PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR OVERVIEW:  Historic and photogenic lighthouses to magnificent coastal landscapes . . . all this and more in this Atlantic province that owes much to it's Scottish and French heritage. Europeans sailing west over the centuries fought hard over this Atlantic province in eastern Canada, but today all is harmony. Those adversaries of old, primarily French and Scottish, combine for the unique culture that makes Nova Scotia what it is today. It is a distinctly maritime nation, and our mainly coastal jaunt will provide many a lasting image to treasure. Do join me this year.

INCREASING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS: There isn’t a straightforward way to describe everything you will learn on one of our photography tours in just a few words, but I'll give it a try . . . I instruct, encourage, nurture, coach, nudge, help and guide clients etcetera, all day and every day.  This includes one-on-ones and 'collective instruction', i.e. advice given to the whole group at each photo stop. Subjects and techniques discussed and demonstrated are composition strength, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, how aperture choice influences depth of field, lens choice, filter use, long exposure effects, deliberate blur, macro and so on. I also encourage you to 'see' an image when the opportunity presents itself, i.e. to be on the lookout for those less obvious shots that are no less stunning. Lastly, I conduct image critiques both on location - digital camera screens are ideal for this - and via the use of laptops. PhotoShop sessions are also included as time permits. For more details regarding what you'll learn go here.

TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!

DAY 1  |  To NOVA SCOTIA
Arrive Halifax, Nova Scotia. Your mid-day flight will be met by myself, John, and we'll head to Halifax for a visit to the historic Citadel that overlooks the city. The fort was established by the British in 1856, and the pictures here will include the color of the resident regiments. Then on south to a small peninsula containing the community of Prospect. Quality maritime scenes are to be had there, and we'll move on to the famed Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, which is the only one in North America containing a post office. The harbor nearby is particularly picturesque. On to Indian Harbor for our first night.
INDIAN HARBOR, 1 night

DAY 2  |  The LIGHTHOUSE ROUTE
Indian Harbor is particularly photogenic, and after time amid the fish crates, etcetera, we'll round St. Margaret's Bay and move on to frame Mahone Bay's three wooden churches from a couple of different angles. Via Lunenburg to the Blue Rocks area, and south to Kingsburg . . . both are quality photo locations. Western Head and Moose Harbor near Liverpool will also get our attention before moving on to Shelburne.
SHELBURNE, 1 night

DAY 3  |  The LIGHTHOUSE ROUTE to YARMOUTH
Shelburne is steeped in a turbulent history, and we'll learn of this on the harbor at the Dory Shop, and at the Ross-Thomson House. On route to Yarmouth, stops at Ingomar and Barrington, where the land-locked Seal Island Light [house] is a visual oddity.
YARMOUTH, 1 night

DAY 4  |  The LOWER EVANGELINE TRAIL
A potpourri of images will greet us on Yarmouth Bar this morning, and will be topped by the 1840 Yarmouth Lighthouse. Heading north we'll take in the largest wooden church in North America at Church Point, the little lighthouse sitting on the harbor at Belliveau Cove, and explore the Point Prim area.
ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, 1 night

DAY 5  |  The UPPER EVANGELINE TRAIL
Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal was a British stronghold from 1710 to 1749, and it will get our morning attention, as will Port Royal where the first Europeans settled in 1605. Moving over to the Bay of Fundy, we'll take in the quiet harbors of Parkers Cove and Hampton, etcetera, as we go northeast to another oceanside gem, Halls Harbor. Light permitting, our day will close with the late light on the Bay of Fundy and the rural scenes viewed from the Blomidon Lookoff.
NEW MINAS, 1 night

DAYS 6 and 7  |  The GLOOSCAP TRAIL
As we move on to a 2 night stay in Parrsboro, our first stop will be at the Grand Pre National Historic Park to photograph the monument to Evangeline, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's fictional character in the poem about the Acadian expulsions of 1755. In Windsor the historic Shand House is always worth a visit if only for a taste of the old Nova Scotia. We'll then rendezvous for the tidal bore that emanates off the Bay of Fundy . . . one of the highest tides in the world. The Croix, Salmon and Shubenacadie rivers will give us options to suit our schedule.
On day 7 we'll explore the immediate Parrsboro area and head west for boat and wild flower highlights at Port Greville, Cape D'or and West Advocate, etcetera. Loons nest on a private lake near our motel.
PARRSBORO, 2 nights

DAY 8  |  The SUNRISE TRAIL
A last look at the Parrsboro vicinity in the morning, and  then cross country to the Malagash Peninsula for sea/landscapes, etcetera. Via Tatamagouche to the Loch Broom area, and Green Hill, which provides panoramas of lush Nova Scotia farmland. On to Pictou for the night where the Scots originally landed in 1773 to create this 'new Scotland'.
PICTOU, 1 night

DAY 9  |  To CAPE BRETON ISLAND
If they have the time, we'll take breakfast with our hosts who hail from the same spot in England as John does. Then on departure from Pictou, shots back towards the town from the causeway with Cormorants perched on old pier pilings (our 1995 group also enjoyed a Bald Eagle at the same spot). On east to Cape Breton Island via highway 104, and the Canso Causeway . . . the deepest on the planet. On the Cabot Trail we'll join the coast at Margaree Harbor and find more to shoot  at Cheticamp, Cap Rouge, and more as we head for our overnight stop.
PLEASANT BAY, 1 night

DAYS 10, 11 and 12  |  CAPE BRETON ISLAND
Early on day 10 we re-join the Cabot Trail, and move along Aspy Bay to Bay St. Lawrence for gulls and working boat scenes. Then back down the east side of the island taking in delights such as Neil's Harbor, the Ingonish area and Kings Point etcetera.
On days 11 and 12 we'll take a loop trip to photograph the Mabou/Mabou Harbor region, and rendezvous with a Scottish bagpiper and Scotian 'old salt'. Fort Louisbourg, a replica of an original French Fort and Iona's 'Highland Village' will constitute our other loop trip and take us briefly to 'France' and 'Scotland' respectively! Our village home, Baddeck, is worthy of photo exploration, and will include a trip to the Alexander Graham Bell museum.
BADDECK, 3 nights

DAY 13  |  The MARINE DRIVE
We'll leave Cape Breton island and get on the Marine Drive today. On route to Sherbrooke we'll explore the Strait of Canso, photograph the lighthouse on Rock Island, the Boylston area, and indulge in Port Felix vistas etcetera, etcetera. A trip to Wine Head is also scheduled while we are in the Sherbrooke area.
SHERBROOKE, 1 night

DAY 14  |  The MARINE DRIVE
Historic Sherbrooke is a real treat if you enjoy stepping back in time with your camera. Lots of costumed docents are on the streets early, and a potpourri of still life images are to be composed. As we journey back towards the Halifax area our photo opportunities will include an abundance of lilies (if the season holds), fishermen and clam gatherers, etcetera.
LAKE THOMAS, 1 night

DAY 15  |  Flights home
Mid morning flights will put us back home with ample time to dust off the mail box in preparation for the return of our great Nova Scotia images!