Videography Workshops in Finland & the Cairngorms

The call over the radio came “Dive, dive, dive!” The osprey was coming. I held my breath. Out of nowhere and with talons outstretched, the magnificent bird thundered into the water. I locked my camera on just in time to film it launch into the air, dripping wet, clasping breakfast for its hungry chicks.

An osprey hunt can be a smashand-grab affair, which makes it a wonderful filming and photography challenge. It’s also an experience that stays with you forever and, for me, it’s the top wildlife watching encounter we can experience in Britain. That’s why we’ve worked this opportunity into our brand-new Cairngorms Videography Workshop.

The behind the scenes footage we see at the end of wildlife documentaries have become a favourite with viewers, allowing us to understand how the beautiful shots we see on screen are captured, and to dream about capturing stunning wildlife moments of our own. I’m so excited that we have created tours to Scotland and Finland for anyone who feels inspired or intrigued to learn how to film wildlife, to capture more than just photographs or to build their video portfolio. There’s no better way to learn than in the field, so on these trips we’re looking for some of Britain and Europe’s most epic species to capture, from ospreys, red squirrels and dolphins to bears, wolves and wolverines.

These workshops aren’t just full of high-octane moments like osprey hunts though. The natural world is as beautiful as it’s exciting. That’s why for me, the magic of a summer’s evening spent in Scotland’s Abernethy Forest rivals filming wildlife behaviour. I find it hugely rewarding and peaceful capturing a time-lapse of the light sweeping across a stunning landscape or using a macro lens to discover a tiny world most people never look close enough to see.

So, who can join a videography workshop? Well, the great thing about modern DSLR, mirrorless and bridge cameras is that they offer excellent video quality, and we can effortlessly switch between video and still modes when we’re in these moments in the field. In fact, much of what you see on TV or Netflix is shot using mirrorless cameras, so there’s really no need to worry about whether you have the right camera to join us in Scotland or Finland if you’re already enjoying your photography.

For each trip, we’ve secured lodges that give us the best chance to see a range of exciting wildlife. Both lodges also give us the chance to have daily workshop sessions on the techniques that you want to learn – whether it be time-lapsing and macro or camera trapping and drone filming. Whatever your interest and experience level, the small group number means that you’ll receive personalised expert guidance.

Europe has so much to offer, and with the huge rewilding efforts taking place across Scotland and the continent, now is a particularly exciting time to discover, film and photograph the wildlife on our doorstep. I look forward to sharing it with you.