Nighttime scene of a lighthouse on rocky cliffs with the northern lights and starry sky in the background.

Astrophotography - Nightscapes Photography

Nighttime scene at the beach featuring a large rock formation, with the sky illuminated by vibrant pink and green northern lights and visible stars.

The Cairngorms National Park - The Highlands - Isle of Skye - Isle of Mull - The Outer Hebrides - Orkney Islands.

I offer 1, 2 and 3-day Bespoke Wildlife & Nature Photography Workshops for small groups covering the Highlands & Islands of Scotland. The Night Sky is one of nature’s most magnificent sights and the Highlands of Scotland is blessed with plenty of locations with very little light pollution. On a clear night you might be lucky enough to spot the colourful display of the Northern Lights, or you might be able to view the Milky Way stretching from one horizon to the other. One of Scotland’s greatest assets for stargazing is its dark sky locations, areas with minimal light pollution, allowing for unparalleled views of the stars.

The Celestial world has guided humans through milenna and is still very much affecting the world around us today. It’s fascinating and mysterious, there is something special about the unknown. Join me on an night-time adventure; from learning and understanding Aurora apps, to predicting when the Northern Lights may appear, to capturing the Milky Way, Startrails, the Moon, maybe even a Fireball shooting across the night sky, or during the Summer Months, the amazing Noctilucent clouds also known as Night-Shining Clouds. The dark nights can be suprisingly mesmerizing!

This is an outdoor event at night in Scotland, please ensure you come appropriately dressed and equipped. The event is also weather dependent so may be cancelled or postponed close to the planned date. In the event of cancellation we will offer full refunds if an alternative date is not acceptable. Capturing the night sky can be a challenge!

Overview

  • Purpose: Practical, field‑based tuition tailored to your experience and photographic goals. Each workshop focuses on improving technical skills, using long exposures and careful composition to capture stars, the Milky Way, moonlit landscapes and artificial light in ways our eyes alone cannot perceive.

  • Group size: Small groups (typically 1–6 participants) to ensure individual attention and flexibility. For larger groups please contact me to discuss.

  • Locations: The Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

  • Format: On‑location tuition, critique and image review. workflow and post‑processing guidance.

  • A one-day or two-day practical workshop focused on nightscape photography, aimed at beginners through intermediate photographers. The workshop combines hands-on field shooting, guided creative exercises, and image review.

Northern lights over a rocky beach at night with visible starry sky and dark clouds.

Itinerary

  • Welcome, introductions and safety notes.

  • Objectives for the session and expected outcomes.

  • Quick equipment check and essential settings review (RAW, manual mode, long exposures, ISO, aperture, shutter speed).

  • Weather and site briefing (light pollution, horizon, hazards).

  • Golden hour and twilight orientation.

  • Composing for nightscapes as light fades.

  • Balancing residual twilight with emerging stars or moonlight.

  • Techniques for foreground inclusion and depth.

Itinerary - Practical Shooting Session 1 - Twilight to astronomical twilight

  • Hands-on practice with exposure, focusing at infinity, focus stacking basics.

  • Using long exposures to capture star emergence and foreground detail.

  • Demonstrations: manual focus using live view, histogram use, noise reduction options.

  • Break and informal troubleshooting

  • Practical shooting session 2 — Full night

  • Check images, swap lenses/accessories, Q&A.

  • Shooting stars, Milky Way (seasonal), constellations and the use of star charts or apps.

  • Techniques: fixed tripod long exposures, the 500/400/NPF rule for star trailing limits, and intentional star trails.

  • Light painting foregrounds and using low-level artificial light sources safely and creatively.

  • Composition tips: framing with leading lines, silhouettes, and horizons.

  • Optional: Moonlit or landscape-illuminated techniques

  • Shooting with significant moonlight, combining exposures for balanced foreground and sky.

Nighttime landscape of a mountain and river with a starry sky and the Milky Way

What’s included

  • Full professional tuition and guidance throughout the session.

  • Site selection and local logistics planning.

  • On‑site guidance in camera technique and composition.

  • Group image review sessions. For multi‑day workshops, post‑processing demonstrations and workflow tips.

  • Pre‑workshop briefing with advice on kit, clothing and expections.

What to bring - Equipment Checklist

  • Camera with full manual control and ability to shoot long exposures.

  • Remote release or intervalometer (or camera’s built-in function).

  • Wide-angle lens with wide aperture (f/2.8 or faster preferred).

  • Sturdy tripod.

  • Spare batteries and memory cards.

  • Lens Warmer

  • Headtorch with red-light setting.

  • Warm clothing, water and snacks.

Display of the Northern Lights in the night sky with colorful auroras and stars.

What’s not included

  • Accommodation

  • Photographic Equipment

  • Personal/Travel Insurance

  • Transport

  • Packed Lunch and Drinks

A small boat floats on calm water at sunset, with a buoy nearby and mountains in the distance under a sky transitioning from warm orange to deep blue.

What participants gain

  • Practical skills in camera settings and night-specific techniques.

  • Improved confidence focusing and composing in low light.

  • Understanding of star movement, exposure calculation, and how to capture the Milky Way and star trails.

  • Basic workflow for handling, processing and selecting nightscape images.

Pricing - Astrophotography - Nightscapes Photography - Available throughout the year.

1 to 3 Guiding / 4 to 6 hours / @ £110 per person

1 to 4/5/6 Guiding / 4 to 6 hours / @ £60 per person

If weather conditions allow.

Consecutive nights may be available, itinerary and price to be agreed.

A non-refundable deposit of £30 per person must be paid at the time of booking.

Balance to be paid in full, 4 weeks before your workshop.

For Guiding outwith my local area, additional costs may apply for mileage, ferries and accomadation.

The above costs are for my time, tuition and guidance only, additional costs may apply for food and drink, and any entrance fees.

Safety and etiquette

  • Night-time safety briefings, use of red-light mode and low-impact torching.

  • Leave-no-trace practice: avoid disturbing wildlife, vegetation, and other visitors.

  • Respect local access rules and private property.

Booking and customisation

  • Workshops are bespoke and can be tailored to specific locations, techniques or learning outcomes. Specialist requests can be arranged where local conditions allow.

  • Contact to check availability, discuss objectives and confirm logistics.

  • If you would like to discuss dates, objectives or receive a sample itinerary for a 1, 2 and 3 day workshop, please get in touch with details of your experience level and photographic goals.

Make an Enquiry
Make a Booking
Northern lights over a lake with cloudy sky and mountains in the background.
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) over a body of water with mountains in the background and a starry night sky.
Nighttime view of a lighthouse with its light beaming upward, set against a starry sky.
A night scene over a body of water displaying the Northern Lights in green hues across the sky, with stars visible, and remnants of an old wooden pier in the foreground.
A castle-like building illuminated at night, surrounded by leafless trees, under a starry sky with aurora borealis and a faint purple and green glow.
Nighttime scene of a lighthouse on rocky cliffs with the northern lights and a starry sky in the background.
Nighttime landscape with the northern lights over a lake, mountains in the distance, and a starry sky.
A lighthouse illuminated at night with the Northern Lights and a star-filled sky in the background.
Nighttime coastal scene with large rock formations in the water, a colorful aurora borealis in the sky, and a star-filled night sky above.
Night sky filled with stars and the northern lights over a body of water with mountains in the distance.
Nighttime landscape with starry sky, aurora borealis, an old stone castle ruin near a calm lake, mountains in the background, and reflection of the scene on the water.
Northern lights, or aurora borealis, glowing pink and green in a starry night sky over a landscape with hills and water.
A castle with towers and turrets sits on a hill under a night sky illuminated by the Northern Lights, with trees and a stone wall in the foreground.
Nighttime coastal scene with large rocks on the beach and northern lights in the sky.
Nighttime view of a lighthouse with red and white stripes, illuminated by the Milky Way galaxy in the starry sky.
Silhouette of old wooden poles in the water at sunset with mountains in the background and reflected in the calm lake.