Dean Allan
Photography Ltd

Assynt and Inverpolly

Do you fancy the chance of capturing some of the most spectacular scenery the British Isles has to offer?

Assynt Photography Workshops & Tours

small group landscape & seascape workshops

The Amazing West Coast

Join me on my Assynt & Inverpolly photography workshops and take a journey around Scotland’s stunning west coast.

Quintessential highland country such as this, with breathtaking emptiness, a wild, fragile beauty and single-track roads, is a rarity on the modern, crowded, highly urbanised island of Britain. You could get lost up here for weeks – and that still wouldn’t be enough time.

Locations & Subjects you can Photograph

Balnakiel Beach

Whether in blazing sunshine or murky greyness, the character of the land is totally unique and constantly changing – for that window of time in which you can glimpse it, you’ll capture an exclusive snapshot of this ancient area in your mind. Park the car and gaze. This northernmost slab of the Highlands is the stuff of coastal-drive dreams.

Iconic mountains such as Stac Pollaidh and Suilven will provide a stunning backdrop to our pictures. This area is particularly rich for opportunities, with its mountains, lochs, beaches and seascapes.

Beautiful Lochs

Assynt is situated amongst some of the wildest and most remote scenery in the United Kingdom. The area is dominated by spectacular mountain scenery where isolated sandstone mountains rise up from an undulating landscape that is itself formed of Lewisian Gneiss, one of the oldest rock types found on our planet.

We will visit some of the most scenic areas there, including Loch Assynt with its own castle that occupies a promontory on the north shore. Ardvreck castle has been the home of the MacLeod and MacKenzie families and has seen many battles.

Rugged Coastline

We will also visit the west coast of Assynt and some of its beautiful beaches with sparkling blue waters. This is when photographic dreams become reality.

Expect to experience fast moving weather systems, which at times can be challenging and a real test of your technical abilities. The light will change throughout the day and you will learn to get the best out of it – this will help you not only be more productive, it can also foster creativity and make it easier to be more flexible when unexpected conditions happen in the future.

Winter Landscape

Inverpolly and Assynt; these are areas of Scotland that have no equal anywhere else on this planet. Mountains, glens, lochs and stunning locations are all waiting to be discovered.

Combined with my in-depth experience of the area and superb low angled winter light, it can only be a recipe for photographic indulgence.

Low-light winter days add drama, beauty and tranquillity to this rugged and weathered landscape.

Inverpolly National Nature Reserve

If remoteness, tranquillity, total isolation and awe inspiring scenery is what you are seeking, then this place comes on top of any other in my list of places in Scotland.

The Inverpolly National Nature Reserve is a vast area of heather and grass moorland dotted with lochs and rocky peaks in the north-west of Scotland.

Workshop Details & Reviews

Small Groups

I keep all my groups small: (3-5 max)

Accommodation

Accommodation is included for the duration of the workshop

Transport

Free transport around the islands in my 8-seater Ford Tourneo with ample room for all photographic equipment.

Skills you can learn

How to choose the right settings for each shot.

How to shoot in manual.

How to meter and expose correctly.

How to use your histogram.

How to focus properly.

How to compose your shot.

How to use fast and slow shutter speeds to be creative.

How to use filters.

Review by Jean-Luc Duchemin

"The photographic potential of all the places we went to was simply amazing. This has been one of my best workshops ever!"...

Review by Geoff Spriegel

Excellent leadership, Dean made great efforts to find great locations during changing and challenging weather conditions, provided patient and expert support....