Scottish Castles, Culture and Coastlines 11-Day Photography Workshop
Join Professional photographers, Brian Rueb and Scott Donschikowski, for a magical photography workshop through the rugged emerald beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
Scott is a certified Adobe pro in Photoshop and Lightroom, which means that during our down time, you will have the opportunity to go over images, process them and have all of your questions answered to get the most out of the images you collect throughout the course. While this tour is centered on photography you will also get some historical and cultural experiences as well, with tours of the Glenfiddich Distillery, Speyside Cooperidge, Edinburgh Castle, Kildrummy Castle, Urquhart Castle, Dunrobin Castle, and a Cruise on Loch Ness to search for the infamous monster!
Ancient castle ruins, rugged coastlines, crashing waves, and misty lochs are just a portion of what awaits you on this epic photography tour. Brian and Scott have traveled throughout Scotland in search of some of the best photographic opportunities the country has to offer, and with their expert assistance you’ll be in the right places at the right time to get some amazing photographs to add to your collection. Wind your way through the narrow highland roads as we trek to not only those iconic postcard locations, but also some out of the way and special photography locations Scott and Brian have found on their own travels in Scotland.
Scott and Brian teach over 30 in-field workshops each year and have years of teaching and photography experience to make sure you get the most personalized instruction, as well as an adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life!
Our workshops are designed with intermediate and serious photographers in mind. Our goal is to spend as much time as possible searching for photographic opportunities, and making the most of them. We will shoot sunset every day and, weather depending, head out for a night shoot on at least one night, hopefully more! In addition to the awesome landscape possibilities in Scotland, we will also make time to photograph some of the historical and cultural locations throughout the country; including castles, ancient whiskey barrel making facilities, falconry exhibitions, highland cows, and more! We don’t want to burn you out though, so we will make time each day for breaks at the hotel so you can relax, process images, and charge your batteries for the next adventure! Because sunrise is quite early in Scotland...sunrise shoots will be limited to 2-3 days, and those will be optional so those needing a little more rest can catch up on some sleep!
Group Size
Our group size will be limited to 10-students and 2 instructors to allow for maximum instructional time with students throughout the course of the workshop. We will travel in 2 vans throughout the duration of this workshop.
Meals
Breakfast is included in each hotel stay. For lunch and dinner, we will make stops for meals that fit in with our shooting schedule. Every effort will be made to provide stops with multiple options for food. If you have special dietary needs or requests please let us know and every effort will be made to help accommodate your requests.
Most people will fly to London and then catch a flight from London to Edinburgh, where we will meet. While some locations will offer direct flights to Edinburgh, we have found that coming from the US, it is usually cheaper to fly into London first, but please check and make the flight arrangements that work best for you. Once you arrive in Edinburgh you will take a shuttle to our first hotel, The Dakota, where we will meet and get ready for our adventure!
Timing
Summer is a great time to visit Scotland. The days are long, and the light in the evening can be fantastic for long periods of time. Weather this time of year can be pleasant, but because of its high northern latitude evenings and mornings can be quite chilly. We recommend dressing in layers. Wind and rain are also common in Scotland at any time of year, so bringing clothes that are wind resistant and waterproof would be highly recommended.
Scotland is part of Great Britain and only a valid US Passport is required to enter the country. If you are travelling from outside the US, please check with your local governments to see if there are any additional travel requirements.
Vaccinations and Medical Requirements
We recommend you contact your physician to make sure you have the most up to date health requirements for travelling abroad. IF you have any special medical concerns or issues, please let us know so our instructors are aware of them in case of emergency.
Lodging Arrangements
All prices are for double occupancy rooms. Single supplements are available at a considerably higher rate (add $1500 for single rooms) due to the high cost of travel within the UK. If you know someone else interested in this workshop we recommend having you both sign up and specify that you would like to share a room.
Day 1 - EDINBURGH
Travel to Scotland -- Welcome! After collecting your luggage you will shuttle to the beautiful Hotel Dakota in North Queensferry. After check-in you will have time to relax a little bit before meeting Brian and Scott for orientation, eating dinner and heading out for a shoot of the Fourth Rail Bridge (weather permitting).
Day 2 & 3 - ABERDEEN
We head to the Silver City, and on our way we’ll make a stop at the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, and have lunch in this wonderful sea side community. Aberdeenshire is home to some of the most beautiful of quintessential Scottish landscapes, we will spend time exploring Dunnottar, Slains, Corgarff, and Kildrummy Castles (weather permitting). In addition we will check out a massive sea bird colony at the Bullers of Buchan, where there is a possibility of seeing puffins on the high cliffs.
Day 4 & 5 - INVERNESS
Some of the highlights of this portion of the trip include a tasting tour of the Glenfiddich Distillery as well as the Speyside Cooperage, where artisans use ancient techniques to craft the barrels used in the whiskey production that has been part of the Scottish heritage for centuries. Inverness is also home to Loch Ness, where we will take a boat tour on our way to Urquhart Castle, and hopefully see Nessie along the way! We will spend the rest of the time exploring the communities along the coast, taking you to photograph some of the most breathtaking landscapes in all of Scotland.
Day 6 & 7 - PLOCKTON (Isle of Skye)
We will begin this morning travelling to Dunrobin Castle, where we will get the opportunity to photograph a Falconry demonstration on the castle grounds. After that, we travel west to Plockton, which will serve as our base camp as we spend two days exploring the rugged landscape and photography rich, Isle of Skye. The rugged coastal area around Elgol, The Old Man of Storr, Neist Point Lighthouse, The Quiraing, and more await us during our time here.
Day 8 & 9 - FORT WILLIAM
Our time here will be spent in the coastal highland areas around Ben Nevis, one of the most iconic mountains in Scotland, not to be outdone by the Pyramid mountain, Buachaille Etive Mor. We will also explore Glen Coe and Glen Etive, as well as castles on Loch Linnhe and Loch Awe.
Day 10 - EDINBURGH
Our last night in Scotland! We will travel to Edinburgh to take a tour of the historic fortress of Edinburgh Castle, after our tour we will walk the Royal Mile and see the interesting architecture and gardens that surround it before setting off for a final dinner together and one last sunset shoot from the iconic vista at Calton Hill.
Day 11 - EDINBURGH
Morning post processing and farewell breakfast. Travel to Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport to commence your homeward journey taking with you many wonderful memories, and photos, of your visit to Scotland!
Travel and Lodging
Dakota Hotel, Edinburgh Scotland
Lodging
We will shuttle our group in 2 vans holding 5 passengers and one instructor each.
Travel
During our stays we will be in 3- and 4-star hotels throughout the country, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Meet Our Workshop Pro Instructors...
Meet our master instructors and learn what qualifies them to give you a great experience during your workshops! While you're joining us, you will receive comprehensive digital photography instruction and tutoring by our team of award-winning photographers.
→ Brian Rueb
Brian is an acclaimed landscape photographer who has taught photography and art for two decades. His work has appeared in numerous galleries, magazines and newspapers, and he has received awards at the national, state and local levels. His students have also won awards for their work.
Brian's passion for photography is evident in every image. His talent, education and background guide his use of color, composition and balance in ways that maximize the aesthetic values of his superlative images. His principle philosophy is that of complete immersion into a subject. This applies to his photographs, students, and writing. He is currently working on several photography-related books.
→ Scott Donschikowski
Scott Donschikowski is a professional photographer, speaker and instructor of photographic arts and digital darkroom techniques. He is a master of the digital workflow, is an Adobe Certified Expert and has taught and lectured all over California about the benefits of becoming proficient in the digital darkroom.
Scott is a versatile photographer, specializing in architecture, lifestyle and landscapes but also having completed work in weddings, editorials, events and product photography. He has worked extensively covering events for the City of San Jose and has contracted his work out to a number of local businesses providing them with his own unique style of photographic imagery.
A tech geek at heart, when Scott is not out taking pictures in his native California, he spends his time writing for numerous blogs, maintaining several websites, reviewing photography gear, and refining his digital darkroom craft. He is also an avid astrophotographer and when the available light runs out, he brings out his telescope and captures images of the heavens above.
Note: In the event a scheduled instructor for a particular workshop is unavailable, a replacement instructor will be scheduled.
While we make every effort, there is no guarantee that the assigned instructors for a scheduled workshop will be present.
What's included in the price?
→ The cost includes all accommodations (based on double occupancy), during trip dates, upon your arrival to Scotland. Single room supplement is available (see pricing tab for info). All transportation during your workshop dates and all park entrance fees.. Of course all your photography instruction and photo editing instruction is included as well.
→ The trip is 11 days in length and begins and ends in Edinburgh, Scotland. During the course of the tour we will head around the country and explore the highlands, Isle of Skye, and other scenic locations throughout the country. In addition to Edinburgh, we will stay in Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort William. We will also be staying 2 nights in Plockton, near the Isle of Skye so we can explore that area as well.
What is included in the price?
→ The trip includes transportation throughout Scotland, instruction from Brian and Scott, hotel accommodation at 3-and 4-star hotels, breakfast at hotels, admission to all castles tours we take and distilleries. This also includes a boat tour on Loch Ness!
→ During the summer weather can be pleasant and in the high 60s to low 70s with it cooling in the evening in the low 50s and upper 40s at times. However, this is a climate known to change rapidly. It can get warmer, but also colder than listed and rain and wind are always a possibility.
How many people are expected on this workshop?
→ 2 instructors and 10 guests.
What kind of physical demands are there?
→ You should be able to walk 3-5 miles a day on uneven surfaces. There are no major hikes involved with this class, though we will be walking a lot most days; slight inclines, and uneven surfaces are common. Should weather cooperate our group may hike to the Old Man of Storr during our time exploring the Isle of Skye. This is a moderate hike, and can take a couple of hours round trip.
Is this a tour, or a workshop?
→ It is a little of both. We will be seeing all the wonderful things Scotland has to offer, and we will be focusing in on the photography part of it. Scott and
Brian will be there to help you answer your questions, offer suggestions on composition, settings, filters, and more. They can also provide valuable insight on processing the images during review sessions at the hotel. They are there for you…and you can utilize them as much or little as you like.
→ Yes, but because of lodging and vehicle spacing they must pay the same cost to attend as everyone else, even if they are not a photographer.
What type of currency do they use?
→ They use the British Pound in Scotland.
What if I need to cancel?
→ We highly recommend everyone purchase travel insurance for this class in case of unforeseen emergencies. The $2000 deposit is non-refundable.
I have more questions, who should I talk to?
→ You can call or email the gallery for any payment related information. All workshop related questions can be directed to brian@apertureacademy.com or scott@apertureacademy.com
Workshop Price and Deposit
The 2019 workshop fee is $5995. A $2000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your space. On or before November 1st, 2018, 50% of the remaining balance will be due. The remaining balance is due in full on or before March 15th, 2019. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:
100% refundable: 150 days (five months) or greater (not including deposit)
Refundable Balance: 150 days (five months) or greater (not including deposit)
No refund within 149 days or less of the start date
Seats are transferrable
Please Note: Returning student, and hall of fame, discounts are not applicable to Sojourn Series workshops.
