A Photography Residential - My Experiences
In August 2024, I finally took the plunge and enrolled on a residential photography workshop, marking a significant step outside my comfort zone. The previous year had been particularly tough. Due to some unexpected and devastating news, I had to cancel a long-awaited retreat to the Outer Hebrides. This had been a huge disappointment for me both emotionally and creatively so booking this workshop wasn’t a decision I made lightly or on a whim; it represented more than just a learning opportunity, but a chance to move forward and try to overcome the setbacks.
The workshop was scheduled to take place near Inverness in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, requiring a six-night stay away from the familiarity of home. For an anxious introvert like myself, the thought of staying away for nearly a week and interacting with strangers was quite a daunting challenge. However, the carefully planned itinerary looked irresistible, filled with potential photo opportunities and new experiences. Motivated by a desire to push through my apprehensions, I decided to face my fears about traveling solo and spending an extended period with new faces. I committed fully to giving it a try.
On October 6th, 2024, I set off early from my home in Cumbria, driving 285 miles north to Inverness. I arrived on a Sunday afternoon, with the workshop officially starting the next morning. However, it was a lovely surprise when Mali, the workshop leader, invited us to an informal ‘icebreaker’ photography session in a nearby woodland just 10 minutes from our accommodation. This thoughtful idea proved brilliant—it helped me to relax and ease much of the anxiety I had been feeling about the week ahead. Moreover, the woodland itself was simply stunning, a serene and inspiring location that I know I will remember and cherish for a long time to come.
Day 1 – 7.10.24
The day was billed as Loch Maree. But, it was so much more than that!
It cannot be underestimated how enjoyable and rewarding it is to photograph on the tranquil shores of Loch Maree, and we were given plenty of time to do just that. The serene reflections on the water and the changing light provided ample opportunity for capturing stunning images. However, in my opinion, it’s not until you take to the footpaths of the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve and walk amongst the plentiful, ancient trees—with occasional glimpses of cascading mountain waterfalls and panoramic views of Slioch and its neighbouring peaks—that you can fully appreciate the immense majesty and breathtaking magnificence that this remarkable landscape has to offer.
Day 2 – 8.10.24
Day two’s itinerary had been a major deciding factor for my enrollment, and I had spent weeks envisioning the images I wanted to capture from Mellon Udrigle. All the best laid plans……
What had been intended as a brief comfort stop at Corrieshalloch Gorge unexpectedly turned into a lengthy half-day shoot, which had major implications for how the rest of the day played out. Despite this disruption, I don’t have any regrets about the time we spent there. The experience was filled with fun and laughter, and I made some of my favourite images of the entire day at this remarkable location.
My regrets from day two stem mostly from the choices I made upon arriving at Mellon Udrigle. My original aim was to create a unique series of images using intentional camera movement, experimenting and embracing abstraction. However, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) quickly took hold, and I found myself following the rest of the group instead of trusting my own vision. As a result, I feel little connection with the images I produced there, which is something I hope to learn from in future shoots.
The final stop of the day, however, was an entirely different and uplifting experience. Mali was keen to take us to see an exhibition of work by artist Alison Dunlop, which was on display at the Gairloch Museum. It was a real privilege to view Alison’s work firsthand and to absorb the atmosphere of her paintings. Afterwards, standing on the coast with my camera, I felt fully immersed and engaged in the moment, creating images that I really care about.
This was a perfect and fitting end to a day of landscape photography.
Day 3 – 9.10.25
I’ve hiked on the Coulin Estate a number of times before, but I had never really had the luxury of time to dedicate solely to my photography. Mali’s patience, vision, and expert guidance helped me to develop and refine my skills specifically in woodland photography, which was invaluable. We spent several focused hours exploring just the first 1.5 miles of the estate track, allowing me to really immerse myself in the surroundings. When it finally came time to leave, it was with a great deal of reluctance and a promise to return.
Day 4 – 10.10.24
Loch Insh was the only location on the week’s itinerary that I had never visited before. I had purposefully chosen not to do any prior research on it, wanting to approach the place with fresh eyes and completely unimpaired expectations. This allowed me to experience the landscape in a genuine and unfiltered way.
After spending a short spell on the loch shore, where I experimented with some abstract and multiple exposure techniques, we then moved into the surrounding woodland. For the second time this week, despite Mali’s usually infectious enthusiasm and energy, I found myself struggling to connect with the environment on a deeper level. However, by slightly distancing myself from the group, I discovered that it gave me the valuable opportunity to cultivate my own personal relationship with the landscape, free from their influences and distractions. Almost immediately, I found my creative flow and was able to make a number of images that I am very fond of and proud to have captured.
There had been some speculation amongst the group about whether we might have the chance to witness the Aurora at some point during the week, given that we were quite far north and staying in an area known for its dark skies. Despite the frequent Aurora alerts throughout the day, we harboured doubts about this particular evening, as the weather conditions were unfortunately rather inclement and unpredictable. We were therefore taken by surprise when one of our party excitedly announced she had spotted some activity in the skies just outside our accommodation (thanks Pamela ♥). What followed was a hectic half hour, between rain showers, during which we all collaborated eagerly — sharing camera settings and sightings — in an effort to capture our own images and create another lasting memory of a fabulous week.
Day 5 – 11.10.24
When I first saw that the final day of our proposed itinerary was planned to be spent in Inverness, visiting galleries and doing some street photography, I must admit I was far from enthusiastic about the idea. I wasn’t expecting much enjoyment from it, as it’s not a genre of photography I naturally gravitate towards. However, once we actually arrived and I began taking part, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed the experience. Watching Mali at work was incredibly insightful, and I learned a great deal from observing his approach. The time spent wandering the streets of Inverness opened my eyes to different aspects of street photography, helping me to discover new areas within this style that I would genuinely like to explore further.
It was apt that we concluded our time out in the field by revisiting the familiar local woodland where we had originally begun our week’s adventure. What an extraordinary and captivating place it is!
It was with a heavy heart that I loaded my bags on Saturday morning and prepared to say my farewells. Being out in the landscape is where I have long found alimentation for my soul, and this past week had provided an incredible abundance in that regard. However, I don’t believe that the sustenance would have been nearly as complete or fulfilling without the warm presence of the other lovely humans with whom I had the privilege to share this experience. During our final meal together, someone asked us to sum up the entire week with a single word. At the time, I believe I said ‘immersive’. But as I write this now, a number of other words come to mind, all of which relate to the wonderful people I was lucky enough to meet and connect with during those days: Kindness, Friendship, Inspiration, and Humour. Thank you so much, Mali, Lynne, Gary, and Pamela 🙂