When your thoughts turn to choosing your wedding photographer to capture those special moments for you how do you make the right decision. There are many things you should consider before choosing your wedding photographer so we have compiled a list of the 10 things we believe are important.

Have you seen the photographers work ?
Initially the photographers website is a good place to start, try to view a selection of images taken throughout a typical wedding day from a number of different weddings. Be prepared to call your photographer to have an informal chat about your requirements or better still arrange a visit to meet.

To read the complete article see our Top Ten Tips

Many photographers are intimidated by the idea of pointing the camera towards the light and shy away from many potential backlighting or contre-jour opportunities, it generally goes against advice given to beginners to always shoot with the light coming from behind the camera.

Contre-jour is a photographic term that means "into the light" and stunning photographs can be taken with this technique of shooting into the light. Whilst this may contradict advice the art of backlighting or contre-jour is a technique that can produce wonderful images and well worth a try.



When using the backlighting or contre-jour photography technique there is much to consider if disappointment and frustration are to be avoided. Once mastered however, there is little doubt that an image that has backlighting can create a wonderful subject, adding drama, diversity, interest and visual impact to your images and photo portfolio.

There are many opportunities awaiting any photographer wishing to experiment with this technique. My favourites are translucent flowers and foliage or rim lighting of animals and birds. Additionally, backlighting will add creativity and atmosphere to landscape images by enhancing mist, rain and haze.

My advice would be to find suitable subjects and experiment.

There is a complete illustrated article available on the subject of photography backlighting on our main website.

As a photographer getting close up to nature is a very important part of my life. It allows a far greater appreciation of the beauty and a clearer understanding of the natural world in which we live. Take for example a clear cold winters day with crispness so sharp it is breathtaking, when we start to look for close ups in nature in these conditions we are immediately drawn to magical patterns in the snow, frosted ivy leaves and shimmering icicles.

Ice patterns are one of my favourite winter closeup photography subjects as they offer such diversity and literally capture a moment frozen in time. Some offer gracefully smooth curves whilst others display harsh jagged lines depending on the prevailing weather conditions. So even something as simple as a puddle icing over is heavily influenced by its immediate surroundings.

Light quality will also play a significant part in our close up photography allowing us to fully appreciation the finer details of these shapes and textures, if it is too harsh then the increase in contrast will actually block out the very detail we are trying to see and photograph. It is far better to have the diffused light that occurs with high thin cloud cover, this provides a much softer light allowing all the detail, texture and nuances to be clearly seen and recorded in our photography.

Subject colour will also influence our interpretation of the subject, for example vibrant colours like reds and yellows suggest dominance and power, whereas muted shades like grey and browns portray more tranquil, earthy and basic feelings.

Early morning is often a fine time to appreciate a wide range of close up photography subjects and a stroll in the garden will pay dividends. Flowers and grasses, for example when covered with dew or fine rain make fascinating photographic studies, the fine hairs hold onto droplets of water so that they almost defy gravity. If the conditions are right there may be insects that have become encrusted with minute droplets of water following a nights inactivity. Butterflies in particular look stunning covered in dew as it makes them sparkle as though covered with a myriad of jewels making them rewarding close up photography subjects.

So, with renewed vision and childlike wonder the natural world is without doubt a beautiful place that only requires a little time and an inquisitive mind to fully appreciate. Satisfaction and contentment can be provided by the simplest of things and with this comes harmony and hopefully inner peace.

Using our local knowledge of the Isle of Mull our photography workshops will take in some of these stunning locations offering almost limitless photographic opportunities.

See details of our 2009 Digital Photography Workshops.

Prior to the workshop we will work with you to gain an understanding of your photography skills and experience to date, we then tailor the tuition to suit your needs. Each digital photography workshop is designed to be totally flexible, there are a selection of one day photography workshops available.

Throughout our digital photography workshops we will concentrate on developing good camera technique to ensure you get the best from your digital camera and equipment. Building on this we will guide you through camera set up, subject selection, composition, the importance of lighting, selecting & controlling depth of field and determining exposure.

Image taken recently at Traigh Gheal, loosely translated as White Beach, on the Isle of Mull as the front edge of the incoming tide created a network of patterns as it gently crossed the sand.

New Photogallery now online - visit our latest Photography Gallery of images taken on the Isle of Mull.

Join us on this remarkable Scottish Island on one of our Isle of Mull digital photography workshops for beginners and improvers. Spend exciting days watching the landscape unfold before your eyes, prepare to be stimulated by the surroundings, the very first peek of the early morning sun squinting above the horizon whilst sunset can offer a heady hue of red as it falls dramatically toward the sea.

Visit our Digital Photography Workshops on the Isle of Mull for further details.



Visit our Digital Photography Workshops on the Isle of Mull for further details.

The Isle of Mull possesses some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. Let Mull Wildlife Tours take you out for a full day in this wonderful scenery in the comfort of an all leather 4x4 to seek out the incredible wildlife seen on this Island.

Mull Wildlife Tours normally start at around 10.30am at Craignure Ferry Terminal. They will collect people off the ferry or simply meet you there if you are already staying on the island. Alternatively they will pick you up from your accommodation if this fits in with the other customers of the day. Parking at Craignure is free and just across the road from our starting point. If you park near the tourist office this will incur charges.

They are licensed to carry a maximum of 6 passengers and so the tour tends to be very friendly and personal. They supply binoculars if required and carry an excellent telescope, numerous books and will provide you with a souvenir list of the day of everything seen. They normally stop for morning coffee/tea and biscuits, an excellent packed lunch is provided and this is normally at a very good otter spotting area. They stop for afternoon tea if time allows and get you back to Craignure before 5.00pm which helps if you are catching a ferry.

Your guide, Peter Hall, has been wildlife watching for more years than he cares to remember. He was a member of the RSPB, Treasurer of the Wolverhampton RSPB, a member of the Argyll Bird Club. More recently he is a founder member of the Isle of Mull Bird Club - an organisation which now boasts over 160 members.

During the day they visit the South West and the Centre of the island depending on time constraints. Obviously wildlife is never guaranteed but we will endeavour to find White Tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, Otter, Red Deer, Common Seal, Hen Harrier, Divers and numerous other birds. A typical day should produce some 50 species. From time to time they may see rarities. Last year this included Osprey.

The normal daily rate for a tour is £35 per person and this is totally inclusive. They can, should you wish, tailor an exclusive tour. This is especially enjoyed by people who wish to spend longer periods of time looking at particular wildlife. Exclusive tours are subject to separate negotiation.

The wildlife tours offer a superb day out and they look forward to sharing this beautiful island with you.

See Mull Wildlife Tours for full details.

As a long time and very satisfied Canon 5D user it is hard not to be tempted to make the switch to the recently released Canon 5D Mark II. There are many reviews for this camera online but this one by Complete Digital Photography is in my opinion the best I have read to date, it is very informative and clearly presented.

This is the first of a two part review and having read the first part I am really looking forward to reading part two of the review.

In spite of being an inconspicuous, retiring bird, the Great Spotted Woodpeckers presence is often heard by its loud vibrating rattle as it makes repeated strikes against a trunk. This is the sound that we frequently hear at this time of the year as the male 'drums' against trees to mark their territory and try to attract a mate.

The male feathers are a glossy black with a crimson spot on the nape and white on the sides of the face and neck.The underparts are buffish-white with under tail crimson. The female has no crimson on the nape, but the crown is crimson.

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