Photographing Harris Seascapes & Beaches

Join photographers Margaret Soraya and Lesley Lintott for a small-group long exposure photography workshop on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Designed for photographers who want to slow down, reconnect with creativity and photograph the wild seascapes of Harris, this immersive retreat focuses on long exposure photography, mindful observation and finding your own artistic voice. 

The light is magical, and the swells are at their most dramatic in February. Margaret & Lesley will share their own ways of interpreting long exposures and their years of experience photographing long exposures on the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Margaret’s work is characterised by her use of long exposures to transform wild seas into quiet, reflective images, and she will share her expertise, skills and process with you. Helping you reconnect with your own creativity, photograph and produce images yourself. Lesley will guide you in creating ICM images on your camera, something that she is exceptional at and has spent years honing the skills for. Lesley also specialises in smartphone photography, so you have plenty of options during this workshop. 

Take this opportunity to slow down, step away from the pressures of daily life, and fully immerse yourself in your photography amidst the island’s wild beauty.

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

Included: Pick-up from Stornoway or Tarbert, 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 seascape  photography leaders

Lesley Lintott

Lesley is a photographer and artist who takes her creative inspiration from the natural world.

Drawn to light, line, colour and patterns in her photographic work she creates more abstract images focusing on how it feels to be in the landscape.

As a leader Lesley is passionate about encouraging and helping others to develop their photography using techniques such as long exposure, multiple exposure, ICM and smartphone photography. She has run workshops together with Margaret for many years.

What You’ll Learn on This Isle of Harris Photography Workshop

Join Margaret & Lesley for a landscape photography workshop designed to help you gently develop your photography through connection, observation, and slowing down. Our main subjects will be seascapes, long exposures and creative techniques such as ICM . You are also welcome to come along and photograph in your own way as well, or if you’re a beginner, to experiment and learn new skills.

Long exposure technique for seascapes

ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) with Lesley

Smartphone photography options

Editing and post-processing discussion

Finding your own creative voice in landscape photography

This workshop is for those who love truly remote and beautiful places such as the Scottish islands and wish to experience the Isle of Harris from a deeper, more connected perspective. The focus is on you as an individual, with gentle, encouraging tuition throughout.

The Outer Hebrides is tranquil, peaceful, and welcoming, one of the most remote and inspiring locations you’ll ever visit. Margaret has been visiting and photographing the Isle of Harris for over 16 years and now calls it home, living in Geocrab on the island’s east coast. Her local knowledge allows her to introduce you to the island’s community, food, and hidden corners, creating unique experiences throughout the week. Harris feels like an island on the edge of the world, especially in the winter months. In February, we may have entire beaches to ourselves. The weather can be wild, changeable, and exhilarating — often offering all four seasons in a single day, with fast-moving clouds, rainbows, and bursts of golden light. In addition, you’ll also find inspiration in smaller details such as textures, patterns, and minimalist compositions that reflect the quiet beauty of Harris.

With an intimate understanding of locations, tides, sea states, and wind direction, Margaret selects the best spot each day according to the weather. Sharing this knowledge openly and generously is at the heart of her teaching. Her aim is to guide you to the places she loves on the Hebridean coastline, help you find your own voice through your creativity.

This is a unique workshop where we’ll balance time outdoors, when conditions allow, with relaxed indoor sessions focused on teaching, editing, and creative discussions. We will not stay outdoors all day unless the weather allows, and there will be a relaxed and gentle pace.

Creative Landscape Photography in the Outer Hebrides

Please come along expecting personal input and a slow pace. Margaret is very in tune and focused on helping each person the best way possible and will adapt according to your individual needs. This is not a traditional photography workshop and Margaret works in a slow, mindful way that embraces truly enjoying the landscape you are in with zero fear of missing out on better places.

There are no barriers to taking part – if you do not understand your camera well or if it is new to you, please do not worry at all. You do need filters that fit if you wish to photograph long exposures, but if you prefer to come along for general photography, you do not need any particularly great camera equipment. I have had many people attend with just iPhones, and that is also perfectly fine.

Lots of local knowledge  & possible visits to artists, makers, if they are open and time allows. Each day is flexible and guided by the weather and intuition of what is best for the group.

The weather in the winter can be changeable and wild, so we will make the most of the good times outdoors and then warm up and enjoy nice coffees and cake, discussions, interesting visits and time to chat through your ideas and thoughts. Do not expect to be staying outside all day if the weather is bad. Margaret will ensure you will be comfortable all week and get the best out of each day.

You will have the option to eat as a group at the Harris Hotel in the evenings.  Margaret will be staying at her home in Geocrab, so will collect you first thing and leave you around 6pm so we are all refreshed for the next day.

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.