1. Host a dinner party

2. Rug up in your layers and go on a walk

3. Go for Sunday roast at the pub

4. Have a whisky night

• Keep it simple - you don't need to serve a dozen whisky's. 4-5 is a good amount with one being more expensive, one being boutique and then a mixture of old favourites and new ones to try
• Think about the order you serve them in - it's easier to start light and save the strongest or peatiest flavours until the end
• Provide tasting note cards for your guests so that smells and notes can be recorded while you sip - it'll be interesting to see how your friends palates differ to your own!
• Make sure to offer other drinks for your friends who don't like whisky or are planning to drive

5. Skip the hotel and stay in a bothy or cabin

Stockbridge Market, Edinburgh

Barras Market, Glasgow

Victorian Market, Inverness

Photographers – please add to this thread, amateur or professional. Let’s make this a “braw” topic, and maybe a sticky someday!

As a side note, I make part of my living in the US as a portrait photographer, and photography teacher – and teaching others is a special thing for me. Photography (or any art) is gift that is meant to be passed along to others. That’s how we enrich the world. Art is love. 

WEATHER:

• It doesn’t matter if you a DSLR (digital single reflex) shooter or a Smartphone shooter, it rains a LOT in Scotland, so protecting your gear is job number one. The rain often blows sideways.
• Have a good, strong, small umbrella (with a push button) that you can use when exiting the vehicle.
• Plastic bags (or disposable shower caps) are a must, to protect the gear.
• Consider bringing some silica jell bags with you, to dry equipment out at night. Keeping your gear dry is the most important task.

EVERY DAY (DISCIPLINE):

• Walk out the door every day with a fully recharged battery and memory card.
• Backup everything every night to the cloud, a USB stick, or a laptop.
• Start each day fresh and clean.

LIGHT:

• Photography = The Study Of Light
• Check your sunrise/sunset times because they will be earlier than what you have at home.
• Scotland is at a higher latitude, so the “sweet light” may be a lot different than you think.
• Diehards that want the Northern lights need to Google the particulars on that. There are lots of links. Just search for “Scotland Northern Lights”. Typically you need to be up in the Orkneys (or Shetlands) for that sort of light.

LANDSCAPE SHOOTERS:

• Yes, a wide angle lens (16m – 14mm) will give you lovely shots, especially in a place like Glencoe. Fog, clouds, moving light – it’s amazing.
• If you only have a lens that only gives you 18 – 24 mm, that’s ok too – but consider trying a “pano stitch”. You’ll have to post process that in Lightroom/Photoshop.
• If you are a smartphone shooter, don’t zoom in – shoot wide. Check your camera phone for a “pano” setting. Learn how to use that, and crop the photo.
• Tripod – of course! I use a 22” unit that fits nicely in my carry-on luggage diagonally. Remote trigger a must.

WILDLIFE SHOOTERS:

• Sure bring the big glass if you want, but I wouldn’t go past 300mm.
• Most of the wildlife in Scotland isn’t “skittish” (maybe the stags), but puffins, squirrels, coos, and other animals will be easy to shoot at a semi-close range. Your 70 – 200mm will be fine.

VIDEOGRAPHERS:

• Doesn’t matter what you are shooting with, but you are going to pick up a LOT of wind noise if someone is narrating. Especially near the coastlines (super windy).
• Consider buying an external microphone with a “dead cat” (fuzzy wind-cover) for the microphone.

STREET SHOOTERS:

• Your sweet spot will be Edinburgh and Glasgow, lots of candids and posed shots.
• Scots are incredibly friendly, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone and ask for a photo. You might be surprised.

SMARTPHONE SHOOTERS (IOS/ANDROID):

• Try and leave that selfie stick at home. You’ll find lots of lovely people in Scotland that are happy to take your snap, and you’ll end up with a much better photo.
• There are plenty of “dry bag” systems for smart phones that will suit you well. Just jump on to Amazon to find one.
  
  

I hope this was a good start to this thread, and I hope you all find the magic and love that comes through your camera lens.

Happy shooting!

Chris

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So with that in mind, I thought we could all share a bit about our favourite parts of the country and what it is that makes it beautiful to us. For me, I love the diversity of the landscapes and the amazing animals you can spot as you drive along (highland coo's being a fave, of course) as well as all the castles and historic buildings. 

I still have so much more of the country to see and explore (and I'm constantly getting jealous of the pictures I see some of you sharing on here) but here are some of my highlights so far:

The Lazy Duck in Nethy Bridge

Inveraray Castle

Deer spotting in Glen Coe

Tantallon Castle

What makes Scotland beautiful to you? Share your pictures and faves below!