Learning something new might make you feel a bit foolish at first, but it’s ultimately expanding your understanding and making you wiser.

2 or 3 Full Days in The Trossachs

Learning how to use your camera and exploring different genres of Landscape photography.

Beginner

This is evolution in action

You’re ready to start your photography journey—and you’re in the perfect place to begin.

Remember, we all start at the beginning.

Here's what I intend to change:

The primary issue I've identified—beyond the technical challenges of operating the camera—is the difficulty of combining beginners with more experienced photographers in the same course.

This often results in frustration for both groups: beginners may feel overwhelmed or left behind, while seasoned photographers might find the class unstimulating or not sufficiently challenging.

To address this, I plan to redesign my courses by offering separate sessions tailored to different skill levels. This will allow beginners to focus on the basics in a supportive environment, while more advanced participants can delve into more complex concepts and techniques.

This approach ensures that everyone can maximize their learning experience without the drawbacks of mixed-level classes.

The hardest part of landscape photography Isn’t just learning how to use the camera’s technical features.

Many beginners, excited to start, buy their first camera thinking that a high megapixel sensor and great dynamic range will automatically produce beautiful photos. The equipment will produce beautiful photos!.

But the real challenge begins once you've mastered the basics.

That’s when you head out into the landscape, fueled by inspiration and curiosity, with the goal of developing your own unique style and creative vision.

It’s during this journey that you gain a true sense of ownership over your work, taking control of your artistic expression and truly connecting with the scenes you capture.

Landscape photography encompasses a diverse range of genres, each offering unique challenges and creative opportunities:

  • Sunset & Sunrise: Probably the most popular landscape genre, focusing on capturing the changing light and vibrant colors during dawn and dusk. We’ll explore techniques to optimize exposure, balance colors, and make the most of natural lighting conditions.

  • Woodland: Shooting in forests requires understanding light filtering, managing shadows, and capturing the textures and moods of wooded environments. We’ll discuss composition, depth, and how to create mood with light and perspective.

  • Long Exposure: Using slow shutter speeds to reveal movement and create ethereal effects in water, clouds, or even crowds. We’ll cover equipment setup, ND filters, and techniques for smooth, impactful images.

  • Wide Angle: Harnessing the power of wide-angle lenses to emphasize expansive scenes, foreground interest, and dramatic perspectives. We’ll focus on composing compelling vistas and utilizing depth to draw viewers into the scene.

  • Close-Up & Macro: Exploring detail-rich shots of natural elements such as plants, textures, and tiny subjects. We’ll discuss focus stacking, lighting, and techniques to reveal intricate patterns and beauty often overlooked.

  • Intentional Camera Movement (ICM): A creative technique involving deliberate camera movement during exposure to produce abstract, painterly images. We’ll practice various movements and learn how to express mood and energy through this art form.

In addition to covering the fundamentals of these genres, we’ll also delve into creative approaches and compositional techniques tailored to each. You never know where these new skills might lead you—perhaps to new inspiration, styles, or projects.

While mastering every genre takes time, you will walk away with enough knowledge to experiment confidently and continue evolving your skills independently or with my guidance if you choose.

YOU WILL EXPERIENCE…

  • Camera Setup & Operation: Learn how to properly configure your camera settings for landscape photography, including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focus techniques to ensure sharp, well-exposed images.

  • Tripods and Stabilization: Understand the importance of using tripods for stability, especially in long exposures, and explore different types of tripods and accessories to suit various shooting conditions.

  • Lenses and Focal Lengths: Discover how different lenses—from wide-angle to telephoto—affect composition and perspective. Gain insights into choosing the right lens for different scenes and creative effects.

  • Composition Techniques: Dive into the fundamentals of composing striking landscapes. Explore framing, leading lines, foreground interest, rule of thirds, and how to create depth and balance in your images.

  • Use and Discussion of Filters: Learn about various filters such as polarizers, ND filters, and graduated filters. Understand when and how to use them to enhance color, control reflections, and balance exposure in challenging lighting conditions.

  • Mobile Apps and Tools: Discover essential apps for outdoor and landscape shooting, including:

    • Weather Apps: Stay informed about current and forecasted weather conditions to plan the best shoot times.

    • The Ephemeris: Track the position of the sun, moon, and stars for perfect timing of golden hours, blue hours, and astrophotography opportunities.

    • Tide Charts: Plan coastal or river shots with accurate tide data, crucial for dramatic seascapes and shoreline photography.

    • Aurora Forecasts: Learn how to monitor aurora activity to capture stunning Northern Lights displays.

This comprehensive experience will equip you with the technical skills, creative insights, and practical knowledge needed to confidently approach landscape photography in various conditions and environments.

Our base for the course will be Aberfoyle, The Trossachs.

 

The Trossachs is a scenic region nestled between Ben A'an to the north and Ben Venue to the south, with Loch Katrine on its western edge and Loch Achray to the east.

In recent years, it has become part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, established in 2002. Locally, the area is generally considered to extend from Inversnaid to Callander, including the village of Aberfoyle.

Famous for its breathtaking landscapes, the Trossachs is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most beautiful regions. With lush forests, serene lochs, and majestic mountains, it’s a popular destination for hikers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a peaceful retreat — including photographers!

For more reasons why the Trossachs is a must-visit, check out this page “The Trossachs”

A little more detail…

  • Maximum of 3 participants

  • We will be using my Land Rover Discovery 4x4 from the meeting place to our locations.

  • Because of our proximity to the major cities in Scotland participants may prefer to travel daily. We can advise on places to stay locally. Food Drinks and other expenses are also not included.

  • Participants are encouraged to have their own insurance both for equipment and against travel cancellation.

  • 2 or 3 Days.

    A day will be approx 8hrs.

    Further days can be added at additional cost if requested.

  • Phil Crowder will be leading this workshop.

    A distinguished professional and published landscape photographer, Phil brings a wealth of experience and expertise cultivated over many years of dedicated practice.

    As an instructor, he is known for making technical concepts accessible and engaging. His teaching style blends precision with artistic insight, guiding students through camera settings and composition techniques while encouraging a deeper, more intuitive connection with landscape photography.

    For participants, learning from Phil isn’t just about honing technical skills; it’s about cultivating a visionary approach—learning to see landscapes as stories and scenes waiting to be captured and interpreted through the lens.

  • This is not an exhaustive list and it may vary for many reasons;

    Loch Ard

    Loch Katrine

    Loch Chon

    Forest Drive

    Loch Rusky

    Loch Achray

    Loch Lomond

  • Visitor Information Centre, Main Car Park, Aberfoyle.

Have I learned anything this past year…

More than anything I've discovered that a flexible approach to workshops works best for me.

For the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, I’ve decided not to set fixed dates, allowing for greater adaptability. Last year, I encountered several conflicts with other commitments, particularly my beloved tours.

If you'd like to arrange something, please don't hesitate to reach out with a preferred date, and we’ll work together to make it happen. If it turns into a one-on-one session, everyone wins!

BEGINNERS WORKSHOP

2 or 3 Days

price per person

2 Days £450.00

3 Days £575.00