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Bird Photography in the Shetland Islands
At a Glance
Location
United Kingdom
Tuition
$8,995
Dates
July 17 – 24, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 8 Guests
Collections
Bird Photography in the Shetland Islands Photography Workshop
Cliffs teem with seabirds during breeding season
July 17 – 24, 2027
- A breathtaking blend of windswept landscapes and breeding birds
- Bold puffins, elegant gannets, fierce skuas, (and with luck) orcas!
- The perfect trip to improve your bird-in-flight photography skills
This Shetland Islands photography workshop takes you to the wild northern edge of Britain, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea, where light, wind, and sea define an extraordinary landscape. Designed for photographers drawn to coastal wildlife, seabirds, and dramatic seascapes, this Shetland photo workshop explores rugged cliffs, open moorlands, and remote headlands shaped by the raw forces of nature. From Noss National Nature Reserve to Shetland’s quiet inlets and rocky shores, you’ll photograph the rhythm of northern life at the height of the breeding season. Puffins, guillemots, skuas, and gannets are set against sweeping ocean backdrops. Guided by our pros, you’ll spend unhurried time around a handful of key colonies, watching behavior repeat and evolve so you can build a deep, varied portfolio of just a few species rather than rushing from location to location.
Two private boat charters take you out to Noss National Nature Reserve, where gannets plunge into the sea in a frenzied cascade of wings and spray, giving you a chance to work on fast action as they dive to catch fish.
Learning is constant throughout this workshop, with focused practice on techniques such as improving your exposure in changing light, mastering focus on birds in flight, and capturing behavior and motion. Through in-field guidance, image reviews, and discussions, you will develop sharper instincts in the moment and a clearer sense of how to shape a strong body of work from a single location, building lasting skills in composition, camera technique, and post-processing that will improve your photography long after the workshop.
Shetland suits photographers of all experience levels, but you should be comfortable walking a couple of miles with your wildlife kit to make the most of each session on the cliffs and headlands. Group size is small, and we work at a thoughtful pace, matching each day’s conditions to locations where light, birds, and sea come together. Between outings, there is time to rest, back up and review images, and talk through ideas so you leave with both a rich set of photographs and a deeper connection to this wild archipelago.
Your Pros
Harry Martin
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
July 17, 2027: Welcome to Glasgow, Introductory Dinner and Trip Preparation
Arrive today in Glasgow, and check in to our hotel. We’ll have an introductory dinner and prepare for the trip ahead.
July 18, 2027: Flight to Sumburgh, Puffin Photography at Sumburgh Lighthouse
Today, we fly to Sumburgh airport, check in to the hotel and have dinner. If the weather is suitable, we can make a short excursion to Sumburgh Lighthouse to photograph puffins and other seabirds.
July 19, 2027: Sunrise Gannet Photography at Noss, Afternoon at Sumburgh Head
We are starting the trip with a special sunrise boat charter out to Noss to photograph a gannet feeding frenzy. This is one of the best natural spectacles you’ll ever see, with hundreds of birds diving around our boat. Be prepared to fill your memory cards as we see gannets, skua, seals, and more.
After our boat trip, we’ll return to the hotel for a late breakfast and a chance to rest and back up those precious shots from the morning. We’ll then head up to Sumburgh Head lighthouse for an easy afternoon of puffin photography, as well as visit nearby locations for other bird species.
July 20, 2027: Explore Noss National Nature Reserve, Relocate to Northern Shetland
Today, we’ll be heading to Noss National Nature Reserve—a small island near Lerwick filled with seabirds. It has accessible colonies of both puffins and gannets, our two main targets for the week, with puffins encountered first and the best spots for gannets being at the top of the cliffs. With all the movement of birds flying overhead, this is a great opportunity to start training your eye on photographing birds in motion. This will be an all-day excursion with a walk of two miles each way. Around 400ft in ascent near the end of the hike grants us the best access to the birds. We’ll be moving accommodation to the north of the mainland of Shetland this afternoon.
July 21, 2027: Sunrise Boat Charter for Gannets, Dramatic Cliffs of Eshaness
Another early rise for a second go at capturing gannets on our sunrise boat charter. Believe us when we say having a second opportunity makes all the difference. Today we’ll visit the epic cliffs of Eshaness in the far north-west of the mainland, a dramatic cliff-top viewpoint ideal for long exposure landscapes and photographing fulmar. We’ll also keep our eyes peeled for red-throated divers and stay in touch with the local community for any sightings of the regular orca pods.
July 22, 2027: Journey to Unst, Seabird Photography at Hermaness National Nature Reserve
Today we’ll rise early to travel to the most northerly island in Shetland, Unst, requiring two ferry journeys. All day will be spent at Hermaness National Nature Reserve, a dramatic cliff-top haven for thousands of seabirds. This is undoubtedly one of the best places in the UK (and the world!) to watch and photograph gannets and puffins. As you stand on the cliffs, nothing lies between you and the Arctic to the north. You’ll also be able to photograph great skuas as they scour the cliffs for easy pickings. Expect to walk 5-6 miles across relatively easy terrain.
July 23, 2027: Final Photography Opportunities as We Traverse Back to Sumburgh
Today is our final opportunity to capture any missing targets or re-shoot locations as we make our way from the north mainland back down to Sumburgh for our final night. Birds such as arctic terns, golden plover, snipe, oystercatcher, and black guillemot may not have the celebrity status of the puffins but are beautiful subjects in their own right.
July 24, 2027: Departure from Glasgow, Final Goodbyes or Extended Stays
After breakfast and checkout, we fly to Glasgow, where you can get your return flight home any time after 7:00 PM, or if you wish, we can help arrange one of the airport hotels for your departure the next day.
Fitness
Challenging: Walks of up to 6 miles with your gear. Some of the shooting locations are on cliffs, so not recommended those with vertigo or severe fear of heights.
Flights
Arrive at Glasgow International Airport (GLA), Paisley, Renfrewshire before 3:00 PM on July 17, 2027. Flights out can be made after 7:00 PM on July 24, 2027. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,500 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- Internal flights during the workshop.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Glasgow, Scotland.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $1,500 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $4,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $3,000 is due by November 1, 2026.
- The balance is due not later than March 1, 2027.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll have the opportunity to photograph a variety of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, skuas, and gannets, especially during the breeding season. The workshop also includes chances to capture seals and possibly orca pods.
You'll focus on improving exposure in changing light, mastering focus on birds in flight, and capturing behavior and motion. The workshop also covers composition, camera technique, and post-processing, helping you build a strong body of work from a single location.
Yes, this workshop follows our standard refund policy. You can receive a full refund if you cancel more than 150 days before the start date. Cancellations between 150 and 91 days receive a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and between 90 and 61 days, a refund of payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are given within 60 days unless we fill your space, in which case you receive a 100% refund. All refunds are issued by the same payment method and are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee.
The workshop is rated as challenging, with walks of up to 6 miles carrying your gear. Some shooting locations are on cliffs, so it is not recommended for those with vertigo or a severe fear of heights.
The workshop accommodates a maximum of 8 participants, ensuring a small group size for personalized instruction and a more intimate experience with the wildlife and landscapes.
Medical evacuation insurance is required for this workshop, and travel medical and trip cancellation insurance is optional but recommended for additional peace of mind.
Bring a wildlife photography kit, including lenses suitable for capturing birds in flight, such as a telephoto lens. Also, pack clothing for variable weather conditions, as well as sturdy walking shoes for the hikes.
