Photographing Nature

Photographing Nature with Corey Kinnan

An All Inclusive Week of Observation, Connection, and Creative Growth

Tutor Corey Kinnan

Corey Kinnan is a photographer whose work is shaped by attentive observation, environmental connection, and a deep respect for the natural world. Originally from the United States and now based on the Black Isle in Scotland, Corey’s photography focuses on the unseen: the places off the beaten path, the animals that fly past as we go about our lives. His work highlights slowing down and taking notice, connecting with nature in an intimate way.

With a passion for outdoor adventure and a deep connection to the natural world, Corey captures captivating images from locations across the globe, from the peaceful rivers of Maine to the dramatic Scottish Highlands and the pristine wilderness of Antarctica. Corey’s nature photography aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for Earth’s beauty and promote environmental awareness.

Date
8th-14th May, 2027

Number of Places
6

Overview
Join nature photographer Corey Kinnan for a week of slowing down, connecting with nature, and developing your own unique photographic voice.

Who is it for/Skill Level
This retreat is suitable for enthusiastic beginners, hobby photographers, and intermediate photographers who want to develop their eye, gain confidence, and become more thoughtful image-makers.

Guests should be comfortable using their own camera, but advanced technical knowledge is not required. The focus is on composition, light, observation, storytelling, fieldcraft, and editing, rather than complicated equipment or overly technical instruction.

Whether you’re new to nature photography or have years of experience, this retreat offers a relaxed, supportive environment in which to build confidence, strengthen your creative voice, and deepen your connection with the natural world.

What you will learn

• Develop a more thoughtful and personal approach to nature photography.
• Build confidence in composition, light, observation, storytelling, and ethical fieldcraft.
• Create and edit images that reflect your own creative vision and connection to nature.

WHAT TO EXPECT/COURSE STRUCTURE

This retreat combines field photography, creative discussion, image review, editing, and shared feedback. Each day has a different photographic focus, using the Dordogne landscape as the classroom. Guests will work outdoors in varied environments, return to certain locations to observe change, and spend time reviewing and refining images together.

The pace is full but considered, with built-in time for rest, meals, conversation, and absorbing the experience of rural France. There will also be opportunities to slow down, meditate in nature, and discover how being fully present can deepen both your connection to the natural world and your photography.

Instruction is relaxed, positive, and tailored to each guest. Rather than encouraging everyone to photograph the same scene in the same way, Corey offers practical guidance, constructive feedback, and techniques that help participants build confidence, strengthen their own creative voice, and develop a way of seeing that is uniquely their own.

Draft schedule for each day – High-level outline

Saturday
Arrival mid-afternoon. Get settled in. Welcome apéritif* and dinner at the barn. Introduction to the week.

*Each evening we gather for “apéro” – the classic French pre-dinner ritual when friends and neighbours share a well-chosen drink and small savoury nibbles designed to awaken the appetite.

The apéritifs we serve are distinctly authentic, being produced in the nearby town of Sarlat by a distillery that has been refining these traditional recipes since 1850 using walnut, figs, plums and other signature flavours of the Dordogne. Apéros are a special tradition marking the end of the day. Over the course of the week, it becomes a mini taste tour of our region, experienced as part of everyday life in the Dordogne.

Sunday
Morning: Session 1 – Visit to Grotte de Cougnac
Lunch at the barn
Afternoon: Session 2 – Nature walk
Apéros & Dinner at the barn

Monday
Early morning: Session 3 – Sunrise shoot (riverside)
Breakfast at the barn
Late morning free / rest
Lunch at the barn
Afternoon: Session 4 – Nature walk
Apéros & Dinner at the barn

Tuesday
Breakfast at the barn
Morning: Session 5 – Portraits
Lunch at the barn
Afternoon: Session 6
Evening: Session 7 – Dusk kayak shoot on the Dordogne
Late/light dinner at the barn (or early before dusk shoot)

Wednesday
Breakfast at the barn
Morning: Sarlat market
Lunch in Sarlat (not included)
Afternoon: Session 8 – Macro photography
Apéros & Dinner at the barn

Thursday
Breakfast at the barn
Morning: Session 9 – Editing
Lunch at the barn
Afternoon free / river time
Late afternoon: Session 10 – Gallery / group share / feedback
Apéros & Dinner at the barn

Friday
Leisurely brunch at the barn & Departures

MATERIALS TO BRING

• Camera (DSLR, mirrorless, or advanced compact camera)
• Suitable lens or lenses for nature photography (wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and/or macro if you own one)
• Spare batteries and battery charger
• Memory cards
• Comfortable camera bag or backpack
• Laptop or tablet for editing (if available)
• Card reader or transfer cable
• Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
• Waterproof jacket or rain layer
• Reusable water bottle
• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• Any personal medication
• Dry bag or waterproof camera protection for the kayak session
• Optional: Tripod
• Optional: Polarising filter

Included
All accommodation, airports transfer ask local transport, all excursions, meals and refreshments except your lunch during your visit to Sarlat market.

You will also be provided with a field observation notebook and pen.

Not Included
Flights, travel insurance

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION

Getting Here
The Walnut Barn, 66 Alle du Forgeron, Saint Cybranet, 24250, France

Arrival Day – Saturday
Bergerac Airport is just over an hour from us. We provide one scheduled transfer from Bergerac on Saturday afternoon, and a return transfer on Friday morning. We will organise timings around flight schedules once these are released.

From the UK
The most straightforward option is a direct Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport. Flights typically operate several times per week during the summer season and often align well with our Saturday arrival and Friday departure transfers.

Additional UK routes to Bergerac may operate seasonally from airports such as Bristol, East Midlands and Liverpool.

Travelling from Further Afield
If you are travelling from the USA or elsewhere internationally, you may wish to fly into Paris and continue your journey by rail.

Direct trains run from Paris Austerlitz to the train station at Gourdon (approximately 30 minutes from the Walnut Barn venue) several times a day, with journey times of around 5½–6 hours.

Alternatively, you can travel via Bordeaux. Bordeaux is well connected by air, rail and international services, and guests can take a direct train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean station to Sarlat-la-Canéda (approximately 20 minutes from the Walnut Barn venue). Journey times are typically around 2½–3 hours.

Travelling via Toulouse
Toulouse Matabiau station has regular direct services to Gourdon, with journey times of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, making Toulouse another convenient gateway to the region.

Train Travel Within France
Gourdon and Sarlat are the nearest railway stations and are approximately 30 minutes and 20 minutes respectively from the retreat venue. Complimentary transfers from Bergerac Airport, Gourdon station and Sarlat station are included in your retreat package, making rail travel a simple and stress-free way to reach us.

Driving
Driving from the UK is straightforward via Eurotunnel or ferry routes such as Calais, St Malo or Santander. The journey from Calais is approximately 9–10 hours, mostly motorway, with parking available on site.

Guests making their own travel arrangements and not requiring a transfer receive a €70 reduction.

Guests can choose to combine their retreat with a few days in Paris, Bordeaux or Toulouse, turning their visit into part of a longer French adventure.

Please Note
Travel is booked independently. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for event cancellation. Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

Shuttle Service
Please note we operate a shuttle service the short distance between the off-site accommodation and the Walnut Barn.