The trip surpassed my expectations in terms of scenery, company, hospitality and of course creative input. I hope you mean what you said when you mentioned in the cafe in Stornoway that there might be a landscape photographer in me.

You have taught me how to slow down, consider and reflect and learn.

Something clicked inside me on the course. I know how to use a camera but didn't know how to use myself. I'm chuffed to bits with the images I got and can see how to improve already.

All the best Bruce

Dudley, Duds, Dug, Duggy, England 

Hi Bruce,

That was a great trip - well done and many thanks.

Hope to see you next year.

Robert Prentice, Glasgow

Hi Bruce,

I must say that, I've take a long time to answer because I needed to take this time to think about what I've learned, what I've experienced, how I embodied the ideas, feelings and knowledge from you and from the other participants.

Let's start with the points you've suggested:

Being on the Isle of Eigg was a tremendous and marvelous experience; I couldn't imagine that the Isle would inspire me the way it did. I can remember the first morning shooting there... I was like experience something I dreamed about... the light, the shapes, the surroundings, well, all the place itself. I can assure you that being on Eigg (and Muck) was, at the moment, the most fantastic and creative experience I've already have.

Being on an Isle, surrounded by sea, is, in itself, a very challenging experience and what I felt was very different with my daily experience in the "hard" mountains near my home; so, for me, viewing and making a picture on Eigg was a challenge for my creativity and I do like daily challenges; I feel that Eigg was like a kind of "creativity juice" I needed to carry on with my vision. Definitely, the Eigg workshop made a very big difference to how I'll view/experience a picture in the future.

About the schedule, well... I do like to sleep in the morning :-)! Kidding, I think it was a very well planned schedule to photograph. I think it's universal that the golden hours are the sunrise and sunset, and, well, cloudy days, when the light is softer. But, I must say that the planning was well made, I think, in the near future, I'll adopt this schedule in my own workshops.

Did the trip meet my expectations? Oh, it sure it did. Well, it surpassed my expectations highly. I can assure you, the trip/workshop was one of my best life/personal experiences I've already have.

About your approach, well, my expectations were surpassed as well. You can't imagine how your "words"/thoughts/experience resonate with me; as I told you in the beginning, I had a "creativity juice" with this experience, and you were the main "sponsor". In fact, I must say that the couple of hours we discussed the photos were the higher moment of the workshop, I learned so much, it was so helpful that, today, when I shoot, I stop for a while, take a deep breed, feel the moment, the photograph, and remember all that know-how I've learned with you (and with your thoughtful and inspiring ebooks). In the end, I feel happier with my "new" method, approach to photography. Even the 4x5 format... well, I'm in love with it! Really!

As you know, words are insufficient to describe the feelings, thoughts and ideas about this unforgettable trip and workshop. But one thing you must know: after the workshop, I feel I'm a better photographer; I think, as well, I'm a better person. Sincerely, thank you for all. Thank you for being one of my inspirational "muses". Thank you for being a friend of mine. Thank you.

Sincerely,

João Pedro Silva, Portugal  

P.S.: Keep in touch. If you come to Portugal, please say something. 

Hi Bruce

Since I am such a beginner (and bloody lazy manual reader I have to admit), the short session together with you on the first evening gave me loads of inspiration for the rest of the week because you made me understand the camera better. I know you mentioned some people do not even know their camera and I am one of them, definitely, still not having the routines or all understanding about photography in principle... You don't run a camera workshop after all, I am aware of that. But despite you were very patient with me, pointing out the clouds and trying different exposure times with me while besides teaching me about some basics and my camera really. You made me feel very comfortable about it because of your approach, not a second I felt like a dumb-ass or stupid idot, on the contrary - it was a very valuable kick-off for me for the week. Lacking talent or not, I was happy and confident strolling off on my own for most of the week after that with my music in the ears and experiment and learn for myself.

I felt the hostel was great and a perfect base, food very good too, and lovely friendly hosts. The schedule worked very well. As you mentioned it's all logistics dependent - so that one is just ideal I guess because of the short ways. Because of my beach dependency I personally would have loved to spend a session or two more on Singing Sands, but I also understand that because of the tides that would not have made sense. So I'll just have to come back.

Personal most happy memory: the night on Singing Sands where I saw you get off your boots and I thought... wow that's just great, I'll have to do that too, why didn't I think about that myself! I just love to wade barefoot in the water and the sand and I just felt happy like a little girl those two hours.. didn't want it to end :-).

Thanks again for a very good week Bruce. I really enjoyed it!

Best wishes,

Sonja Grubenmann, Switzerland 

I want to thank you for a great time at the workshop.

I had big expectation to the workshop and the trip to Eigg. I must say that you and the workshop (and Eigg) exceeded beyond any expectations I had! It was really a fun, educational and a great experience for me.

First of all – it was a great group. It seemed like everybody enjoyed themselves. There was a good synergy and everyone was keen on sharing there skills and ideas.

And you Bruce have great human skills. I loved you approach about wanting to figurer everybody out skill wise, so you could shape your help accordingly. Everybody has different needs of help and even with big differences in peoples skill level, I think that everybody got something out of the course.

Another good thing was that you listen to input and wanted the dialog. This made the workshop alive and made one feel that they are a part of it. And you have a great sense of humor – that is important.

Furthermore – you were well prepared. It was a good idea with the hardcopies you handed out. As for the schedule, it could not have been more perfect for me. The critics during the daytime were important if one wants to develop themselves though a few days.

I did find the trip very inspiring and I learned a lot. Most important was the time of day so we could capture the good light. And the use of grade filters.

Finally the workshop wanted me to go and take pictures and I think that is what is most important.

Thank you for a good time in Scotland and Bruce, if you are coming to Copenhagen please drop by for dinner or a cup of coffee.

Christian Egedius Bendtsen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Image © Luciano Teghillo

Luciano Teghillo, Italy

First of all, thank you very much for your inspiring and engaged course, it opened the door to a new world of photography to me, additionally my understanding of how pictures should be created has been tremendously improved. I learned an awful lot, apart from that, I had a lot of fun and many great experiences.

You have set an example with your work, I admire the simplicity of your images, they are uncluttered and to the point (what good art basically is). So looking at your images once in a while was not only a pleasure to do, it was also part of our learning experience.

You are a sharing person, I never had the feeling that you withheld any crucial information, you told us all your secrets, so all left for us is to add our own vision to your techniques.

I also liked the critiques, they gave us not only the opportunity to see each other's work, but helped us to improve over the course of the week.

The course was well organized, the van was a necessity, and your information you gave us prior to the course allowed proper preparation.

My photography skills literally have leapfrogged and I thank you for that!

Peter Boehi, Switzerland

I very much the enjoyed the week, and particularly the relaxed atmosphere and your laid back approach, although everyone was serious about their photography.

As someone with a long standing interest in photography, but who had never done more than take snapshots on holiday, it was great to immerse myself for five full days.

Now that a few days has passed, I took another look at my images from Eigg. I could never have dreamed of taking photographs of that quality before the workshop.

I am sure I will attend another workshop in the not too distant future.

Calum Watt, Scotland

A short note to say thanks for the Isle of Eigg workshop.

The workshop was not only very well structured and run, but was also a lot of fun with a great bunch of people who all shared a love for photography and being out there. Throughout the workshop, your creativity and artistic craft was inspiring and I admire your vision.

The location and venue was terrific, finding different worlds as we explored along that beach. An amazing landscape, very different from home...

I enjoyed the regular critique of work produced by all very much, as I feel critique by those whose photographic/artistic expertise you respect to be an invaluable learning experience. The facilities were excellent and your sharing nature and fun personality made it all the more enjoyable.

Thanks mate. I had a great time, experienced a wonderful location, learnt a lot and met great people along the way.

Cheers, Andrew (from Oz)

Bruce, it's obvious you put your heart and soul into your images, and your web site, and you did the same for the workshop.  It was a terrific experience. Thank you. As you know, I am a huge fan, so keep up the great work, and don't forget to take some time to recharge your own batteries. Put the camera down for 30-60 days, ride a bike across Scotland, train for a 10K, volunteer, prepare an outline for your book, whatever the hell it might be. We all need to recharge, particularly creative people, and particularly people like you who work so hard at their art. 

All the best,

Sam Blair, Oregon, USA

Just a short note to thank you for your excellent workshop. 

For me, it was a revelation to see how you approached the subject of Landscape Photography. In particular, I was struck by how you noticed the small things; patterns in the sand or subtle differences in the quality of light.

There is no doubt that I learned a great deal during the week and I am sure that this will have a major effect on the way I approach my photography in future. I was also impressed by your relaxed style of teaching and could see that you made a huge effort to spend time with every member of the group.

The accommodation and food during the trip was also excellent.

Many thanks again.

Stephen Scott, Scotland

Image © Bob Cioffi

Hi Bruce,

Thanks again, I'm really glad it worked out on short notice.

I had a great time and you left me with a lot to think about in terms of composition, technique and even gear.

It was great to have a weekend of immersion in photography whether it was taking photos or just talking about places, gear, photographers, etc.. I think the workshop had a great balance of shooting and critique.

I will definitely do some more of your workshops. Best, Bob

Bob Cioffi, USA

Image © Christianne Smart

Hi Bruce,

Had a fab weekend and don't wanna be at work !

Regards Christianne

Christianne Smart, London

You know, when I first saw your website a year or so ago I was pretty stunned actually. It is rare that I react like that to other photographers' work. Some photographers can produce one or two stunning images, but the mark of a real talent is being able to produce a body of work and keep adding to it without it becoming more of the same. I think that's what you do. And that's why I came up to Glen Coe for the weekend. To shoot an awesome landscape but to chat with you, share what we both do and learn what I could from the group.

Thanks for showing us some amazing locations, for ordering that unreal light on Saturday morning, and I look forward to the next time we can do more of the same. Thanks again.

Kieron Monahan, London

Hi Bruce

I had a great time on the trip. I really enjoyed it, it was such a pleasure just to be able to eat, sleep and breathe photography for a couple of days. So thanks very much for that, I’ve really taken a lot away with me.

I’ve definitely come away from the trip inspired to take more pictures and really excited about my photography. (It was a real chore to be sitting in an office again this week when all I really wanted to do was to get my boots on and get out there.)

The course has definitely helped me move my photography on. Getting an insight into how you look at a scene and set up a shot was very useful. On reflection I probably take too many shots too quickly. So just picking up little things like your point about keeping moving around a location, and if you’ve got the shot not to take another that’s the same, etc is really useful. As was seeing what everyone else had done and how they’d shot the same location. And I found the critiques very useful as was the session where you took us through a selection of your work.

I thought your relaxed, informal style worked well. You put everyone in the group at ease and I thought the contribution of everyone else, especially Kieron, added to the trip. The hotel & logistics were good in that they just happened in the background – always a sign that if you don’t notice that sort of thing then it’s been well planned and executed.

Grant Nairn, Edinburgh

Image © Norman Bews

Hi Bruce,

I just wanted to say thanks for a great workshop.  It was even better than I had hoped it would be. 

Before I booked the workshop I was looking at an article on workshops by Brooks Jenson of Lenswork and he said that many great photographers do terrible workshops because they can't communicate their ideas verbally. He said that you need a good communicator as well as a good photographer. From listening to your Video "Scotland - on landscape photography"  I knew that you could communicate well as well as produce stunning images.

As I said in my long questionnaire response, I was looking for help in seeing what to photograph and how to select the shot from a big complicated landscape. You have really helped with this. I was thinking about each shot much more, using the tripod for the final fine tuning of the composition and above all, simplifying.

There were a few things you said to me that have really stuck. The first was from the very first set up I did on Saturday morning when I had some bits of heather and a big rock in the foreground of the shot. You said that I should look at the scene through one eye to reduce it to 2 dimensions and that when I did, I would see that the heather just became a mass of random lines. You were, of course, correct.

The next was about getting low to take the middle distance out of the shot or getting higher to bring it in more. 

I think the big thing for me, though, was the importance of simplicity. I like the idea that painters decide what to put in a picture and photographers decide what to leave out. You had several ideas on this that were very helpful. One was the idea that if something is going to be in the shot, it should be right in it and not lurking at the side. I think the best thought I will take away with me, though, is that every part of the image is like an actor in a play and they should all have a purpose. If they don't, remove them from the frame.  

I was also impressed by your ability to see what no one else could. The small piece of ice shot at the Lochan on Sunday morning was classic. We had all walked past that several times and missed it. I will be practicing looking for images even when I don't have me camera with me, in the hope that I can start to see more.

Anyway, thanks again fro a great weekend and I hope your upcoming course in Torridon goes well.

Norman Bews, Fife

Hi Bruce,

It was great to meet you at the weekend – both Louise and I learned a whole load and very much appreciated your advice and direction.

It was really good to be amongst such a diverse range of people too and to have such interesting and varied conversation.

Clearly we have been nicely set up by your cunning “I will pretend that this is a training weekend when in fact it’s just a taster for my week-long courses” strategy, so I suspect you may have to put up with us on a course again in the not too distant future!

Jonathan Binnie, Edinburgh

thanks again for a brilliant weekend!

I just loved every minute, and got so much out of it. In my usual academic way, I need to describe it in words as well as pictures, and so you might like to look at my blog - there are 3 entries relating to the weekend, and a fourth one will follow later this week, as I explain at the end of the third
one:

http://tpdv.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/torridon-the-art-of-adventure-photography-part-3/

I know that I have 'upped my game' enormously as a result of this. Even coming in to work today, I stopped in Bridge of Allan and photographed Stirling Castle (on my FM2 with a 50mm lens and Velvia film!) in a consciously different way this morning - the light was great, after all the rain yesterday.

Thanks again!

All the best,

Michael Marten, Edinburgh

Image © Mabel Forsyth

thanks again so much for a fantastic workshop.
It was such an adventure- getting up before dawn and squelching through the grass with our headtorches to find a good spot before the sun came up-back to the hotel for 9 ish for a huge breakfast, critiques of the morning shoot, and then out again in the afternoon, till well after the sun went down. I loved it!

You managed to pack so much into the short time we were there- from our well-organised trips to the photoshop sessions, and then the critiques which were incredibly helpful to see what could be improved in our shots.

Everyone had at least one shot they were proud to show off by the second day, but more importantly, everyone was fired up to get out and take more pictures!

It really didnt matter about the rain (well most of the time!) and it really helped that the rest of the group were such good fun, and were up for getting out and about no matter what the weather. Nobody wanted to waste a single second.
Learning to use the ND filters was an absolute revelation- it's like learning a secret that other great photographers must be keeping to themselves!

You are such a patient teacher, great fun, and generous enough to share your own work processes, so we can learn from them.

I found the workshop inspiring, and I've come home with a new buzz about my photography.

I'd recommend the experience to all photographers-no matter what your skill level, it will improve after this workshop.

Thanks again

Mabel Forsyth, Edinburgh

Thank you again for the great workshop last week end. It was a blast!

The workshop definitely had an impact on my photography. I am now thinking a lot more about composition, light conditions, etc before shooting. My pictures look a lot better as a result. I was really happy with the pictures as I was able to see the impact the workshop has had right away!

Thank you!
Best regards,

Jérome Muller, Switzerland

I was really pleased to come on a second course Bruce and I gained a lot of practical knowledge first time round and brushed it up on the second trip. The locations you take us to are truly inspiring and not the standard scenes one would expect on a course; it demonstrates how generous you are as I don’t think many professional photographers would share so many of their secrets with a bunch of amateurs. The critiquing sessions are particularly valuable, done with humour and sensitivity you really engaged with everyone making us all feel as if we too had some small drop of that special talent.

I am looking forward to another trip this year, only difficulty is deciding which one!

Lynne Douglas, Bearsden

I hope you had a good journey back to Edinburgh and made it home on time. I wanted to drop a line to thank you again for the brilliant workshop this weekend in Torridon. It’s just been a perfect experience for me in all ways.. a great bunch of people, the location, the weather, the hosts, the tutor and the tution... this all made it a really enjoyable weekend to remember. I was so carried away reviewing and editing my photos this evening that I had to cook dinner twice... the first pasta got so overcooked that not even a toothless person would have eaten it anymore – don’t remember when that happened to me the last time, if ever.. (having to lose a reputation about my cooking..);-).

Looking at some of the images I still find it difficult to believe that it was actually me who did that. I am trying to analyze what happened here, arriving as an absolute, unsecure beginner and coming back with some pictures like this. I just don’t get it yet; was it the locations you scouted for us, was it the moments I had your sole attention helping me with my compositions, or was it the reviews and critiques after the shootings... maybe it was the package that made it.

But what I know for sure is that I am truly pleased with the work I am taking back and that I am also massively proud of some of the shots. For me this workshop has been a huge step forward, making me a lot more confident and I think it definitely got me sort of infected... I could hardly keep my eyes on the road this afternoon with all the lights and scenery around me and I can’t wait to get out again with my camera tomorrow and for the rest of the week I’ll still be in Scotland!

Thanks again for your brilliant tution, the inspiration and motivation and the relaxed atmosphere this weekend! I will sure be back for another of your workshops as soon as I can. Keep in touch, would be nice to hear from you once in a while.

Sonja Grubenmann, Switzerland