Newbie Coastal Wildlife Images Workshop

If you are fairly new to wildlife photography then this workshop is for you. It is designed to help you improve as a wildlife photographer whilst also providing a fun day enjoying coastal wildlife. You will learn to identify and photograph waders and other seabirds. My goal is to give you the confidence to photograph nature and gain the skills and experience to become a better wildlife photographer. We will focus on photographing birds and animals whilst walking around a stretch of coast in central Scotland. Help will be on hand throughout the workshop to help you with camera settings and supportive tuition.

I have three priorities for all my workshops. The first is to help you get better photos. The second is to support you to become a better photographer. The third is to have a magical encounter with nature.

On this workshop you will have lots of opportunities to photograph waders and other seabirds. Typical species we might see and photograph on this workshop include waders such as Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Lapwing and Black-Tailed Godwit and coastal ducks including Eider, Goldeneye, and potentially Long-Tailed Duck or a Scoter species. It might also be possible to photograph Roe Deer present in this location or bird species such as Goosander, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard or even a Peregrine Falcon. Whilst no individual species can be guaranteed (it is wildlife after all), we won’t be short of great wildlife to photograph.

This workshop will be based at Musselburgh Lagoons. This offers a fantastic mix of coastal habitats including river mouth, mudflats, sea wall and coastal lagoons. I may also use a combination of Skinflats and Kinneil Lagoons (near Falkirk) for this workshop if conditions mean that there is likely to be more wildlife in these locations. Both these locations have been selected as they have a lot of opportunities to photograph waders and sea ducks at this time of year and provide plenty of opportunities to practice our photography skills together.

The setting allows for close, natural encounters, perfect for beginners looking to build confidence and capture compelling images. With a coastal habitat it is important to time the workshop for an incoming tide which is why the start time for this workshop will vary.

When new photographers photograph waders identification can be challenging so we can also learn better bird identification skills to support your wildlife photography journey. As well as a host of easy to intermediate photographing opportunities as these species feed or rest we may be able to progress to photographing them as flocks in flight which can provide a good entry point for bird in flight photography.

This workshop is ideal if you’re new to wildlife photography or want to strengthen your core skills. We’ll cover:

• Camera setup made simple 

• Aperture, shutter speed, ISO explained clearly

• How to achieve sharp, well-exposed images

• Basic composition techniques for wildlife with particular focus on how to photograph waders and seabirds

• The importance of good fieldcraft in coastal photography

• Getting to know your subject – identification and beyond – how to predict and anticipate behaviour

• The importance in tide times, wind direction and other factors in coastal wildlife photography.

• An introduction into birds in flight

There will be plenty of hands-on guidance throughout the day. You will be part of a small group. This means there will be opportunities for one-to-one support. This support will help you get the most from your camera.