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⭐ Hidden Hampshire Photo Tour Highlights – July 2026

  • Aug 1
  • 3 min read

I spent July with two small groups of photographers on my Hidden Hampshire photo tours, based in the historic city of Winchester and the surrounding countryside. It's a truly idyllic corner of England, with something of a Wind in the Willows quality.


Over several days we moved between water-meadows, woodlands, chalk-streams and farmland, home to some my favourite photography locations. The aim wasn't to rush from one species to the next, but to slow down, spend time with individual subjects, and make the most of the light, behaviour and character of each place.


Starting Small: We began the photo tour with a deliberately low-pressure session - photographing harvest mice in a controlled setup. We run this session to give everyone a chance to slow down and concentrate on camera technique, composition, atmosphere, and how a small changes in position can completely alter a photograph.
Starting Small: We began the photo tour with a deliberately low-pressure session - photographing harvest mice in a controlled setup. We run this session to give everyone a chance to slow down and concentrate on camera technique, composition, atmosphere, and how a small changes in position can completely alter a photograph.
Buzzards: In the evening, we moved into a hide to photograph Buzzards and Red Kites. With beautiful golden-hour light creating opportunities for dramatic portraits, the wasps competing for food added some chaotic interactions.
Buzzards: In the evening, we moved into a hide to photograph Buzzards and Red Kites. With beautiful golden-hour light creating opportunities for dramatic portraits, the wasps competing for food added some chaotic interactions.
"Thanks so much for organising such a great birthday tour for us. We had a great time!" - Kerri & Alicia
Woodland Birds: A woodland hide was on Day 2's agenda, where Nuthatches, Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Tits flocked to feed. Under my guidance, everyone took their time to anticipate flight paths and the right moment, rather than simply reacting. This resulted in intimate portraits and dynamic high-speed flight shots.
Woodland Birds: A woodland hide was on Day 2's agenda, where Nuthatches, Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Tits flocked to feed. Under my guidance, everyone took their time to anticipate flight paths and the right moment, rather than simply reacting. This resulted in intimate portraits and dynamic high-speed flight shots.
Tawny Owls At Dusk: After dinner, we headed out to photograph our local Tawny Owls and their chick hunting. We're very familiar with these birds' routines, and this year we had excellent opportunities for flight shots and intimate feeding portraits. With hands-on tuition in using flash creatively, we were able to create striking images while the owls continued with their normal activities.
Tawny Owls At Dusk: After dinner, we headed out to photograph our local Tawny Owls and their chick hunting. We're very familiar with these birds' routines, and this year we had excellent opportunities for flight shots and intimate feeding portraits. With hands-on tuition in using flash creatively, we were able to create striking images while the owls continued with their normal activities.
Macro In The Meadows: We swapped zooms for macro lenses and headed into the wildflower meadows, where butterflies such as this Marbled White provided countless opportunities to experiment with colour, texture, and low-level compositions. We observed over half of the UK's butterfly species during this tour.
Macro In The Meadows: We swapped zooms for macro lenses and headed into the wildflower meadows, where butterflies such as this Marbled White provided countless opportunities to experiment with colour, texture, and low-level compositions. We observed over half of the UK's butterfly species during this tour.
Down By The River: Hampshire is famous for its chalk streams, and these waterways offer some marvellous images. The spectacular Banded Demoiselles gave us the chance to experiment with iridescent colours and courtship behaviours.
Down By The River: Hampshire is famous for its chalk streams, and these waterways offer some marvellous images. The spectacular Banded Demoiselles gave us the chance to experiment with iridescent colours and courtship behaviours.
Want to experience some of the UK's best wildlife for yourself? → Find out more about my Hidden Hampshire Wildlife Photography Tour
River Abstracts: There was plenty to photograph beyond insects and birdlife. The rivers themselves offer a quieter landscape to contemplate, with water crowfoot swaying beneath the surface.
River Abstracts: There was plenty to photograph beyond insects and birdlife. The rivers themselves offer a quieter landscape to contemplate, with water crowfoot swaying beneath the surface.

Kingfishers: We spent a full day with our local kingfisher pairs, watching them dive, feed and return to their favourite perches. We took time to experiment with reflections, portraits, and perfecting our timing for dives. One favourite moment was watching a kingfisher toss a fish into the air before swallowing it head-first. This is about looking for your favourite kingfisher moment.
Kingfishers: We spent a full day with our local kingfisher pairs, watching them dive, feed and return to their favourite perches. We took time to experiment with reflections, portraits, and perfecting our timing for dives. One favourite moment was watching a kingfisher toss a fish into the air before swallowing it head-first. This is about looking for your favourite kingfisher moment.
"The kingfisher experience was fantastic! The whole trip was superbly organised and precise, to get the shots we were after. Paul was professional and willing to assist at all times. Highly recommended!" - Wilo
Personal Projects: On the last day, I like to give everyone the chance to return to a favourite subject or develop ideas of their own. By now, the creative techniques and approaches from the week could be put into practice with a little more independence.
Personal Projects: On the last day, I like to give everyone the chance to return to a favourite subject or develop ideas of their own. By now, the creative techniques and approaches from the week could be put into practice with a little more independence.

A Week Of Photography In Hampshire's Countryside


Hampshire is one of my favourite places in England for wildlife photography. There's an untouched quality to its woodlands, streams and meadows, all sitting remarkably close together and rich with wildlife. It's the variety of nationally iconic species, combined with the intimate scale of the landscapes, that make Hampshire so rewarding to photograph.


The small group size means plenty of time for individual tuition, but just as importantly, time to stop and look. To respond to behaviour, light, try something different and make photographs with a sense of place.


Thank you to everyone who joined me for this year's Hidden Hampshire tours. It was a pleasure sharing this little corner of England with you.


Paul Alistair Collins

Want to experience Hampshire for yourself? Join me on the next Hidden Hampshire photography tour, where we spend time exploring its idyllic waterways and photographing its unique wildlife.→ Book your place on the next small group photo tour to Hampshire.

Guests capturing our captive harvest mice on an introductory workshop.
Guests capturing our captive harvest mice on an introductory workshop.

Species Highlights: Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Red Kite, Buzzard, Red Fox, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Harvest Mouse (Captive), Beautiful Demoiselle, Adonis Blue, Marbled White.

 
 
 

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