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. |
