PAST WORKSHOP: ICELAND February 2023

Scottish Highlands

BY PRIVATE LUXURY RIVER BARGE, OCTOBER 11-19, 2025

Savor the beautiful Scottish Highlands by luxury barge as the fall foliage puts on a show. This customized 8-night photo tour puts you square in the middle of breathtaking photo ops including unique Scottish landscapes, Eilean Donan Castle and local towns. You’ll en- joy a unique private barge experience including 6-nights lodging in your private cabin, all meals daily, open bar and quaint Scottish towns at each stop. On deck you’ll take in the sights from the heated spa pool or the large upper sun deck — the ideal places to admire the dramatic backdrop as you cruise on deep-water lochs such as Loch Oich and past historic landmarks along the way. Also included are daily guided excursions by private motorcoach visiting dramatic photo locations, whiskey tours, castles and local points of interest. An on-board staff of six will crew the barge and provide service, exceptional dining experiences, drinks and local knowledge. You’ll spend 2 nights in the quaint river town of Inverness, one prior to the cruise and one night after, before you begin your journey home.

See the Scottish Highlands with a small group on an custom itinerary tailored to great photography locations and local experiences.

Booking is available for 5 couples. (This private tour will book the entire vessel.)
A 25% payment is due on booking with balance due 160 days prior to departure. Travel insurance required in the case of cancellation less than 3 months before departure.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY LUXURY RIVER BARGE, OCTOBER 11-19, 2025

COST Per Person 8,400.00 Includes:

• 8 nights in Scotland including 6 nights cruising on crewed private luxury river barge and 2

  nights in the heart of Inverness.

• All meals and drinks — Exquisite Scottish cuisine, fine wines and wide range of whiskies served

  on board

• Attentive on-board crew of 6

• 6 air-conditioned cabins offer a choice of twin or double beds and are complemented by well-

  designed en suite shower rooms.

• All land excursions including sight-seeing, castles, distillery, and local towns by private van

  Not included

  Airfare transportation to Scotland
  Meals during 2-day stay in Inverness hotel Transfers to hotel/airport

  Our Winter 2023 Workshop in Iceland began with a trip to the thermal baths — to enjoy soothing hot water, views of the ocean and a seven-step spa treatment to wash away our jet lag. We were re-energized for what was to be an exciting first night in Iceland. At the lodge that evening, the owner appeared during dinner. Tapping a wine glass with a fork he said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have lights!” Everyone immediately left dinner on the table and rushed outside to see the northern lights. They grew more beautiful and dramatic each night of our first three in Iceland. By the third night, we had pinpointed the perfect locations to get great shots.

So began our adventures across Southern Iceland, with nine people in our wifi-equipped Mercedes van. There was a mojo between us from the get-go. Maybe it was seeing the northern lights on the very first night. Perhaps it was that everyone was so game and positive about the discovery of great photography, amazing landscapes and new friends.

Each day brought something new and amazing to see and experience, leaving us wondering what could top the day before, from jaw-dropping waterfalls with rainbows to dramatic black-sand beaches to hiking through glacial ice caves..

On the evening before the last day, Gary’s familiar refrain was a little grizzly. “Tomorrow, we are wheels up at 3:30 am for sunrise on Diamond Beach!” Game and positivity had to step up that day. Making great pictures is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes nature will deliver and sometimes she will turn her back on you. That day she smiled. Within a few minutes of each other, we saw sunrise on Diamond Beach and a stunning moonset over Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. (see Gary’s hero image on the homepage). Those views, a few snacks from a country store and a nap got us back to the lodge in a fine mood with some stunning photos — and time for a soak in the hot tub before dinner.

TESTIMONIALS:

Thank you to Santa and Gary for such a magical trip. You created a wonderful itinerary and then flexed it as needed. You met us each at our level of expertise and moved us forward in our study of photography. And you were relaxed when we were running low on energy. Thank you for all the beauty, adventure, friendship and laughter. It was a week we will never forget.

-K.S.

Having been fortunate enough to travel to many places in the world it's rare to say that a travel experience is 100% perfect. There always seems to be a hiccup along the way. But I can assure you that was not the case when I joined Santa and Gary for the trip of a lifetime in Iceland.

From the moment we landed and ended up in a thermal lagoon to our final hours, every experience had a 'wow' factor. They coordinated the trip perfectly with a local guide, adjusted schedules when need be, and gave us plenty of professional photography tips with their expertise.

I am left with one question: When can we go back?

-G.D.

 Iceland, the land of FIRE & ICE, is a once in a lifetime trip.
If you want to experience all of its natural beauty, days of transformational experiences, wonderful food, a boutique hotel environment in a small group setting and learn how to document all of it with photography tips on your phone or camera then travel with gracious, fun and knowledgeable hosts Gary and Santa Bogdon.

You will come back with awe and wonder in your heart and the photographic proof to share and last a lifetime!

-D.L.

See some of the workshop participant photos in the gallery below.