There are some spectacular places to go in Shetland to see and photograph this incredible spectacle. In Shetland there are two National Nature Reserves, Noss and Hermaness. Noss is an uninhabited island on the east side of Shetland, just off the coast of the island of Bressay. Hermaness is the northerly headland on the island of Unst, which is the UKs most northerly island. Both these places have large colonies of gannets nesting on cliffs, along with puffins, fulmars, great skua’s and many other species of seabirds. Both reserves offer different and unique experiences and great photographic opportunities. Both of these nature reserves provide several kilometres of beautiful coast to photograph. I can guide photographers to the part of the cliffs, which offer the best opportunities for close-up photography of the colonies.
Fair Isles is a dramatic and beautiful island to photograph and work with seabirds. It is one of the UK’s national seabird monitoring sites. However, to photograph seabirds on Fair Isles an overnight stay on the island is needed. You can get to Fair Isles by boat or small plane. This is a great place to photograph seabirds and a trip to Fair Isles with an overnight stay can be easily arranged.
There are many small colonies of seabirds such as black guillemot, arctic terns, and storm petrels that can be photographed around the island as well as visiting the major colonies. Furthermore, specialist seabird days can be put together such as photographing overnight during the summer solstice to capture seabirds in sublime light. There is something very special about being out on summer nights on a wild coastline surrounded by seabirds.
Number of people:
- Maximum of 4 people per group.
I am offering a unique personal experience to see Wild Seabirds of Shetland, one-on-one, or as part of a small group of up to four photographers to make this the best experience possible.
Duration and Time:
- One day photographing seabirds will consist of up to 8 hours in the field at the optimal sites.
- These tours run between May and the end of September.
Seabird photography will be undertaken at one of the three large seabird colonies and at several lesser-known colonies for specialist species. It is also possible to use hides for some specific species so please ask for details if you are interested in this.
It is only possible to visit one seabird site in a day and there is some walking involved to reach the seabird colonies. At Hermaness there is a 2km walk across board-walks to access the cliffs and at Noss it is approximately a 3-4km walk to access the seabird cliffs. We will always aim to be in the field at the optimal time to offer the best photographic opportunities and to spend as long as possible with the seabirds.
Cost:
The cost for this tour is £400 for one-to-one or £350 per person for small groups.
Clothing and Requirements:
When preparing for your outdoor adventure, it's essential to gear up appropriately for optimal comfort and convenience. Be sure to wear warm attire, including a snug hat, insulating gloves, a reliable waterproof coat, and durable trousers, as well as sturdy footwear.
Transport
We will agree on a meeting point from which we will travel as a group in our transport to the different locations throughout the day.
Food and Drink
The price does not include food or hot drinks, so please bring your own pack lunch and drinks.
Equipment
You must supply your own photography equipment. A range of camera gear can be used to create different images from wideangle to telephoto lenses. I would recommend as minimum a DSLR body, one telephoto lenses of a minimum length of 200mm with a teleconverters (1.4, 1.7 or 2x converters). Plus a wide angle lense for creating images of seascapes and seabirds in the landscape.
