Come Capture the Beauty of Ireland and Scotland with Me

Photograph Ireland with Purpose

Our Irish Photo Workshop Adventure starts in the capital city, exploring Dublin’s rowdy pub-lined streets with infinite opportunities for street photography and serendipity. As we meander down picturesque lanes, we’ll explore ancient libraries, cathedrals, castles and gardens, focusing our cameras on the area’s most idyllic scenes and architectural splendor.

We’ll then embark across the country to Galway, renowned as the cultural heart of Ireland, grabbing a drink at the world’s oldest pub and capturing the serenity of a crumbling monastery along the way. Galway will become our headquarters for the next few days, as we photograph its cobblestone roads, vibrant Latin Quarter and busy marinas, witnessing musical performances spill out from bars and into the streets.

In the morning, we’ll trade in the crowds for the empty expanse of the countryside as we traverse fjords, encircle lakes and trek to waterfalls in Inagh Valley. The fast-changing weather will create arresting tableaus of the mountains, as we stop to borrow roaming sheep as models or to perfect a flowery foreground. As the evening draws near, fishermen return from their sea sojourns, untangling their ropes and resetting their traps for the next day as a gorgeous dusk sets them aglow.

Next up is Connemara National Park with the chance to ascend a windy peak and shoot incredible views of dozens of lakes and beyond out towards the ocean. We’ll beat the crowds to magical Kylemore Abbey, twist and turn down a scenic cliffside road, take in an abandoned fortress, cross countless bogs as the sun begins to set and end the day in a quaint fishing village.

Burren National Park with its unique, lunar-like limestone terrain and fascinating archeological sites has earned it an UNESCO distinction and the chance to be captured by our cameras. From there, we’ll wander down tight and overgrown dirt roads to find a hidden castle, snap an abbey up in the mountains and a rocky lighthouse, before arriving at an iconic point to capture the last light of the day.

The Cliffs of Moher is a truly splendid sight not to miss. Soaring sandstone cliffs drop right into the sea with spectacular views from end-to-end. To fully appreciate the cliffs in all of their glory, we’ll visit in the perfect light at the start and end of the day as well as on foot from above and by boat down below.  

We’ll close out our Irish odyssey with a stop at Ailwee Cave, touring its cavernous interior past stalactites, stalagmites and an underground waterfall and watch a showcase of birds of prey as our guests can handle some of the fiercest aerial hunters in the animal kingdom. We’ll saunter over to Dooling, the center of traditional Irish music, and of course, there are more castles to explore before our delectable, farm-to-table farewell dinner.

Capture Scotland Beyond the Postcard

Those fortunate enough to continue onward to Scotland will join me in Edinburgh, one of the most dazzling cities in all of Europe. We’ll cross on foot to take in spontaneous scenes and a stunning array of architectural sites. Along the way, we’ll seek out elevated vantage points for  different perspectives, like Calton Hill’s blooming hilltop overlooking the city, climbing the 200-foot-tall Scott Monument or touring Edinburgh Castle, which is prominently perched on top of an extinct volcano. The sounds of bagpipes will fill the streets as we amble down Royal Mile, popping into cathedrals and past colorful Prince Street, where J.K. Rowling famously penned Harry Potter. We’ll drop by Dean Village, a unique neighborhood with meandering pathways along the river and miniature waterfalls enhancing the city’s storybook charm.

After leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city, we head straight north to Inverness, making the most of our long drive with stops at the traditional Linlithgow Palace, once the Scottish monarch’s official residence; the quintessential Stirling Castle, with its cannon-lined fortifications; Queen’s View, the sprawling vista overlooking a loch; Ruthven Barracks, an abandoned hilltop military complex; and Carrbridge, an old stone bridge straight out of a fairytale.

The dawn rising over Chanonry Point Lighthouse enables early birds to capture crashing waves and a spinning beacon as the skies begin to gleam with color. After breakfast, a short hike awaits us as we’ll use our tripods to capture alluring long exposure images of Fairy Glen falls. Naturally, no location in Scotland is complete without a castle and Dunrobin is a special one. The largest in the Northern Highlands, it’s noted for its massive, flawlessly manicured gardens. Next, it’s on to the remote ruins of Ardvreck Castle, a captivating contrast to Dunrobin.

As we cross the Highlands the next day, we’ll stop at Eilean Donan Castle from the 13th century. Deservingly the most photographed castle in all of Scotland, Donan is where three different lochs converge, making it an important stronghold throughout history. Afterwards, we’ll rely on our trusty car to climb up one of the curviest and narrowest roads in the region for breathtaking views over the lochs.

Now we’ll set eyes on the dreamy Isle of Skye, perhaps the climax of our action-packed Scottish adventure. Our most intrepid travelers can start off with a sunrise summit of Old Man of Storr through an otherworldly volcanic landscape steeped in local legend and topped by a single, dramatic rock pinnacle. Those idyllic island peaks help form dozens of plummeting waterfalls whether it’s Kilt Rock and its 300-foot cascade straight into the ocean or the Fairy Pools and its series of aqua blue colored falls dropping side by side. We’ll set-up shop in Portree, a tidy town with multicolored buildings and shops lining its waterfront, secret seaside hikes and reliable spots to shoot the whimsical Highland cattle.

The island’s verdant, but craggy geography might be best appreciated at Brother’s Point, a secluded hidden gem as we tightrope walk between its cliff edges. We’ll take a break from photographing the luxuriant outdoors and head to a tour of Talisker Distillery, home to one of the most recognized whisky brands, before pushing past livestock to reach a nearby beach. Our time on the island will culminate with towering sea cliffs and a precariously perched lighthouse for sunset at Neist Point, a premier spot for photographers to catch the soft golden hour light.

We’ll follow that good light back south, stopping to see a steam locomotive cinematically chug around a curved viaduct, made famous by a Harry Potter movie, before ending up at our hotel in Glasgow for our farewell dinner and our final stop of the trip.

Both Ireland and Scotland are two dream destinations for photographers to capture an assortment of subjects from lush landscapes and street photography tableaus to ancient architecture and wild seaside scenes. This optimal pairing will create delightful memories and gorgeous photographs that you’ll cherish for a long time to come.

Tips for Ireland and Scotland

1. Pack Waterproof Boots and a Rain Jacket

Weather changes quickly in this part of the world and with the right equipment, you’ll be comfortable and ready to capture sudden rainbows or the moody light created by ominous skies. You’ll also have the added flexibility of being able to venture off the beaten path to discover surprising angles and novel perspectives.

2. Tripod and ND Filters are Essential

With long-exposure photography, waterfalls can be visually transformed from violent, crashing cascades to a far more gentle and ethereal scene. That “milky effect” helps highlight a location’s natural beauty and better captures movement through the elapse of time.

3. Fast Lenses Change the Game

“Fast” lenses or the ability to shoot at a large maximum aperture (think f/1.8), empowers photographers to more effectively utilize depth of field. With a wild diversity of flora to behold on these adventures, there’s endless opportunities for macro photography or wider landscape shots with purposeful background blur.

4. Layer with Intention

Building a meaningful and alluring frame within a large and lush expanse often comes down to deliberate layering. Seek out intriguing focal points to anchor your image and build out a photograph that includes an organized foreground, middle ground and background.

5. Anticipate the Moment

Whether it’s the sun emerging from the clouds, a seagull circling the skies, a sheep sauntering through a meadow or a red car twisting down a road, moment value elevates a picture from a mere snapshot to a more pointed image.

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