2 minute read
The Birks of Abberfeldy Workshop 18/10/21 by Colin Balfour
The Birks Of Aberfeldy Workshop 18/10/2021By Colin Balfour
I have been very impressed by the range of talks and workshops available. Naturally everything has been online until very recently and Zoom has proven to be an extremely capable platform for various events from six to several hundred participants. I sincerely hope that the RPS continues to offer this wide range of online events going forward as it provides world class training and learning without having to travel large distances.
However, like everyone, I have missed meeting people in real life so when I saw this in person workshop advertised on the RPS website, I immediately signed up for it. As I live in Edinburgh, Aberfeldy is quite accessible, being around a 90-minute drive away. I decided that I would make a weekend of it, so I booked a guest house which just happened to be only a few minutes’ walk from the Birks of Aberfeldy. Perthshire is a beautiful part of Scotland, but I wasn’t familiar with the Birks of Aberfeldy before this workshop.
© Colin Balfour
© Colin Balfour
© Colin Balfour
On the morning, I arrived at the appointed time in the car park and saw several other photographers gathered around a car with tripods laid out on the ground. Surely this was my group? But no, it was another group of keen photographers about to set off. It turns out that the Birks is quite popular! I wasn’t the only one of my actual group to make this mistake. However, I soon met my group for the day and our excellent workshop leader, Annette Forsyth.
Although, I have attended several RPS online workshops, this was my first in person workshop, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needn’t have worried as Annette was an excellent teacher with a very relaxed approach. After brief introductions, it transpired that there was a good range of skills and experience in our group of five.
© Colin Balfour
We started off quite gently at the start of the walk just by the Moness Burn which offered several interesting angles to capture the tumbling waterfalls and wonderful autumnal colours. Annette was very good at circulating around the group and offering individual advice on technique and new angles to try.
Even the occasional rain didn’t dampen spirits, so after lunch we started our trek up to the very top of the Birks. This proved to be a bit steeper than expected but it was well worth it at the top. The falls were very spectacular indeed.
To finish the day, we drove 15 minutes to Kenmore on Loch Tay to take some photos of the sunset. Unfortunately, it was quite overcast and drizzly, so the photos turned out to be rather moody.
© Colin Balfour
We wrapped up around 6pm after a full day. It was a great day out. I learned a lot and met a nice group of people. I thought Annette struck a good balance of letting us try a few shots and offering guidance and suggestions.
© Colin Balfour
