Photographing the Isle of Lewis and Harris 

Join photographers Margaret Soraya, Adele Warner Tate and Max Warner Tate for a group landscape photography workshop on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

The focus is on the landscape itself: the Atlantic coastline, long exposure seascapes, low winter light and the small details of island life. Harris offers an extraordinary variety of subjects within a small area, from the wide white sand beaches of the west coast to the rocky, edged shoreline of the east.

February brings dramatic skies, powerful swells and the kind of light that photographers travel a long way for. You will have three experienced photographers with you during the week to guide and teach, each with their own approach and their own relationship with this landscape.

The week includes time at The Galerie on the east coast of Harris, Margaret’s own gallery and exhibition space, and a visit to Adele and Max’s gallery in Stornoway, Lewis. Two working artists’ spaces at opposite ends of these islands.

6 nights / 5 days based at The Harris Hotel, Tarbert

Included: Complimentary transport, lunches, outdoor excursions, and indoor teaching sessions.
Not included: Accommodation, Travel to Harris, Insurance, Evening meals & alcohol. (Rooms have been held at the Hotel for you to book in and pay separately from the workshop fee)

Your photography leaders

Margaret Soraya

Margaret Soraya is a landscape and seascape photographer based on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, best known for her long exposure seascapes.

She has held three solo exhibitions and has published several books of Hebridean photography. Her gallery sits on the east coast of Harris, showing her prints, books and original work, and you will spend time there during the week.

Margaret has been leading photography workshops on Harris since 2018, and has lived on the island since 2022. She has a deep knowledge of the island’s locations, tides and light across every season.

What You’ll Learn on this Outer Hebrides Photography Workshop

Seascape and coastal landscape photography

Long exposure techniques

Photographing island details, textures and light

Editing and post-processing discussion

Developing your own photographic eye

The Outer Hebrides is one of the most remote and dramatic photography locations in Scotland. Margaret has been photographing the Isle of Harris for over sixteen years and has lived there since 2022. Adele and Max warner Tate live on the Isle of Lewis and have intimate knowledge of both islands. That local knowledge runs deep and serves a group photography workshop well. 

Winter on Harris is extraordinary for photography. The weather is changeable and fast-moving, often delivering all four seasons in a single day. Dramatic skies, powerful Atlantic swells, rainbows, and low golden light can all appear within hours of each other. In February you will have entire beaches entirely to yourselves.

Beyond the big seascapes, Harris also rewards close attention. Textures in rock and sand, patterns in water, the quieter details of island life all make strong photographic subjects. 

Each day is planned around the weather and conditions. Margaret, Adele and Max will read the sea states, wind direction and tidal patterns to choose the right location at the right time, and that knowledge is shared openly with the group. When conditions make outdoor shooting difficult, the day shifts to indoor sessions covering editing, image review and group discussion.

A typical day on the photography workshop 

Each day is shaped by the weather and conditions. On the Outer Hebrides the light and sea state can change quickly, and the day is planned around that. Generally you will be collected from the Harris Hotel at around 8.30am, after breakfast. 

The morning is usually spent out shooting. Margaret, Adele and Max know the locations, tides and coastal access points well and will choose the best spot for the conditions on the day. Lunch and the afternoon sessions will be decided based upon weather forecasts. 

Each day may include group discussion and short talks on topics designed to develop your photographic thinking. You are also welcome to share and talk through your own work with the group if you wish.

You will be dropped back at the hotel after the final shooting session of the day. Evenings are yours independently, with dinner at the hotel as a group if you wish. The one exception is the first evening, which begins with a welcome dinner together.

The week may also include visits to local artists and makers if time and opening hours allow.

Enquire about February 2027 availability. Ask any questions at all that you may have, and I will get back to you quickly. Thank you!

To get a flavour for Harris at this time of year, here is a video from 2023 when I spent February and March leading workshops in Harris.