Alan Proto, our Founder, first visited Skye in November 2019, and was simply blown away by the majesty of the landscapes, the charm of the people, and the opportunities to shoot this iconic landscape in completely different ways, using a drone as a giant tripod. We have been returning ever since, and it never disappoints. Nick Hanson, who leads this trip, is a multi-award winning landscape photographer, who lives on Skye, and qualified to get his PfCO to fly drones with PhantomFlightSchool in 2018.
At a Glance
Masterclass Leader: Nick Hanson
Type: MultiDay - Masterclass
Base Camp: Kensaleyre, Skye
Maximum group size: 6
Skill Level: More experienced drone pilots
Timing: We have chosen march and October for this Masterclass, as these are, in our view, the best times of the year to be in Skye
Exertion: Moderate
Payment: £500 deposit with booking, balance payable 90 days before trip
What’s included:
- Daily landscape and drone-photography masterclasses with Nick Hanson, multi-award winning landscape photography expert
- Daily Q&A, and tool box talks, from Alan Proto, Founder of PhantomFlightSchool, via Zoom
- High quality single-occupancy double room with ensuite bathroom at the excellent family-run Uig Hotel
- All breakfasts
- All transport during the trip in our comfortable minibus
- Expert post-production tuition in Lightroom / Photoshop / iMovie, if the weather is poor
What’s not included:
- Meals & drinks not mentioned
- Insurance
If there is anywhere more spectacular to take photographs than the Isle of Skye, we don’t know it. Stunning scenery, inland and coastal, is all around you. The light changes constantly, and there are spectacular locations off the beaten track in every direction. We are delighted to have teamed up with the multi-award winning landscape photographer Nick Hanson for these Workshops. Nick has been based on the Isle of Skye from March to October the last five years, delivering photography workshops for “traditional camera” photographers, and so he knows the area like the back of his hand. He is also an excellent drone pilot, and hence knows the perfect locations on the Isle of Skye where a drone can capture unique and arresting images simply not possible with a traditional camera.
Getting there
You can either drive straight to Skye or fly into Inverness and hire a car.
EasyJet and British Airways have daily services to Inverness from Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton, at very good prices at present for the times of our trip. Logan Air fly to Inverness from Manchester.
If the weather is right, and the light feels good, we may begin the Masterclass at Eilan Donan Castle to shoot it with our drones on the way to Skye. Or we may begin in Skye, and fit in an evening flight instead. We will decide nearer the time based on the group and weather.
Staying there
We have booked two small holiday cottages, Riverside Cottage, and Burnside Cottage, with Sykes Cottages, giving us a place to ourselves. These are two very comfortable cottages, in a splendid loch side location. Laptops, drones and camera equipment can be left lying around without worry. We will have ample space to review photos and discuss plans for the next day without getting in anyone’s way.
Breakfast will be at the cottage. Depending on the flying schedule and weather, lunch and dinner will be either at the cottages or in a local cafe or restaurant. The cost of lunches and dinners is not included in the cost of the trip.
If the weather is bad
I would also encourage you to bring your DSLR with you. Nick is a full time photography tutor on Skye, as well as being an excellent drone pilot. So if it is rainy, then we can switch from drones to tripods, and carry on shooting.
Our base for this Masterclass is the excellent Uig Hotel, in the North of Skye, about 20 minutes drive North of Portree. The hotel has an astonishing outlook across Uig Bay to Harris & Lewis and North Uist. The view is simply remarkable. Waking up here and drawing the curtains is a privilege all in itself. There is a smartly decorated bar area, a light-filled conservatory, and a comfortable dining room. Each Masterclass client has single-occupancy of a spacious double-room with ensuite bathroom. All rooms have a Sea View.
We have free use of the restaurant area outside of meal times, where you can review and discuss images and video, and participate in Tool Box talks and Post-Processing sessions with your Expert Drone Pilot guides.
Meals
We will take all breakfasts and most dinners at the Hotel. The breakfasts are outstanding and plentiful, and are included in the cost of the Masterclass. The Dinner Menu is extensive and excellent. We may nip into Portree for a meal there one evening. There is also the option of dining one night at the outstanding (expensive) Ferry Inn, a 15 minute walk down the hill from the hotel. You are always free to make your own dinner arrangements. Dinners are not included in the cost of the Masterclass.
Partners
Partners are welcome on this Masterclass. There are two options here:
Stay in the hotel and join the Masterclass for meals and down time - accommodation supplement just £200
Join the Masterclass group as we visit stunning locations every day. Bring your DSLR, enjoy the views, and improve your photography with guidance from our Professional Photographer - pay 50% of full Masterclass cost. An experience not to be missed