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Pre-paid Vouchers for Workshops available. Makes a great gift!

Join Welsh photographer Andy Davies for an unforgettable day on Skomer Island learning how to use your digital camera to capture the stunning landscapes and rich wildlife. This is a truly world class destination and the memories will stay ingrained for a lifetime. One can just imagine Sir David Attenborough commentating in the background. Andy will provide hands-on expert tuition to small groups who are guided in taking control of their camera to capture memorable images. Whether a complete beginner, enthusiast, aspiring professional or seasoned photographer, Andy provides comprehensive tuition to suit all levels in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

Workshop participants have pre-booked, guaranteed places on the 10am island crossing of the day on the Dale Princess and we return on the last boat of the day giving us as much time as possible on the island. We have privileged use of the library in the Warden’s House to review images on a computer if we need to shelter from a shower.

Workshops begin in April when the puffins, guillemots and razorbills are busy building nests and courting and the beach in North Haven is crammed full of Atlantic grey seals. An unmissable landscape panorama unfolds in May when the island is covered with a carpet of bluebells and red campion. The end of May to mid-July is the time to capture the iconic shot of a comical puffin with an impossible number of sandeels crammed in its beak. The last couple of weeks of July may afford the opportunity to see a puffling exercising its wings at the entrance to the burrow. See here for a Year in the Life of a Puffin.

There is still plenty to photograph in August with herring and lesser black-backed gulls often posing on rocky outcrops. We tend to explore the whole island at this time of the year giving an opportunity to capture the great landscapes around the coast. The year culminates in the seal pupping season from late August through to the end of October.

Workshop dates for 2013
May 22nd
June 5th, 9th (Sun - new date), 12th, 15th (Sat), 19th, 26th
July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
August TBA
September 11th, 18th, 25th

The Dale Princess crossing leaves from Martins Haven and is subject to weather conditions and workshops may be cancelled or return times changed at short notice. Contact Dale Sailing for additional information.

Cost
Workshop £95. £10 discount for members of the Wildlife Trust for South & West Wales. This saves £4 for a couple on the total price for the day! Non-members can join at Lockley Lodge.
Ferry £11, under 16 £7.
Island landing fee £10, senior citizens £9, students £5, children under 16 and members of WTSWW free.

Location
Use the AA's route planner for directions. The location of Martins Haven and Skomer Island can also be found on Google Maps or the Ordnance Survey's Get-a-map.

Joining Instructions
We meet on the veranda just outside Lockley Lodge which is on the right down the road from the National Trust car park at 9.30am. This is where you purchase your landing ticket that I have reserved for you. Please say that you are in my group. This also guarantees your place on the Dale Princess which sails at 10am, tides and weather permitting. Participants must ring Andy the day before on 07977 562321 to confirm their attendance and for an update on the weather forecast. The skipper makes the decision whether to sail around 8am on the day. The £11 fee per adult is payable in cash to the boatman.

How to book
Numbers are limited and workshops must be booked at least a day in advance. Contact Andy on 01267 268061, 07977 562321 or email andy@andydavies.info

Equipment required
Digital compact cameras or digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) with interchangeable lenses. Suitable lenses include a wide angle, something like a 24mm or 28mm is good for the landscape element in the workshop. For the puffins, focal lengths between 200mm to 300mm are good. The problem is that the puffins are often closer that the minimum focusing distance of a telephoto lens. Longer focal lengths of 500mm to 600mm are good for the razorbills and guillemots. These can be achieved by using a good quality teleconverter. Please ensure that batteries are fully charged. Camera manual.

Image galleries and comments from participants

Mostyn Richards
Barry Thomas
May 2013
Mostyn Richards
Mostyn Richards
July 2012
   
Linda Battersby
Linda Battersby
July 2012

Payat Rittler
July 2012
Helen Cuickshank
Helen Cruickshank
June 2012
Ian Ient
Ian Ient
June 2012
Sarah Hill
Sarah Hill
June 2012
Allan Berzins
Allan Berzins
June 2012
Katryn Jones
Katryn Jones
July 2012
Michela
Michela
July 2012
James Crook
James Crook
June 2012
Susan Ient
Susan Ient
June 2012
Mark Cromwell
Mark Cromwell
June 2012
Kitty Cromwell
Kitty Cromwell
June 2012
David Pottinger
David Pottinger
June 2012
Karen Pottinger
Karen Pottinger
June 2012
Stephanie Chadwick
Stephanie Chadwick
June 2012
Mike Neal
Mike Neal
June 2012
Viv Fox
Viv Fox
June 2012
Linda Fox
Linda Fox
June 2012
David Evans
David Evans
June 2012
Nicola Clarke
Nicola Clarke
June 2012
Adrian Cormicle
Adrian Cormicle
June 2012
Jennie Harrison
Jennie Harrison
May 2012
Pam Morello
Pam Morello
June 2012
Serena Stewart
Serena Stewart
June 2012
Helen Bader
Helen Bader
May 2012
Brian Howes
Brian Howes
May 2012
Charlie Pratten
Charlie Pratten
Skomer May 2012
Steve Smith
Steve Smith
May 2012

Ben Brown

Ben Brown
May 2012

Elaine McClarence
Elaine McClarence
May 2012
Chris Woodward
Chris Woodward
April 2012

Abi Goulding

Abi Goulding
April 2012

Skomer 2010 - participants image galleries

Skomer 2011 - participants image galleries

 
  Skomer Island Photography Workshops Dinefwr Stackpole Photography Workshop St. Brides Castle
  Manor House Wildlife Park Photography Workshops Grassholm Island Photography Workshop WWT National Wetland Centre Skomer Snorkel
andy davies photography & video tel ++44 (0) 1267 268061 Mobile: 07977 562321 andy@andydavies.info