Discover the Art of Seabird Photography - OM System Special at RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Thursday 20th May & Friday 21st May 2027

In partnership with OM System

Proud to be working with OM System to bring these special days to Bempton Cliffs.

Try the OM System kit you've been dreaming about, on some of the most spectacular seabirds in the UK, with a seabird specialist by your side.

Try before you buy, in the best possible place

For two special days in May 2027, OM System are joining me at RSPB Bempton Cliffs and bringing their kit with them.

Maybe you've had your eye on the M.Zuiko 100-400mm, the 150-400mm or the 50-200mm and want to see what it can really do. Maybe you're shooting on an older OM or Olympus body and wondering whether the OM-1 Mark II is worth the upgrade. Or maybe you're just curious about the system.

Either way, there's no better test than gannets and puffins on the clifftops of Bempton in full breeding season.

A workshop built around OM kit!

I shoot OM System myself, and this day is tailored to it. I'll show you exactly how I set up my camera for seabirds, including autofocus modes and tracking, Pro Capture, and the settings I rely on for birds in flight.You'll leave knowing how to get those shots yourself, whether you're using your own camera or the kit you've tried on the day.

Learn from a seabird specialist!

I'm not just a photographer who happens to teach. I'm a seabird specialist who lives and breathes these birds. I've spent years photographing gannets at Bass Rock, puffins on Lunga, and seabird colonies at the Farne Islands, St Abbs Head and here at Bempton Cliffs.I'm an award-winning wildlife photographer and the author of Discover the Art of Seabird Photography.Alongside the settings, I'll share the field craft that makes the difference: the signs that a gannet is about to launch, the body language of a puffin preparing for takeoff, and the patterns of birds returning with fish. That's what turns snapshots into perfectly timed images.

How the day runs

Classroom session: We start indoors with tea and coffee, covering camera settings (with a focus on OM System), composition, light and seabird behaviour, all relaxed and jargon-free.Clifftop session: Then we head out to the cliffs for an extended hands-on session. With my guidance and the OM System team on hand, you'll put what you've learned into practice and try the kit for yourself.Groups are small, so there's plenty of one-to-one time with me and with the kit.

What’s included:

A full day of expert tuition from an award-winning seabird photography specialist The chance to try OM System cameras and lenses, with the OM System team on hand Classroom session with tea and coffee Extended hands-on clifftop session with personal guidance Lunch isn't included. Bring a packed lunch or pre-order from the on-site café.

What to bring:

Your own camera and lens if you have them

A spare SD card, so you can take home the images you shoot on the demo kit

Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear

Your sense of adventure

Dates and Booking

Thursday 20 May 2027 – 9.30am-4.30pm – £85 Book

Friday 21 May 2027 – 9.30am-4.30pm – £85 Book

Places are strictly limited.To give as many people as possible the chance to try the kit, bookings are limited to one day per person, so please choose either 20th or 21st May.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to own OM System kit to come along? Not at all. Anyone is welcome, whatever camera you use. The day is geared towards OM System, so you'll get the most out of it if you shoot OM or are thinking about it. Which kit will be available to try? OM System will be bringing a selection of cameras and lenses. Kit is shared across the group, subject to availability. I'm a beginner. Is this for me? Yes. I'll meet you where you are, whether you're just starting out or have been shooting for years. Can I book both days? To give more people the chance to try the kit, it's one day per person.