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| Testimonials Please find below testimonials from some of Bruce's workshops. |
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| Assynt & Inverpolly from Bruce's workshop near Ullapool: |
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 Image © Paul David |
Hi Bruce,
Describing the trip as FANTASTIC would be a gross understatement! Aside from beautiful country and great people, I really enjoyed walking around with you and watching how you see. That is what I came for, and certainly gained from! Meanwhile, I'd love to hook up when you come to the Bay Area. Let me know as soon as you have dates so I can be sure to reserve the time. Got to get to work, so again I'll just say how happy I am that I was able to join you. Best wishes, Paul |
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 Image © Catriona Macdonald |
Hi Bruce
I just wanted to thank you for a great weekend. My heart's in the Highlands....I had forgotten how good for the soul the semi-wilderness is and what a wonderful part of our wee country Assynt is. I learnt a lot in a very short space of time and it has certainly inspired me to get up early or stay out later in the wilds of Dumfries and Galloway. My equipment may not quite be up to scratch but I was really happy with what I did produce in the short space of time - thanks in all ways to your very generous and very gentle suggestions and help. The Ceilidh Place was a great place to stay and makes me want to go back and stay longer - the hospitality was so good and the staff were so relaxed. My aim is to go and practice now what you have taught me and think about investing in a few better bits of gear in the future. I shall keep an eye on your website and blog for further news and will certainly think about future courses with you as Eigg and Bolivia/Patagonia seem too good to miss - will need to start saving hard. All the time I was there in Assynt I was thinking about Norman MacCaig's poem - A Man in Assynt - but I couldn't remember the exact quote: 'Who owns this landscape?- The millionaire who bought it or the poacher staggering downhill in the early morning with a deer on his back? Who possesses this landscape?- The man who bought it or I who am possessed by it?' I am so glad that the people of Assynt own it now and I am sure Norman would have been glad about it too. Thanks again for a superb weekend. Will keep in touch and will go and try your link again... Best wishes Catriona x |
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 Image © Leslie Tait |
Bruce,
The weekend workshop was excellent and I have learned a lot. Probably more than I realise. It certainly has whetted my appetite for more. F I will probably come back and do another workshop sometime. I certainly hope we meet up again. Regards, Leslie |
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 Image © Bob Cioffi |
Hi Bruce,
Thanks again, I'm really glad it worked out on short notice. I had a great time and you left me with a lot to think about in terms of composition, technique and even gear. It was great to have a weekend of immersion in photography whether it was taking photos or just talking about places, gear, photographers, etc.. I think the workshop had a great balance of shooting and critique. I will definitely do some more of your workshops. Best, Bob |
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 Image © Christianne Smart |
Hi Bruce, Had a fab weekend and don't wanna be at work ! Regards Christianne |
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| Isle of Harris from Bruce's workshop on Harris, Outer Hebrides: |
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 Image © Dudley Williams |
Hi Bruce, The trip surpassed my expectations in terms of scenery, company, hospitality and of course creative input. I hope you mean what you said when you mentioned in the cafe in Stornoway that there might be a landscape photographer in me. You have taught me how to slow down, consider and reflect and learn. Something clicked inside me on the course. I know how to use a camera but didn't know how to use myself. I'm chuffed to bits with the images I got and can see how to improve already. All the best Bruce Dudley, Duds, Dug, Duggy |
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 Image © Mike Green |
Hi Bruce,
I just wanted to say thanks for the Harris workshop; it's been a great help to me in my photography, as well as being a thoroughly enjoyable trip! I confess that I was ... 'a wee bit concerned' at the idea of a week in the Outer Hebrides in late November, but that was unfounded. As it was, the fine weather meant very comfortable shooting conditions and a different style of image than I was expecting: calm and wistful skies, rather than stormy drama. It's a 'win' either way, and I'd certainly go there again at the same time of year. Quite apart from the superb location, the workshop itself was excellent and met all my expectations, both artistically and logistically. As I expected, it was an intense few days of photographing and critiquing, which was just what I was looking for! Notably, it made me get out to locations before sunrise - something I'm not exactly good at. The experience of the quality of light at that time of day has meant that I've done this again since, and my images are now benefiting from the soft light and remarkable colours on the cusp of night and day. There were several specific things which I learnt to appreciate and use (the merits of low light - how dodging and burning is a major boost to many images by directing the eye and adding emphasis - what makes a strong composition - and many more things), but the main feature of the workshop, for me, was the opportunity to be in a creative environment for several days, learning things through discussion with both you and the other participants. I'd put this group dynamic, which you created, and the ensuing discussions, coupled with your strong artistic vision, as probably the major element in producing such a successful and entertaining workshop. I'd also like to say that you are very good company and meaningfully inspirational about photography. I'm currently considering attending an Eigg workshop, if time allows; looks like a fantastic place! Best wishes, Mike |
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 Image © Steve Naor |
Hi Bruce - I hope you are enjoying a well-earned rest. This quick email to thank you again for all your energy, guidance and help making this a great week. I definitely plan to return on another workshop. And if you do choose to visit Glacier National Park or Denali, please let me know beforehand and I will do my best to join up with you, I can even assist with the planning. I just need a LOT of notice. Keep up the great work, all the best on booking those workshops! And now I am off on my flight back across the pond..... ....Steve |
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 Image © Robert Prentice |
Hi Bruce,
That was a great trip - well done and many thanks. Hope to see you next year. Robert |
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| Isle of Eigg from Bruce's workshop on the Isle of Eigg: |
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 Image © Phil Corley |
Dear Bruce, |
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 Image © João Pedro Silva |
Hi Bruce,
I must say that, I've take a long time to answer because I needed to take this time to think about what I've learned, what I've experienced, how I embodied the ideas, feelings and knowledge from you and from the other participants. Let's start with the points you've suggested: Being on the Isle of Eigg was a tremendous and marvelous experience; I couldn't imagine that the Isle would inspire me the way it did. I can remember the first morning shooting there... I was like experience something I dreamed about... the light, the shapes, the surroundings, well, all the place itself. I can assure you that being on Eigg (and Muck) was, at the moment, the most fantastic and creative experience I've already have. Being on an Isle, surrounded by sea, is, in itself, a very challenging experience and what I felt was very different with my daily experience in the "hard" mountains near my home; so, for me, viewing and making a picture on Eigg was a challenge for my creativity and I do like daily challenges; I feel that Eigg was like a kind of "creativity juice" I needed to carry on with my vision. Definitely, the Eigg workshop made a very big difference to how I'll view/experience a picture in the future. About the schedule, well... I do like to sleep in the morning :-)! Kidding, I think it was a very well planned schedule to photograph. I think it's universal that the golden hours are the sunrise and sunset, and, well, cloudy days, when the light is softer. But, I must say that the planning was well made, I think, in the near future, I'll adopt this schedule in my own workshops. Did the trip meet my expectations? Oh, it sure it did. Well, it surpassed my expectations highly. I can assure you, the trip/workshop was one of my best life/personal experiences I've already have. About your approach, well, my expectations were surpassed as well. You can't imagine how your "words"/thoughts/experience resonate with me; as I told you in the beginning, I had a "creativity juice" with this experience, and you were the main "sponsor". In fact, I must say that the couple of hours we discussed the photos were the higher moment of the workshop, I learned so much, it was so helpful that, today, when I shoot, I stop for a while, take a deep breed, feel the moment, the photograph, and remember all that know-how I've learned with you (and with your thoughtful and inspiring ebooks). In the end, I feel happier with my "new" method, approach to photography. Even the 4x5 format... well, I'm in love with it! Really! As you know, words are insufficient to describe the feelings, thoughts and ideas about this unforgettable trip and workshop. But one thing you must know: after the workshop, I feel I'm a better photographer; I think, as well, I'm a better person. Sincerely, thank you for all. Thank you for being one of my inspirational "muses". Thank you for being a friend of mine. Thank you. Sincerely, João Pedro Silva P.S.: Keep in touch. If you come to Portugal, please say something. |
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 Image ©Sonja Grubenmann |
Hi Bruce Since I am such a beginner (and bloody lazy manual reader I have to admit), the short session together with you on the first evening gave me loads of inspiration for the rest of the week because you made me understand the camera better. I know you mentioned some people do not even know their camera and I am one of them, definitely, still not having the routines or all understanding about photography in principle... You don't run a camera workshop after all, I am aware of that. But despite you were very patient with me, pointing out the clouds and trying different exposure times with me while besides teaching me about some basics and my camera really. You made me feel very comfortable about it because of your approach, not a second I felt like a dumb-ass or stupid idot, on the contrary - it was a very valuable kick-off for me for the week. Lacking talent or not, I was happy and confident strolling off on my own for most of the week after that with my music in the ears and experiment and learn for myself. I felt the hostel was great and a perfect base, food very good too, and lovely friendly hosts. The schedule worked very well. As you mentioned it's all logistics dependent - so that one is just ideal I guess because of the short ways. Because of my beach dependency I personally would have loved to spend a session or two more on Singing Sands, but I also understand that because of the tides that would not have made sense. So I'll just have to come back. Personal most happy memory: the night on Singing Sands where I saw you get off your boots and I thought... wow that's just great, I'll have to do that too, why didn't I think about that myself! I just love to wade barefoot in the water and the sand and I just felt happy like a little girl those two hours.. didn't want it to end :-). Thanks again for a very good week Bruce. I really enjoyed it! Best wishes, Sonja |
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 Image © Mats Berglund |
Hi Bruce,
One of the best ways to get inspired is to surround yourself with enthusiastic people in an inspiring environment and I think you directed us well. I improved my technical skills, both with your help and by asking the others. Also learned to look for patterns and shapes that aren't so obvious at first but come out quite a lot when the camera has recorded it. I think the schedule was very good, it was a a schedule for people who love photography and who wants to make the most of their stay, and I'm one of them. The trip exceeded my expectations! The afternoon critique sessions were really helpful, and to be honest I would have expected people to be quite nervous around them but I don't think anyone was. You did a good job making us feel comfortable, letting us introduce ourselves and create a friendly atmosphere. You know the importance of letting everyone know what's gonna happen next which is key to have people more relaxed. I think your approach was quite direct and "no bullshit" and at the same friendly. It was maybe a bit repetitive to have the same schedule all five days, maybe one photo shoot could be a task given by you. Just one session, to break the pattern a little. I found you very friendly Bruce, but I gotta admit I'm the kind of person who asks too few questions and I feel I could gotten more out of your tuition but that's my problem, not yours! Might be way I would have liked an assignment or task during one session, cause that probably would have had me ask more. I liked all the other participants which I really hadn't expected, there's always someone not playing along - hey maybe that was ME! :-o Thanks for a great workshop, take care and best regards, Mats |
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 Image © Jürg Hut |
Hi Bruce
wow, what a wonderful time it was on the islands, not only the dramatic finish on Muck! I very much liked the unususal schedule of the workshop, it was for the first time I really appreciated the early morning and late evening hours (=> magic moments!). Sometimes I found myself in a kind of hassle as I wanted to enjoy the moments and felt a pressure to take picutes at the same time! But I had my great moments when I could enjoy a good shot! I always felt completely exhausted after the sessions, but I consider this as a good sign! I think I improved a little, not only could I sharpen my eyes for outstanding shapes and figures "on the set" but I also found the critic sessions most useful. It was then that I found you most helpful. Maybe one suggestion: As we had about eight sessions and we were eight participants it may have been useful to have the possibility to "hire" you for one session - not exclusively but in the sense that each participant could work with you continuously during a whole session. Maybe another kind of dialogue would be possible, maybe more intensive... This of course not mandatory but on a voluntary basis! Thank you, Bruce, for an outstanding experience. I very much look forward to seeing you again in Switzerland next year. I wish you all the best, go on with these workshops but don't forget the work/life balance! Jürg |
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 Image © Christian Egedius Bendtsen |
Dear Bruce, I want to thank you for a great time at the workshop. I had big expectation to the workshop and the trip to Eigg. I must say that you and the workshop (and Eigg) exceeded beyond any expectations I had! It was really a fun, educational and a great experience for me. First of all – it was a great group. It seemed like everybody enjoyed themselves. There was a good synergy and everyone was keen on sharing there skills and ideas. And you Bruce have great human skills. I loved you approach about wanting to figurer everybody out skill wise, so you could shape your help accordingly. Everybody has different needs of help and even with big differences in peoples skill level, I think that everybody got something out of the course. Another good thing was that you listen to input and wanted the dialog. This made the workshop alive and made one feel that they are a part of it. And you have a great sense of humor – that is important. Furthermore – you were well prepared. It was a good idea with the hardcopies you handed out. As for the schedule, it could not have been more perfect for me. The critics during the daytime were important if one wants to develop themselves though a few days. I did find the trip very inspiring and I learned a lot. Most important was the time of day so we could capture the good light. And the use of grade filters. Finally the workshop wanted me to go and take pictures and I think that is what is most important. Thank you for a good time in Scotland and Bruce, if you are coming to Copenhagen please drop by for dinner or a cup of coffee. Christian Egedius Bendtsen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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 Image © Luciano Teghillo |
Hi Bruce, is good to be back home with my wife but I miss the long days we had and your company and that of the other guys. I had really a great time and I have learned a lot. I showed the images to my wife and she was amazed - just that is worth 100 points :-) The organization of the workshop was perfect with a comfortable place just for the participants, really a photographer's place. The days were really busy usually organized with a sunrise and sunset shoots, critiques of images of all participants, and a scouting trip during the afternoon to visit a possible new location. By day three I was feeling already a slump in my energy level but it was enough to think about what I would be missing by sleeping in that I got an immediate boost. On the photography side, Bruce is really good at inspiring, making sure you look around the scene, always reminding you to move around the scene so you don't miss the image you saw in your mind's eyes. Another suggestion from Bruce (because he always suggests, never imposes), was to zoom with my feet. And this zooming with your feet business was the hardest part to implement. At first it was slow and frustrating but once I started realizing the difference, I was sold. I imposed to myself a focal length of 24 mm and never moved out of that for the entire week. In the end it became a fun exercise, a way to challenge my imagination and vision. Bruce has a real passion for photography and he is a very nice human being. He is modest and loves to share his passion and inspire you to see differently, to find your true photographic self. What can I say more: great instructor, great location, great group of people (I think 8 is a perfect number). It was really hard getting back home. Bruce, thanks for everything, and I hope to meet you again soon. Luciano Teghillo, Italy |
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 Image © Peter Boehi |
Hi Bruce, First of all, thank you very much for your inspiring and engaged course, it opened the door to a new world of photography to me, additionally my understanding of how pictures should be created has been tremendously improved. I learned an awful lot, apart from that, I had a lot of fun and many great experiences. You have set an example with your work, I admire the simplicity of your images, they are uncluttered and to the point (what good art basically is). So looking at your images once in a while was not only a pleasure to do, it was also part of our learning experience. You are a sharing person, I never had the feeling that you withheld any crucial information, you told us all your secrets, so all left for us is to add our own vision to your techniques. I also liked the critiques, they gave us not only the opportunity to see each other's work, but helped us to improve over the course of the week. The course was well organized, the van was a necessity, and your information you gave us prior to the course allowed proper preparation. My photography skills literally have leapfrogged and I thank you for that! Peter Boehi, Switzerland |
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 Image © Calum Watt |
Hi Bruce, I very much the enjoyed the week, and particularly the relaxed atmosphere and your laid back approach, although everyone was serious about their photography. As someone with a long standing interest in photography, but who had never done more than take snapshots on holiday, it was great to immerse myself for five full days. Now that a few days has passed, I took another look at my images from Eigg. I could never have dreamed of taking photographs of that quality before the workshop. I am sure I will attend another workshop in the not too distant future. Calum Watt, Scotland |
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 Image © Andrew Falcke |
G'day Bruce, A short note to say thanks for the Isle of Eigg workshop. The workshop was not only very well structured and run, but was also a lot of fun with a great bunch of people who all shared a love for photography and being out there. Throughout the workshop, your creativity and artistic craft was inspiring and I admire your vision. The location and venue was terrific, finding different worlds as we explored along that beach. An amazing landscape, very different from home... I enjoyed the regular critique of work produced by all very much, as I feel critique by those whose photographic/artistic expertise you respect to be an invaluable learning experience. The facilities were excellent and your sharing nature and fun personality made it all the more enjoyable. Thanks mate. I had a great time, experienced a wonderful location, learnt a lot and met great people along the way. Cheers, Andrew (from Oz) |
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 Image © Stephen Scott |
Hi Bruce, I'm home, but my body and my mind are not yet in the same time zone here on the West Coast of America. By tomorrow I should have it all together. My passion is travel photography, having never made the leap toward landscape photography,( a fact which undoubtedly was painfully obvious) . My goal in taking the workshop was first, to see how it is that you get such incredible images, and second, to widen my circle a bit toward landscapes. I wanted to break it all down into parts, as that's the way my brain works. I met my goals, and then some. If there is one word to characterize my state of mind after the workshop, it would be "inspired". That inspiration came from you, your images, and your passion for photography. More specifically, it came from your ability to create a new reality that a beautiful image represents. That new reality seems to be created by putting together the various pieces of the puzzle of great photography. The workshop taught me that those pieces seem to include include an initial attraction to subject, then visualization, composition, technique, color, personal style, post processing technology, and of course, the most important, light. I learned from my mistakes that if one piece is missing, the image suffers. But when all the pieces come together, as yours so often do, it's magic. I learned also from your travel portraits that when all those pieces come together, it doesn't matter if your subject is a sunrise in Patagonia or a person in a sari. The workshop didn't make me a great photographer. I don't know how anyone can do that for anyone else. But what you did give me was a heightened awareness of the process for making great images. I had several "ah ha" moments, thinking "so that's how it's done!". I now understand things better, and I'm inspired to get better and evolve by working on each of those puzzle pieces until they come together instinctively-that thing that happens when you've finally "got it". To summarize, I know where I want to go. You showed me how to get there. Bruce, it's obvious you put your heart and soul into your images, and your web site, and you did the same for the workshop. It was a terrific experience. Thank you. As you know, I am a huge fan, so keep up the great work, and don't forget to take some time to recharge your own batteries. Put the camera down for 30-60 days, ride a bike across Scotland, train for a 10K, volunteer, prepare an outline for your book, whatever the hell it might be. We all need to recharge, particularly creative people, and particularly people like you who work so hard at their art. All the best, Sam Blair, Oregon, USA |
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 Image © Stephen Scott |
Hi Bruce, Just a short note to thank you for your excellent workshop. For me, it was a revelation to see how you approached the subject of Landscape Photography. In particular, I was struck by how you noticed the small things; patterns in the sand or subtle differences in the quality of light. There is no doubt that I learned a great deal during the week and I am sure that this will have a major effect on the way I approach my photography in future. I was also impressed by your relaxed style of teaching and could see that you made a huge effort to spend time with every member of the group. The accommodation and food during the trip was also excellent. Many thanks again. Stephen Scott, Scotland |
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| Isle of Skye from Bruce's workshop in Skye: |
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 Image © Simon Hillier |
Hi Bruce, |
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Hi Bruce, |
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| Torridon from Bruce's workshop in Torridon: |
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 Image © Lynda Taylor |
Hi Bruce,
The highlight for me of course was the Torridon workshop with you and my fellow light chasers. It was only a weekend but it seemed a million memories and experiences were wrapped up in those few short magical days , thanks to your enthusiasm, innate teaching ability and your interest in making sure we all got the benefit of your knowledge. Thanks also for the invaluable info package you gave each of us. I can't wait to get started using the suggested workflow. Thanks so much again, Bruce, for giving inspiration to the rest of us. I'll be looking for your " omnipresence" on my next photo outing and having a chuckle over that one. Lynda Taylor, Ontario, Canada |
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 Image © Hartmut Schirmacher Hi Bruce! The weekend was a fantastic experience throughout: enthusiastic people setting out before dawn to explore a gorgeous landscape in mystical twilight, driven and inspired by a competent and entertaining tutor. I can only think of one improvement: participating in a longer workshop! Best wishes, Hartmut |
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| Hi Bruce, I hope you had a good journey back to Edinburgh and made it home on time. I wanted to drop a line to thank you again for the brilliant workshop this weekend in Torridon. It’s just been a perfect experience for me in all ways.. a great bunch of people, the location, the weather, the hosts, the tutor and the tution... this all made it a really enjoyable weekend to remember. I was so carried away reviewing and editing my photos this evening that I had to cook dinner twice... the first pasta got so overcooked that not even a toothless person would have eaten it anymore – don’t remember when that happened to me the last time, if ever.. (having to lose a reputation about my cooking..);-). Looking at some of the images I still find it difficult to believe that it was actually me who did that. I am trying to analyze what happened here, arriving as an absolute, unsecure beginner and coming back with some pictures like this. I just don’t get it yet; was it the locations you scouted for us, was it the moments I had your sole attention helping me with my compositions, or was it the reviews and critiques after the shootings... maybe it was the package that made it. But what I know for sure is that I am truly pleased with the work I am taking back and that I am also massively proud of some of the shots. For me this workshop has been a huge step forward, making me a lot more confident and I think it definitely got me sort of infected... I could hardly keep my eyes on the road this afternoon with all the lights and scenery around me and I can’t wait to get out again with my camera tomorrow and for the rest of the week I’ll still be in Scotland! Thanks again for your brilliant tution, the inspiration and motivation and the relaxed atmosphere this weekend! I will sure be back for another of your workshops as soon as I can. Keep in touch, would be nice to hear from you once in a while. Sonja Grubenmann, Switzerland |
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| Hi Bruce, I was really pleased to come on a second course Bruce and I gained a lot of practical knowledge first time round and brushed it up on the second trip. The locations you take us to are truly inspiring and not the standard scenes one would expect on a course; it demonstrates how generous you are as I don’t think many professional photographers would share so many of their secrets with a bunch of amateurs. The critiquing sessions are particularly valuable, done with humour and sensitivity you really engaged with everyone making us all feel as if we too had some small drop of that special talent. I am looking forward to another trip this year, only difficulty is deciding which one! Lynne Douglas, Bearsden |
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Hi Bruce, Thank you again for the great workshop last week end. It was a blast! The workshop definitely had an impact on my photography. I am now thinking a lot more about composition, light conditions, etc before shooting. My pictures look a lot better as a result. I was really happy with the pictures as I was able to see the impact the workshop has had right away! , Thank you! Best regards, Jérome Muller, Switzerland |
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 Image © Michael Marten |
Hi Bruce, thanks again for a brilliant weekend! I just loved every minute, and got so much out of it. In my usual academic way, I need to describe it in words as well as pictures, and so you might like to look at my blog - there are 3 entries relating to the weekend, and a fourth one will follow later this week, as I explain at the end of the third one: http://tpdv.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/torridon-the-art-of-adventure-photography-part-3/ I know that I have 'upped my game' enormously as a result of this. Even coming in to work today, I stopped in Bridge of Allan and photographed Stirling Castle (on my FM2 with a 50mm lens and Velvia film!) in a consciously different way this morning - the light was great, after all the rain yesterday. Thanks again! All the best, Michael Marten, Edinburgh |
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 Image © Mabel Forsyth |
Hi Bruce thanks again so much for a fantastic workshop. It was such an adventure- getting up before dawn and squelching through the grass with our headtorches to find a good spot before the sun came up-back to the hotel for 9 ish for a huge breakfast, critiques of the morning shoot, and then out again in the afternoon, till well after the sun went down. I loved it! You managed to pack so much into the short time we were there- from our well-organised trips to the photoshop sessions, and then the critiques which were incredibly helpful to see what could be improved in our shots. Everyone had at least one shot they were proud to show off by the second day, but more importantly, everyone was fired up to get out and take more pictures! It really didnt matter about the rain (well most of the time!) and it really helped that the rest of the group were such good fun, and were up for getting out and about no matter what the weather. Nobody wanted to waste a single second. Learning to use the ND filters was an absolute revelation- it's like learning a secret that other great photographers must be keeping to themselves! You are such a patient teacher, great fun, and generous enough to share your own work processes, so we can learn from them. I found the workshop inspiring, and I've come home with a new buzz about my photography. I'd recommend the experience to all photographers-no matter what your skill level, it will improve after this workshop. Thanks again Mabel Forsyth, Edinburgh |
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| Glencoe Weekend Workshop | |||||
 Image ©Martyn Campbell |
Hi Bruce, Thanks once again for one of the best weekends I have had for a long time, unfortunately I now cannot concentrate at my work for the want to go and put all of this into practice again. I really enjoyed myself and feel that I took so much from it, and for that, I really do owe you genuine gratitude. Your delivery, pace and general attitude towards teaching others was simply outstanding, this combined with your own inimitable style should make you proud of not only your photography but also how you inspire others, I could have read any amount of books and still not have learned as much as I did this weekend and been bitten by the bug in this way. Im looking forwards to lots of cold, wet and very early mornings (I think), trying to capture something special myself now. If ever you are looking for another testimonial let me know because I cannot recommend this highly enough and will definatly return for more. Simply Thanks! Martyn Campbell |
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 Image © Kieron Monahan |
Hi Bruce You know, when I first saw your website a year or so ago I was pretty stunned actually. It is rare that I react like that to other photographers' work. Some photographers can produce one or two stunning images, but the mark of a real talent is being able to produce a body of work and keep adding to it without it becoming more of the same. I think that's what you do. And that's why I came up to Glen Coe for the weekend. To shoot an awesome landscape but to chat with you, share what we both do and learn what I could from the group. Thanks for showing us some amazing locations, for ordering that unreal light on Saturday morning, and I look forward to the next time we can do more of the same. Thanks again. Kieron Monahan, London |
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 Image © Norman Bews |
Hi Bruce, I just wanted to say thanks for a great workshop. It was even better than I had hoped it would be. Before I booked the workshop I was looking at an article on workshops by Brooks Jenson of Lenswork and he said that many great photographers do terrible workshops because they can't communicate their ideas verbally. He said that you need a good communicator as well as a good photographer. From listening to your Video "Scotland - on landscape photography" I knew that you could communicate well as well as produce stunning images. As I said in my long questionnaire response, I was looking for help in seeing what to photograph and how to select the shot from a big complicated landscape. You have really helped with this. I was thinking about each shot much more, using the tripod for the final fine tuning of the composition and above all, simplifying. There were a few things you said to me that have really stuck. The first was from the very first set up I did on Saturday morning when I had some bits of heather and a big rock in the foreground of the shot. You said that I should look at the scene through one eye to reduce it to 2 dimensions and that when I did, I would see that the heather just became a mass of random lines. You were, of course, correct. The next was about getting low to take the middle distance out of the shot or getting higher to bring it in more. I think the big thing for me, though, was the importance of simplicity. I like the idea that painters decide what to put in a picture and photographers decide what to leave out. You had several ideas on this that were very helpful. One was the idea that if something is going to be in the shot, it should be right in it and not lurking at the side. I think the best thought I will take away with me, though, is that every part of the image is like an actor in a play and they should all have a purpose. If they don't, remove them from the frame. I was also impressed by your ability to see what no one else could. The small piece of ice shot at the Lochan on Sunday morning was classic. We had all walked past that several times and missed it. I will be practicing looking for images even when I don't have me camera with me, in the hope that I can start to see more. Anyway, thanks again fro a great weekend and I hope your upcoming course in Torridon goes well. Norman Bews, Fife |
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| Hi Bruce I had a great time on the trip. I really enjoyed it, it was such a pleasure just to be able to eat, sleep and breathe photography for a couple of days. So thanks very much for that, I’ve really taken a lot away with me. I’ve definitely come away from the trip inspired to take more pictures and really excited about my photography. (It was a real chore to be sitting in an office again this week when all I really wanted to do was to get my boots on and get out there.) The course has definitely helped me move my photography on. Getting an insight into how you look at a scene and set up a shot was very useful. On reflection I probably take too many shots too quickly. So just picking up little things like your point about keeping moving around a location, and if you’ve got the shot not to take another that’s the same, etc is really useful. As was seeing what everyone else had done and how they’d shot the same location. And I found the critiques very useful as was the session where you took us through a selection of your work. I thought your relaxed, informal style worked well. You put everyone in the group at ease and I thought the contribution of everyone else, especially Kieron, added to the trip. The hotel & logistics were good in that they just happened in the background – always a sign that if you don’t notice that sort of thing then it’s been well planned and executed. Grant Nairn, Edinburgh |
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| Hi Bruce, It was great to meet you at the weekend – both Louise and I learned a whole load and very much appreciated your advice and direction. It was really good to be amongst such a diverse range of people too and to have such interesting and varied conversation. Clearly we have been nicely set up by your cunning “I will pretend that this is a training weekend when in fact it’s just a taster for my week-long courses” strategy, so I suspect you may have to put up with us on a course again in the not too distant future! Jonathan Binnie, Edinburgh |
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| Patagonia Bruce conducts an annual photo Safari to Torres del Paine National Park, in Chilean Patagonia. Here are some testimonials from participants on this trip |
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 Image © Bruce Percy |
"The Torres del Paine photo workshop/tour was fantastic. Bruce is extremely down-to-earth, humble, and genuine. He is very easy to get along with, and makes people around him very comfortable. The small group size allowed Bruce to spend sufficient time with each person. I only wish the course was longer - Torres del Paine is an amazing location, and I hope to return there some day." Milind Paranjpe, California, USA "Bruce was helpful, he allowed people freedom to do their own thing while helping out whenever someone wanted guidance, and the critiques he did were very helpful. I think its always difficult to keep a group of any size happy but Bruce did a great job, and i think everyone came away happy." David.Sheehan, London "Bruce Percy is a very talented photographer and an enthusiastic leader. Chris and I felt we learned a great deal from him. His critique sessions were valuable as learning tools and it was interesting to see everyone else's photos." Mary Joakim, Toronto, Canada Bruce's photos inspired me to go on the workshop in Torres del Paine, a place I knew next to nothing about. The workshop was well organised - Bruce knows the area well and has scouted out many possibilities for all times of the day, so we got the most we could from our time. The critiques of my day's photos helped me hone my compositions. I definitely felt I learned a lot from Bruce and came away with both an improved technique and a strong collection of photos with fond memories behind them. Niall Connaughton, Australia I can’t imagine a better photo group leader than Bruce. Even though I’ve been on about a dozen photo tours all over the world, Bruce is by far the best. Of course he knows his photography and takes beautiful pictures that inspire us continually. More importantly, he gets us to those same locations at the right time of day so we can try our hand at emulating his success. He knows the area thoroughly, updates his information by asking questions of locals throughout the trip, and is ready to quickly shift gears if the weather or some other condition dictates a better photo location. Bruce is extremely responsive to the wishes of the group and each individual in it. He climbs all over the mountain to spend time with each of us, recommending other locations if he thinks we would benefit from moving. Not to rely on generalities, he literally looks through the lens regularly to see how we are framing a shot and to offer helpful hints. Later when shooting is over, he welcomes the opportunity to go over our photos and offer advice. His attention to detail doesn’t stop at photography. The trip ran like clockwork because he was careful to make sure that all logistical elements were not only properly arranged but double-checked at the final moment. Bruce is not only a great photography tour leader but a great guy—lots of fun with many stories and lively conversation. Roger Pool, New York |
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| Light On Scotland: Tel. +44 (0) 787 621 0051 email: info@lightonscotland.com Copyright Bruce Percy 2009, all rights reserved |
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