weather and clouds, rainbows and sunshine all in one day.

Workshop locations are likely to include:

The roaring waves and sheer expanse of Scarista Beach,

The secret beach at Hushinish, looking out to the Isle of Scarp

The white sands and turquoise waters of Luskentyre beach

The abandoned chapel at Northton or Ceapabhal

A trip to Lewis and the Callanish stones or Mangersta Stacks

Your tutor: Margaret Soraya

Margaret specialises in photographing some of Scotland’s most remote and wild places. She spend considerable time on the Harris and Lewis and exploring other equally remote areas. She actively seeks out isolated places to work and adores the beauty in remote landscapes and being based in the Highlands of Scotland.

Margaret Soraya

Margaret has been photographing landscapes for 23 years since relocating to the Highlands of Scotland. Her work has been printed in Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Camera Craft, Build it Magazine, Outdoor Photography Magazine and regularly in travel features within Scottish broadsheets.

In the past 8 years she has been commissioned to travel to photograph in countries such as Italy, America, Iceland, the Azores, Swaziland and Croatia. However, her main interest always comes back to the beautiful wild landscapes of the North of Scotland and the Scottish Isles.

Accommodation & catering

We’ve secured two self catering houses opposite the golf course, just minutes away from walking down onto Scarista beach. Each guest will have their own double room en suite.

Each cottage has three en suite bedrooms with showers. The kitchen is superbly appointed and the huge sitting room with its cathedral ceiling and glass wall for our editing and teaching sessions. Meals are included in the price.

Cost

The price for the retreat is £1700 per person and a non-refundable deposit of £250 will secure your place. There is no single supplement. The price includes:

6 nights in luxury self-catering accommodation (en-suite double room for single occupancy)
5 days personalised photography workshop
6 breakfasts
6 packed or cafe lunches
6 evening meals
Transport during the retreat (incl. pick up from Stornoway Airport or Tarbert ferry terminal)

Travel to and from the island is not included, nor are travel and camera insurance and alcoholic drinks. Guests are required to have personal travel insurance, Non-photographing partners are welcome.

What to bring

Bring warm, waterproof clothing, cameras and tripods. Tripod, filters, remote shutters, memory cards and a laptop if you can. There will be a full kit list sent out to participants. A small portfolio of your images if you wish to take part in a review session. Printed images preferred.