Ireland – The Wild Atlantic West Photography Workshop

Led by Joe Reardon, Copley Master — Copley Society of Art, Boston
October 5–14, 2026 | 10 Days

Ireland’s western edge is a place shaped by weather, time, and human resilience. This 10-day immersion is designed to experience the Wild Atlantic not as a checklist of locations, but as a living narrative—where light, land, and history combine to create images with emotional weight and lasting meaning.

The workshop is open to photographers and non-photographers of all experience levels. No technical background is required. The emphasis throughout is on observation, intention, and visual storytelling rather than equipment or production.

Locations & Experience

Our journey moves through some of Ireland’s most evocative landscapes and cultural settings, including the Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Galway Bay, Inch Beach, and quiet harbor villages along the Atlantic coast. We work slowly and deliberately, often returning to locations under different light and weather conditions.

You’ll experience golden and blue hour along windswept shores, mist rising from lakes, stone walls cutting across open pasture, and coastal roads where sky and sea constantly reshape the scene. Rather than chasing drama, we focus on atmosphere, tone, and story—allowing the land to reveal itself on its own terms.

What We Are After

This workshop is about capturing the spirit of Ireland, not just its scenery.

We focus on:

• Light shaped by weather and time

• Texture in stone, water, and land

• Mood over spectacle

• Composition that feels resolved and intentional

• Images that suggest story, history, and place

Whether photographing rugged cliffs, quiet beaches, monastic ruins, or everyday village life, the goal is to create work that feels authentic, grounded, and emotionally connected.

I do not photograph during workshop sessions, allowing my full attention to remain on participants—guiding observation, helping refine composition, and encouraging each person’s individual way of seeing.

Daily Rhythm

Days are paced to allow for both exploration and reflection. Field sessions are balanced with time to absorb the experience rather than rush through it. Evenings provide opportunities for relaxed group discussion, informal image review, and conversation about storytelling, intent, and artistic growth.

This rhythm supports deeper engagement with both the landscape and your own creative process.

What’s Included

• All accommodations during the workshop

• Ground transportation throughout the itinerary

• Daily field instruction and visual guidance

• Breakfast each morning

• Welcome meal on the first night

• Small-group format for individualized attention

Not Included

International airfare to and from Ireland, airport transfers outside workshop dates, most lunches and dinners, travel insurance (highly recommended), personal expenses, and optional site admissions.

Spouse / Partner Option (Ireland Only)

A non-participating spouse or partner is welcome for a $1,500 single supplement. Non-participating guests share accommodation and are eligble for all supplied meals

Who This Workshop Is For

• Photographers of all experience levels

• Artists, creatives, and visually curious travelers

• Those drawn to mood, story, and place

• Anyone seeking a slower, more intentional way to experience Ireland

In Closing

This is not a high-speed tour or a technical boot camp. It is an opportunity to slow down, look closely, and create images that reflect how Ireland feels, not just how it looks.

The closest major airport is Shannon Airport SNN

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