Duration & Dates
7 days (6 nights)
5th to 11th May 24 - Full
4th to 10th May 25
7th to 13th September 25
If you are a group of 2 or more, please contact us for bespoke dates and itineraries.
Arrival & Departure
Forsinard Lodge arrival after 4pm, departure before 10am
Highlights
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A unique combination of good photography with activities that are achievable for guests with lower physical capabilities
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5 amazing days of creative photography excursions
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Fully inclusive comfortable, en-suite accommodation
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Special focus on subjects and locations that are not too physically demanding
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Very small group size for maximum individual attention
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Un-discovered wild locations
Price
Group Size
3 people per tour per 1 guide
Included
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Full Board Accommodation
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Single occupancy rooms as standard
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Vehicle and guide
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Transfer from Inverness airport or railway station
Not Included
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Initial transport to lodge
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Alcoholic drinks
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Camera equipment
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Travel insurance
Description
Photography is an amazing and rewarding pastime, but sometimes when participating in group activities, the search for subjects and wanting to make the most of our time outside can be physically quite demanding. At Wild Arena we appreciate different guest have different capabilities, so we have formalised a special ‘low intensity’ week! We’ve actually been organising itineraries for photographers who might struggle a little for many years, but now we have a created these specific weeks with that specific requirement in mind.
During our extensive time exploring the beautiful scenery of the Scottish far north, we are always looking for locations that might suit those with less mobility. This means we have a whole list of great subjects that we can photograph without the need to worry about ‘getting there’. Our excursions will be based around our comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicles, and we can tailor what we take, where we go, and how long we will be out to suit the guests that are with us.
During the 5 days of photography, we will carefully explore the beautiful landscapes of the Scottish far north. As, with all of our trips, we will take a broad view of subjects, always searching for opportunities to find intimate photographic stories in the things we encounter. The tutors and guides will encourage a wide range of creative interpretations of the things we find and will demonstrate alternative techniques and ideas to maximise our creativity.
Subjects during the week, might be very diverse, from majestic upland landscapes, to hidden history in abandoned crofts plus, of course, the chance of nature and wildlife. The ‘Flow Country’ of the central far north of Scotland is one of the least densely populated areas in Europe, and this vast, wild location is rich in both natural and human history.
A core idea we strongly believe in, is to treat each excursion as a visual ‘treasure hunt’, looking for subjects where stories can be unlocked in a carefully created picture. There is nothing better than returning home feeling that we can share something undiscovered in a photograph we have been able to reveal during our day’s exploration.
At the end of each day, guests will be encouraged to share their pictures and really take time to explore why we create the photos’ we do, and what connection this makes to those that view these images afterwards.
The small team at Wild Arena are all passionate about photography and sharing our love of the Scottish landscape with our guests. Our creative photography tours are designed to make the most of our wild and unspoilt location to provide the perfect place for digging deeper into the world of making images.
Equipment for the week is less important than our creative output, but cameras with less automation and more functions often allow a greater freedom of expression. Of course, the tutors will always be on hand to offer advice on how best to use the cameras to make the pictures we are hoping for. We will also run through a number of more unusual techniques that may broaden our artistic output.
Outside of the time spent capturing pictures, we usually encourage guests to slow down sufficiently to appreciate the sights, sounds and feelings present in the places we visit. These opportunities to simply ‘explore’ with no agenda, can often lead to the most rewarding outcomes!
What can you expect during your week with us?
Well, we hope to welcome everyone as a friend, creating a comfortable ‘home from home’ feeling whilst staying with us at Forsinard Lodge. During this trip we will be especially mindful of providing itineraries that match the comfortable physical capabilities of our guests, hopefully ensuring everyone returns home feeling great!
Key subjects for the week should include:
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Wild Landscapes, with hills, burns and lochs
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Coastal locations with cliffs, beaches, and buildings
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Wildlife we encounter
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Smaller subjects showing details in the scene
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People we may meet
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Abstract and artistic interpretations
Above all else, we want our welcoming, small group trips to be relaxing and creatively stimulating, providing the perfect combination of rest and enjoyment of the wonderful pastime of photography!
Venue
Our base for this trip is the beautifully situated location of Forsinard Lodge in northern Scotland. The building was originally built in 1870 by the Duke of Sutherland as a hunting & fishing lodge at the head of Strath Halladale. The river here was highly regarded for Salmon fishing and the surrounding area boasted Red Deer Stags of unusual size. The lodge has spent most of its life as part of a much wider estate, but now provides Wild Arena a perfect base for photography in this beautiful and relatively undiscovered part of the highlands.
We also boast some amazing neighbours including our good friends at the RSPB reserve at Forsinard, who manage a vast area of diverse upland surrounding the lodge.
Our guests are accommodated in recently refurbished bedrooms within the Forsinard Lodge building. Each room has its own new, en-suite bathroom and are comfortably furnished for our visitors stay. Guests will also have use of a conservatory lounge where meals can be served, and the group can come together in the evenings.
We pride ourselves on looking after everyone to the best of our ability and Adrienne will ensure guests are kept happy with delicious home cooked food from our kitchen. We also hope that the lodge is the perfect place for relaxed conversation, providing an environment that encourages learning and self-expression – a true ‘home from home’!
Itinerary
Our low intensity holidays may run at various times of year, and no doubt the subjects we encounter will vary as the seasons change. Therefore, this itinerary should act as an approximate guide only.
(D) Arrival at your base for the week, Forsinard Lodge in the heart of the wild landscape of northern Scotland. On our first evening together, we will introduce the ideas central to the week and let the group share their aspirations and ideas.
(B,L,D) After a relaxed breakfast, we will set out with a packed lunch, for our first day of exploration. We will likely spend our time at locations relatively close to base and begin the process of slowing down and considering the stories we wish to tell through our photographs. For the evening, we will return to the lodge for dinner and a chance to discuss how we feel the day went. (NB: Each evening we will check the weather forecast and conditions so, depending on the season, there is always the chance for some sunsets or even night-time shooting too!)
(B,L,D) After an earlier start, we will head for a day at the coast, using the sea as an inspiration for our images. Again, we will take out a packed lunch and the guides will begin to introduce alternative ideas to broaden our creative opportunities. Again, back to the lodge for dinner and conversation. We will then encourage guests to share a few pictures from the first 2 days of shooting for constructive thoughts and feedback (it can be super interesting to see what everyone else has created!)
(B,L,D) After a slightly later breakfast, we will once again set out with a packed lunch for very quiet places in the hills. This wild landscape can be both challenging and stimulating for pictures, but we will encourage the widest possible interpretation of what we discover. Later in the afternoon, we may specifically look for Red Deer at locations where we know they are more accessible. Again, back to the lodge for dinner and the chance for relaxed conversation and image review.
(B,L,D) After breakfast, we will set out with a packed lunch again for more time in this beautiful part of the country. We will return to the lodge slightly earlier for dinner, allowing us an opportunity to venture out again afterwards, as the evening light fades for an alternate view of the things around us as day turns into night.
(B,L,D) The final day of photography. We will set out for a final morning of exploring the landscapes for photographic inspirations returning to the lodge for a late lunch. During the afternoon we might spend a few hours considering the process of editing our pictures (in terms of basic reduction in numbers and possible use of software), before preparing a final set of images for presentation after our last dinner as a group. This can be a great way of acknowledging what we have achieved through the week in terms of photographic creativity and enlightenment.
(B) After a final breakfast, we will round up the week before guests depart for 10am.
Please note: – The itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on local conditions. Not all wildlife mentioned can be seen well at all times of the year & some activities mentioned may not always be available.
Meals included are as shown – B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Who should attend
All of our trips are targeted at anyone who has a love of photography and wishes to shoot great pictures, plus learn a little along the way. However, our low intensity weeks are built around groups who might need a slower pace or less physicality in the activities.
Wild Arena Tours are not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.
Fitness level: This holiday is specifically aimed at those guests who may feel they have lower mobility. Of course, everyone is different, and we suggest you give us a call or send over an e-mail letting us know what would work for you. We try quite hard to match guests in terms of their physical capabilities, but if this proves difficult, we may be able to consider a week on a 1-2-1 basis (at additional cost).
Camera Knowledge: It is useful if you have a good working knowledge of your camera, but the Wild Arena guide will be on hand to talk through settings, ideas, and techniques to make the best of the opportunities.
Learning outcomes
During this week of creative photography, we hope to cover many useful techniques for various genres of photography, constantly making use of the light and opportunities our subjects present us.
We should be able to cover lots of introductory technical ideas such as shutter speeds, apertures, ISO setting, focus operation and balancing exposures.
We will also put emphasis on creativity with compositional ideas like the rule of thirds, diagonal lines, simplicity over complexity, foregrounds & backgrounds, placement, and use of space.
However, beyond all of these foundations, there is massive scope for exploring ideas the guests feel they wish to explore!
