Underwater photography at the world's largest Northern Gannet colony

This specialist photography expedition to the waters around Bass Rock places you in the middle of one of the UK's most spectacular wildlife events — a Northern Gannet feeding frenzy.

Working from a dedicated photography charter, the workshop is led by wildlife and conservation photographer Brian W Matthews and focuses on capturing fast-moving seabird behaviour both above and below the surface.

Northern Gannets dive from heights of over 30 metres, hitting the water at speeds approaching 60mph in a burst of wings, bubbles and spray. From the boat, you'll photograph flight behaviour, plunge-diving and feeding activity, alongside opportunities to work close to Bass Rock and its internationally important colony.

Weather and sea conditions permitting, participants will also have the opportunity to enter the water for surface-level and underwater photography as the birds feed around the boat. Those who prefer not to enter the water will still have extensive photographic opportunities from the vessel throughout the session.

The workshop suits photographers and filmmakers who are comfortable working in open water and marine conditions. Participants rotate in and out of the water in small groups while feeding activity continues — and Brian will be in the water throughout to support you: helping with entry and exit, moving equipment, guiding positioning and camera settings, and helping you make the most of the changing conditions. Safety on and around the vessel remains the priority throughout.

To encourage natural feeding behaviour close to the vessel, herring is used as chum — expect wet, noisy and occasionally messy conditions onboard. All part of working within an active marine wildlife environment.

Getting there

• From London
• London King's Cross → Dunbar: direct LNER service, approx. 4 hours
• London Heathrow / Gatwick → Edinburgh Airport: approx. 1.5 hours
• Edinburgh to Dunbar
• Edinburgh Waverley → Dunbar: 30 minutes by direct train
• Edinburgh Airport → Dunbar: 45 minutes by taxi / road
• A1 from Edinburgh city centre: approx. 30 minutes
• Meet point: Dunbar Harbour — full details provided on booking

Brian W Matthews is an award-winning wildlife and conservation photographer with over two decades of experience. A former physicist, he turned a lifelong passion for the natural world into a full-time photography career, travelling to more than 50 countries from the Arctic to the Amazon.

He is a three-time finalist in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year — including his acclaimed image Storm Warning — and has received commendations in Nature's Best, Travel Photographer of the Year, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and others. His work has been published in BBC Wildlife Magazine, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Outdoor Photography, and Terre Sauvage.

For the past four years Brian has been working on an ambitious project documenting the UK's Coast and Islands — from the storm-battered cliffs of Shetland to the Scilly Isles — focusing on coastal biodiversity, the people who protect it, and the pressures it faces. Bass Rock and its gannet colony sit at the heart of that project.

On this day, Brian is in the water alongside participants throughout the in-water sessions — providing hands-on support with positioning, timing and camera settings, as well as getting his own shots.