McDougall Photographic

Isle of May - Puffins 03-07-27
2027-07-03 11:30 - 17:30 UTC | Anstruther
Isle of May – Puffins
Location: Anstruther
Join me for some puffin therapy!!
The Isle of May is a remarkable island which lies only 5 miles off the Fife coast and is an important National Nature Reserve owned and run by NatureScot (SNH) and is open for visitors from the beginning of April until the end of September, this is truly a beautiful Island, peaceful with stunning views everywhere.
NatureScot (SNH) have rangers stationed on the Isle of May during this time to make our visit more enjoyable and informative, they will greet you on the pier when you arrive, give a short talk on the latest information concerning the wildlife and they will also patrol the island during your visit. Isle of May is home to an incredible array of wildlife, up to 200,000 seabirds can nest on the May, which can include 100,000 Puffins, there are also large colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Shags (best time for Puffins is from April to end of July ) also about 300 seals live all year round on Isle of May. Porpoise and Dolphin and the odd whale can be seen, you just have to be on the trip on the right day and be a bit lucky.
The duration of our time on the island depends very much on the tides. But is usually between 2 and 3 hours. During our visit we will look to capture images of the incredible and iconic puffins. We will have a set shot list that we will try to achieve in our short time on the island with the stand out shots being the puffins with sand eels and fish in their beaks.
The exact trip start and end timings will be given at the time of booking. The time on the island will only be known on the day of the trip.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the boat booking and photographic guiding throughout.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Beavers Blairgowrie 06-07-27
2027-07-06 18:00 - 21:30 | Blairgowrie
Beavers
Location: Blairgowrie
I have teamed up with a local wildlife expert and guide to facilitate this beaver wildlife photography workshop on the river at Blairgowrie.
We will find one of the local groups of beavers and then sit with them and capture images of them as they forage for food and move around the river and riverbanks.
Seeing and photographing beavers is an incredible experience and these families of beavers are fairly relaxed around people.
It is a wonderful opportunity to capture images of these beautiful and unique animals.
The Time of this trip would be from approximately 6:00pm – 9:30pm
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Isle of May - Puffins 07-07-27
2027-07-07 11:30 - 17:30 | Anstruther

Aviemore 4 Species Summer Workshop 08-07-27
2027-07-08 - 2027-07-09 | Aviemore
Cairngorms 4 species summer workshop – Osprey, Pine Marten, Dolphin, Badger
Location: Aviemore
Within the Scottish Highlands, the Cairngorms National Park forms a huge area and is the UK’s largest National Park, covering 4,528 sq km (1748 sq miles). It is twice the size of the Lake District National Park and bigger than the whole of Luxemburg, to give you some scale of the landmass covered.
The park covers parts of Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus and Perth and Kinross, with Inverness being the nearest large city to the boundary of the park.
Over this 2 day tour we will focus on 4 species that are local to this region, we will spend a combination of time in 3 different hides and out doing short walks to look for the key species.
Highlights of this tour are photographing the incredible Ospreys diving for fish just outside the hide at eye level to the water, it is a truly incredible experience. We will also have hide sessions looking for Pine Marten and Badger and finally we will take a trip to a local hot spot for dolphins where they can be seen chasing salmon in the shallows.
Day 1:
Early Morning – Osprey:
Afternoon/Evening Hide – Pine Marten
Day 2:
Daytime – Dolphins
Evening – Badgers
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the hide booking exclusively for our group. (These hides are amongst the best in the uk but also amongst the most expensive)
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Troup Head - Gannets 10-07-27
2027-07-10 | Troupe Head (Near Banff)
Troup Head – Gannets
Location: Troup Head (Near Banff)
Thousands of gannets and glorious views!
The high cliffs of Troup Head provide a spectacular setting for Scotland’s only mainland gannet colony.
In spring, tens of thousands of seabirds return to the cliffs. Alongside the majestic gannets, thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, along with several other species, including puffins breed here. Wildflowers bloom on the clifftop grassland including the beautiful pale blue of spring squill and later in the year the cliff-top is swathed in pink and white from thrift and campions.
By summer, fulmars, gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and herring gulls cram on to the cliffs while smaller numbers of puffins nest in burrows or crevices. Shags, eiders and the occasional great skua can often be seen just offshore along with common and grey seals. While, further out to sea, you may even be lucky enough to see porpoises, minke whales or bottle-nosed dolphins.
The start time for this workshop will be at 1pm at RSPB Troup Head. We will spend the afternoon on the cliffs and get used to photographing these amazing and majestic birds. We will be looking for particular behaviour shots, portrait shots and birds in flight. The afternoon session will finish at approximately 5pm. We will then break for dinner at one of the nearby towns (not included). We will then return to the cliffs at 7pm to take advantage of the gannets in the evening light. We will hope for a nice sunset and to be able to capture some dramatic backlit portraits and silhouettes of these incredible birds.
The main objective of this workshop is to go home with a complete and full portfolio of gannets. We will use a whole range of techniques and will creatively use the light available to create some completely different gannet images.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Isle of May - Puffins 12-07-27
2027-07-12 11:30 - 17:30 | Anstruther

Isle of May - Puffins 13-07-27
2027-07-13 11:30 - 17:30 | Anstruther

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 14-07-27
2027-07-14 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow
Beginners Wildlife Photography Workshop
Location: Glasgow
My popular beginner’s wildlife photography workshop is designed for people who are new to wildlife photography and for those people who just want to understand how their camera works and how they can maximise the equipment that they have to get better images.
Many people have attended this workshop with NO photography knowledge and often attendees have basic camera equipment.
Throughout the beginners wildlife photography workshop I will set your camera up with you to ensure that you are simplifying the camera settings as much as possible and making you comfortable with adjusting minimum settings to get maximum results.
The focus of the workshop is on capturing images of common species in a different way, so we will be photographing swans, ducks and other water birds. I will also explain a little about the behaviour of the birds so that you can look for specific shots.
By the end of the workshop you will be confident in using your camera and adjusting settings to achieve the results that you want.
Course Contents
• Camera Set Up
• Understanding Exposure
• Focus Modes
• White Balance
• Composition
• Exposure Compensation

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 15-07-27
2027-07-15 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow

Osprey Workshop 16-07-27
2027-07-16
Osprey Workshop
Location: Callendar
Ospreys, Otter and Kingfisher. All possible from one hide!!!!
Although the hide does not give you the eye level viewpoint of some of the Osprey Hides in the UK it does give you some nice natural backdrops, some excellent views of Ospreys and non stop action.
On top of this Kingfisher are regularly seen and photographed from the hide and otters are seen every day.
If anyone is interested in photographing Osprey at an affordable price then this would be a great workshop for you to try.
In addition to that you have a great chance of getting all 3 species in one workshop.
Ospreys dive incredibly quickly and often the whole sequence from dive and exit from the water is over in seconds, so therefore booking more than one slot will give you a better chance of achieving successful images. It will also give you more opportunity to see the other species that visit the hide.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
All Hide Bookings exclusively for our group are included in the price.

Argaty Red Kites and Red Squirrel Workshop 17-07-27
2027-07-17 | Doune
Argaty Red Kites – Red Kite and Red Squirrel Workshop
Location: Doune
My bestselling and most popular workshop.
This is a small group wildlife photography workshop, I will be on hand throughout the day to help you with your camera settings and leave the day with some truly memorable wildlife images.
It is ideally for people who want to improve their wildlife photography and increase understanding of how to use their camera.
Workshop Contents
• Understanding Exposure
• Focus Modes
• White Balance
• Composition
• Exposure Compensation
• Shooting in Raw
• Understanding Animal Behaviour
• Capturing Action shots
• Photographing Birds in Flight.
The day will be split in to 2 sessions with the morning focusing on Red Squirrels, the objective here will be to use the available light to capture interesting portraits and behaviour. We will also be hoping to capture images of the many woodland birds that frequent the hide.
Set in secluded woodland, this specialist 1-6-person hide gives close-up and intimate views of red squirrels and a spectacular array of woodland birds (including greater spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, long tailed tits and more.)
The afternoon session will be focusing on the Red Kites. The objective here will be to capture eye catching images of the birds in flight as they feed at the hide.
A purpose-built hide for up to 3 photographers, the Red Kite Photography Hide brings you closer to the action (distance to the feeding area 35m) for an unforgettable encounter with nature!
The hide looks out onto a beautiful deciduous woodland copse, which provides the perfect backdrop to photograph kites against, even in overcast weather.
It is an action-packed day full of wildlife photography opportunities and fully guided throughout.
The price includes the hide booking exclusively for our group.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Improving / Advanced Workshop 19-07-27
2027-07-19 07:00 - 14:00 | Glasgow
Improving/Advanced Workshop
Location: Glasgow
This workshop is designed for people who have knowledge of photography and know how to do the basics of wildlife photography. It is also intended for people that have a good understanding of their cameras and are already taking good images, but want to take their photography to a higher level.
Throughout the workshop we will look at and discuss what makes a good image. We will talk about the basics of composition but when we should look to do something different, we will also look at how we can use the environment to add impact to our images and how backgrounds can make or break an image. We will spend a lot of time looking at different types and angles of light and how to maximise the lighting conditions that we have to truly change the way an image can look.
We will also look for specific behaviours and will focus on capturing action shots of the birds in flight and interacting with each other. I will be on hand to explain basic behaviour of our subjects and the signs that you need to look for to capture dramatic behaviour shots.
We will also focus on wildlife portraits and how to take snapshots of birds to the next level.
The focus of the workshop is on capturing images of common species in a different way, so we will be photographing swans, ducks and other water birds.
The great thing about this location is that there are numerous different subjects that we can get quite close to and it gives us lots of opportunities to try different things and experiment. The light at this location is also very good.
By the end of this workshop you will have a better idea of how a few small tweaks can completely transform your wildlife photography.
Course Contents
• What makes a good image
• Mastering the Angles of Light
• Photographing behaviour
• Photographing Portraits
• Slow Shutter Speeds
• Mastering Settings

Pine Marten Workshop 21-07-26
2027-07-21 | Keith
Pine Marten Workshop
Location: Keith
Exclusive use (just our group) of a fantastic private Pine Marten photography hide for Pine Martens in daylight. It probably is the best place in the UK to get daytime Pine Marten Images. There are a male and female that visit the hide regularly and they are also often joined dependent on the time of year by kits. The hide is located on private property on the edge of a woodland. Light is usually good throughout the day and the Pine Martens can generally be seen in the open in a variety of different settings.
There is always something to photograph from the hide while waiting for the Pine Martens. Sparrowhawks have appeared regularly, a Goshawk has even visited on occasions and has been photographed from this hide, there are always Red Squirrels jumping around and lots of woodland birds making it constantly busy.
There is also the possibility of Roe Deer and Red Fox, making this hide an outstanding choice to spend some time capturing images of some of Scotland’s most iconic species.
The start time is at 1pm so it makes it possible to travel up in the morning (approximately 4 hours from Glasgow) The end time is whenever the Pine Martens have visited or whenever we have enough of waiting.
There are 2 options for this hide either a one day trip or 2 consecutive days (giving a better opportunity to see the Pine Martens). The success rate of sightings in this hide is excellent but nothing is guaranteed.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the hide booking exclusively for our group.
The price does not include accommodation for the night before if required or the night if staying for 2 days. It also excludes all meals.

Pine Marten Workshop 22-07-27
2027-07-22 | Keith

Troup Head - Gannets 23-07-27
2027-07-23 | Troupe Head (Near Banff)

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 26-07-27
2027-07-26 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 27-07-27
2027-07-27 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow

Creative Wildlife Photography Workshop. Light, Slow Shutter Speeds and ICM 28-07-27
2027-07-28 | Glasgow
Creative Wildlife Photography Workshop
Location: Glasgow
Duration: 6 hours
This workshop is designed for people who have knowledge of photography but either want to become more creative with their cameras or for those photographers that have reached a creative block.
Throughout the workshop we will experiment with motion blur from simple panning techniques to more complex camera movement and longer shutter speeds. We will also look at how light can be used creatively to change your images dramatically. We will look at opportunities where high-key and low-key techniques can be used to completely change your image.
We will also cover different composition and how to crop and frame your images to create a very different look.
The final section of the workshop will teach you to focus on the environment and backgrounds and how these can be used creatively to add more impact to your images
The focus of the workshop is on capturing images of common species in a completely different and imaginative way, so we will be photographing swans, ducks and other water birds. The great thing about this location is that there are numerous different subjects that we can get quite close to and it gives us lots of opportunities to try different things and experiment. The light at this location is also very good.
Course Contents

Using light creatively
Exposure Techniques – high key and low key
Slow shutter speeds
Panning
Slow Panning
ICM techniques
Zoom Bursts
Creative Cropping.
Using the environment to add impact.

By the end of this workshop you will have lots of ideas for how you can be more creative with your photography and when to use different techniques.

Beavers Blairgowrie 10-07-27
2027-07-29 18:00 - 21:30 | Blairgowrie

Osprey Workshop 30-07-27
2027-07-30

Scottish Photography Hides Workshop – Sparrowhawk, Otter 02-08-27
2027-08-02 | Kirkcudbright
Scottish Photography Hides Workshop – Sparrowhawk, Otter
Location: Kirkcudbright
This hide workshop is designed to highlight the very best of the Dumfries & Galloway area in south-west Scotland.
The Scottish Lowlands in this part of Scotland are a real gem, They are often overlooked for the more iconic Scottish wildlife destinations of the highlands and islands. But you won’t be disappointed as the wildlife is rich, unique and plentiful. We work with Alan McFadyen as no one knows the wildlife of this area better than him. Alan is an award winning photographer and his hides have been used by fellow professionals and hobbyists alike, the hides have featured on BBC, ITV, national papers and have provided many award winning images and was the face of Canons 1DX mkii advertising campaign.
We’ll be based throughout the trip near the town of Kirkcudbright where we will have access to 4 carefully selected hides situated in a number of locations.
Daytime Hide – Sparrowhawk:
The Sparrowhawk is visiting several times almost every day along with a host of other species such as Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Siskin, Goldfinch and Lesser Redpoll are regular visitors along with several other species of finches and Tits. We also get regular visits from Buzzards and Roe Deer.
Evening Hide – Otters
The Otter Photography Hide is quite an experience with you being sat in a comfortable chair only around 10ft away from your subject at eye level. It is only a short walk to this hide, you basically park in a secure car park and it is situated about 40 metres away. For the Otters you are only needing around 100mm to 120mm focal length on a full frame camera. We recommend to use a beanbag or a gimbal head. The hide has plates for all 4 spaces.
The start time is at approximately 7am for the daytime hide, we will usually finish at around 2pm or whenever we have had enough of waiting/taking images.
The evening hide will start at approximately 7pm and can finish as late as midnight.
Exact timings for the hides and meeting places will be given on booking.
There are 2 options for this hide either a one day trip or 2 consecutive days. It is not possible to swap the days around so please book both days or whichever includes the subjects that interest you.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the hide booking exclusively for our group.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Scottish Photography Hides Workshop – Red Squirrel, Badger, Tawny Owl 03-08-27
2027-08-03 | Kirkcudbright
Scottish Photography Hides Workshop – Red Squirrel, Badger
Location: Kirkcudbright
Please note that this can be combined with the day before or day after Scottish Photography Hides Workshop
This hide workshop is designed to highlight the very best of the Dumfries & Galloway area in south-west Scotland.
The Scottish Lowlands in this part of Scotland are a real gem, They are often overlooked for the more iconic Scottish wildlife destinations of the highlands and islands. But you won’t be disappointed as the wildlife is rich, unique and plentiful. We work with Alan McFadyen as no one knows the wildlife of this area better than him. Alan is an award winning photographer and his hides have been used by fellow professionals and hobbyists alike, the hides have featured on BBC, ITV, national papers and have provided many award winning images and was the face of Canons 1DX mkii advertising campaign.
We’ll be based throughout the trip near the town of Kirkcudbright where we will have access to 4 carefully selected hides situated in a number of locations.
Daytime Hide – Red Squirrel and Fighting Finches
The main targets are Red Squirrel, However you will be entertained all day from Woodland bird species such as Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue, Coal and Great Tits, Pheasant, Robin, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Chaffinch and a good chance the Sparrowhawks and or Buzzards will be around. During the warmer months there is also a good chance Tawny Owls and Badgers will visit during daylight hours. The set up here makes it possible to photograph Red Squirrels jumping straight at you and goldfinches and chaffinches squabbling over food.
Evening Hide – Woodland Floor – Badgers, Tawny Owl and Fox
Set in a quiet tranquil corner of Galloway this hide offers some unique evening photography. You will be at eye level with your subjects as if you are lying on the woodland floor, however you will be seated in a comfortable chair for this unique experience.
The main targets are Badger and Tawny Owl. Sometimes you will get a late bonus visit from Red Fox.
The start time is at approximately 7am for the daytime hide, we will usually finish at around 2pm or whenever we have had enough of waiting/taking images.
The evening hide will start at approximately 7pm and can finish as late as midnight.
Exact timings for the hides and meeting places will be given on booking.
There are 2 options for this hide either a one day trip or 2 consecutive days. It is not possible to swap the days around so please book both days or whichever includes the subjects that interest you.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the hide booking exclusively for our group.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 04-08-27
2027-08-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow

Argaty Red Kites and Red Squirrel Workshop 21-08-27
2027-08-21 | Doune

Improving / Advanced Workshop 24-08-27
2027-08-24 07:00 - 14:00 | Glasgow

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 26-08-27
2027-08-26 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow

White Tailed Eagle and Raptors of Mull 30-09-27
2027-09-30 | Isle of Mull
White Tailed Eagle and Raptors of Mull
Location: Isle of Mull
The meeting place for the trip is in Oban. You can either travel up in the evening and stay in Oban or can travel early in the morning. Ferry times for the trip will be given at booking time.
Meeting in Oban. Time will be given at booking and will depend on the time of our boat trip with Mull Charters. We will travel in my vehicle to Mull and the ferry cost is included in the price of the booking. When we arrive on Mull we will either do a short drive around the island looking for Hen Harrier, Short eared Owl and Golden Eagle or we will go directly to the boat meeting point. After the boat trip we will do another search of the island for the other species of raptor. We will return to Oban on the ferry mid evening.
The boat trip is an incredible experience. We will take a set route to search for some of the many local White-Tailed Eagles. When we are in their territory, fish will be thrown into the water and the eagles will come to the boat and then will dive and pluck the fish from the surface of the water. It is a truly amazing experience and a trip that I have done many times over the past 8 years. It never disappoints and you never get tired of watching these impressive birds.
Please note that the boat trip is weather dependent. If the boat cannot sail then an alternative activity will be provided which will include more time looking for birds on the Isle of Mull, if the group would like to we can also use the additional time to search for otters.
As with all my workshops I will be on hand to give advice on settings and various different shots that can be achieved. The group will be a maximum of 4 people so there will be plenty of opportunities to work with everyone one on one if required.
The price includes the Mull Charters Boat Trip, Transport from Oban and whilst on Mull.
The price does not include accommodation. It also excludes all meals.

White Tailed Eagle and Raptors of Mull 01-10-27
2027-10-01 | Isle of Mull

Argaty Red Kites and Red Squirrel Workshop 02-10-27
2027-10-02 | Doune

Wildlife Photography for Beginners 05-10-27
2027-10-05 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow
