ORKNEY ISLANDS SCOTLAND

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

JUNE 1 – 8, 2025

Located 15 kilometres off the northeast coast of Scotland, the Orkney Islands remain as a somewhat hidden photographic treasure. With a rugged coastline batted by north Atlantic waves we will spend much of our time exploring and photographing among the numerous sea cliffs, sea stacks, and scenic beaches – the stormier the weather the better for us on some days!

Beyond the natural landscape, Orkney has a visible 5000 year history of settlement, with some of Europe’s best preserved standing stones, burial cairns, neolithic villages, Brochs, the remains of an abandoned Viking village, and the medieval St. Magnus cathedral. You are never far away from history while on Orkney.

On this workshop we will have three bases including the scenic villages of Kirkwall and Stromness. Both with their charming narrow roads and each nearby to our sunrise and sunset photo locations. In the evenings we might find a local music session at one of the nearby cozy pubs.

Our third base will be on the island of Westray, which we will reach with a car ferry. Here, we will focus our attention on the island’s famous bird cliffs at Noup Head and Castle o’Burrian, home to Orkney’s largest puffin colony

WORKSHOP DETAILS AND ARRIVAL

Group size: 6 participants

Guide: Cody Duncan

When: June 1 – 8, 2025

Where to fly: Kirkwall (KOI) is the main airport serving Orkney. Loganair offers multiple daily flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and several other cities around Scotland.

The workshop officially begins in Kirkwall at 12:00 on June 1 and ends in Kirkwall at 12:00 on June 8. Please schedule your arrival and departure as close as possible to these times.

Pickup and Drop-off is available from Kirkwall and Kirkwall airport.

Accommodation: We will stay in hotels and lodges in Kirkwall, Westray, and Stromness

Physical Ability: Moderate to good physical ability is required for this tour. While no strenuous hikes are planned, there will be a lot of walking to and from locations with many hours carrying a camera backpack. We will also spend time near numerous sea cliffs.

PRICING AND BOOKING

Workshop price: $3,450

Deposit: $750

Payments will be made by bank transfer.

The deposit is required to reserve your place on the workshop. Full payment is due 60 days before the workshop begins.

Before booking any travel, make sure you have paid your deposit for the trip.

BOOKING OR QUESTIONS, CONTACT

workshops@codyduncan.com

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan

Ask About the Trip!

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Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival on Orkney

Arrival should be before 17:00 to Kirkwall airport, where you will be picked up and taken to our hotel in Kirkwall.

After a group dinner and introductions in one of Kirkwall’s many restaurants, we will head out for our first sunset shoot of the trip.

Days 2 – 3: Kirkwall

We will continue to explore the Orkney mainland from our base in Kirkwall including many of the UNESCO world heritage sites recognised as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. We’ll travel for sunrise at the 5000 year old standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar and Stenness Stones. Waiting for low tide, we visit the far north and tidal island at the Brough of Birsay, where, if we are lucky, we might catch our first puffin sightings of the trip.

Days 4 – 5: Westray

We will checkout of our hotel in Kirkwall and catch a small inter-island ferry to the island of Westray. Here we will change our focus from landscape to birds as we visit the stunning cliffs and lighthouse at Noup head, with circling crowds of gannets, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, puffins and more, flying in a cacophony of sound.

In the evenings, we will watch the incoming puffins at the Castle o’Burrian, Orkney’s largest concentration of puffins.

We will make the short walk to the stunning sea arch on the north side of the island. And as we drive around, always keeping an eye out for short eared owls, as they fly low over the fields.

Days 6 – 7: Stromness

We depart Westray and catch the ferry back to the Orkney mainland before driving to our accommodation in Stromness, Orkney’s 2nd largest town, overlooking the mountains of Hoy.

The west coast of Orkney is the home to fantastic sea cliffs at Yesnaby and the standing rock tower known as the Castle. Further north is Skaill Bay and the towering cliffs of Marwick head, and the ancient neolithic settlement of Skara Brae.

Day 8: Departure from Orkney

We checkout of our hotel in Stromness for the 45 minute drive to Kirkwall airport, where we will say our goodbyes.

Do not book flights with a departure from Kirkwall before 11:00

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan

WORKSHOP PRICE INCLUDES

Accommodation – 7 nights accommodation on Orkney

All transport and ferries on Orkney, including airport pickup and drop-off.

Entrance fees to any historic sights we may visit.

Professional photography and location guiding by Cody Duncan.

NOT INCLUDED

Travel to and from Kirkwall, Orkney.

Meals and drinks.

Insurance. Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip.

Anything else not mentioned as Included

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan

WHAT TO BRING

Photography Gear

You will need a camera bag which is suitable for hiking. This means it should not be overly heavy, while having enough room to carry your camera gear, extra clothing and some food/water.

Camera – Any camera welcome, but a full frame DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual mode will give you the best performance.

Tripod – A strong tripod that can tolerate the occasional windy or stormy conditions of Orkney.

Lenses – A selection of lenses from 14mm to 400mm is recommended. We will spend a portion of the trip photographing flying birds from sea cliffs.

Filters – This is somewhat to shooting style, but I heavily recommend a set of neutral density filters, covering: 3, 6, and 10 stops.

Cable Release – Cable or remote camera release, preferably with ability to lock in Bulb mode for long exposures.

Camera Cover – It is likely we will encounter some adverse weather on Orkney, so you want to be able to cover your camera and keep shooting.

Storage and Batteries – Bring plenty of memory cards and batteries to last for multiple days of shooting.

Clothing

You will need to be prepared for potentially rainy, wet, and cold conditions, so a good set of waterproof clothing is advisable. While I won’t be taking us to the mountains in torrential downpours, passing rain is a likelihood.

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Lofoten Summer Hiking Clothing

ABOUT CODY

First visiting Orkney in the autumn of 2003, Cody has returned frequently to the islands over the last decades. Since 2016 Cody has been guiding photography workshops on Norway’s Lofoten Islands and is one of the most experienced photographers living and working on the Islands today. As an avid hiker, 68North and DistantNorth websites were created to showcase his love of photography among the wild mountains of the far north.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Cody spent many of his early years surfing the cold waters of the Pacific just down the road from his childhood home. His early 20’s saw him turn his focus to the mountains, soloing numerous 4000+ meter peaks in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. As his photography career developed, he soon found himself spending more time in the wild landscapes and turbulent weather of northern Europe. Cody’s images have been published by: Visit Norway, National Geographic, Men’s Journal, Sunset Magazine, Lonely Planet Magazine, GEO Saison, British Airways High Life, and numerous calendars, travel guides, and more.

Cody lives north of the arctic on Norway’s Lofoten Islands.

FINE PRINT

Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover hiking and other outdoor activities. Sample insurance providers are.

Travel insurance needs to cover any medical emergencies or accidents before, during and in transit to the workshop. Any situation which would require you to cancel the tour before or during the trip. Any loss or damage to your luggage or photography equipment.

Any cancellations will be fully refunded up to 60 days before tour. After that, no refunds available.

Tour itinerary is subject to change due to any potentially unforeseen circumstances, such as weather cancellations, etc.

If tour itself is cancelled by the operator, then full refunds for the price of the tour will be given to all participants. This does not cover any additional transportation costs to Orkney, which should be covered by your travel insurance.

Cody Duncan Photography is a member of the Norwegian Reisegarantifondet, mandatory insurance for all tour operators in Norway.

Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan
Orkney Landscape Photography Workshop - Cody Duncan