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Stormy seas, sea spray and sunsets are the most infuriating combination I think you can get? Therefore, if you choose to be out in it to take an image, it is incumbent on you to try and stay calm or at least as calm as the sea. Added to which, not having the best eyesight, you only really know if you are in focus or that the filter is clear of sea spray when you load the image up to the PC.

Here we have a couple of images from storm Floris taken at Lendalfoot on the Ayrshire coast. It is a location I really need to visit more often, that and Ballantrae. I do prefer the B&W version of the first image, but for your boredom I shall include the colour version also. I do like how the Oystercatcher have to take shelter from on the rock, if you can call it shelter.

 

This image of Ailsa Craig was perhaps the most difficult to take because I was so close to the surf and facing directly into the wind and spray. 

The final two images were taken earlier on it the day when I was able to angle the camera away from the spray. Thanks for looking.

Off on another short trip to the Highlands, taking every opportunity offered to capture an image. For me, I know I'm in the Highlands when I first see the lovely red granite rocks which coincides with the brooding Glencoe. This first image of the trip was a quick handheld shot taken in the rain, thankfully avoiding any rain spots on the lens.

I was trying to avoid the honeypot locations, looking for something fresh. Personally the rain does not bother me, it only adds to the atmosphere. 

 Talking about red rocks... Glen Nevis.

It can be tempting to over saturate the rocks but I try to keep them the way they looked to  me. 

One advantage of the rain apart from making things nice and moody is the photographers favourite waterfalls. Once again in Glen Nevis, rather than the usual lower falls, I found this small waterfall on one of the many walks in the Glen.

Following on from Glencoe and Glen Nevis, we have Glenfinnan. Once again trying a new angle, so no Harry Potter viaduct. Perhaps not the image I envisioned, but I did like the light on the hills, so worth a try.

Speaking of worth a try, I can highly recommend the accommodation we stayed in for this trip. Not forgetting the excellent host. If you want to base yourself in an area close to Glenfinnan with Tioram Castle, Mallaig and the surrounding area within easy reach, HERE is the place to stay.

Lastly, I refuse to admit taking this, the most lazy of shots of Glenfinnan. Talk about lazy!

It's that time of year again, bluebell season. A small time window of around three weeks when the bluebells are at their best. I have still to take an image of the bluebells that I am truly happy with, perhaps my expectations exceed the possible. Here we have this year's image, although the season has still time to go.

I have been meaning to go to Smirisary an abandoned township or village for about five years. I made it this year, and it did not disappoint. Smirisary township was a victim of the highland clearances from what I can understand. You can see one of the abandoned houses in the foreground, along with its customary rowan tree to ward off evil. It is about a two-mile walk from where you park the car, and good foot ware is a good idea because it can be boggy in places.  In 1973 Smirisary comprised of eight unroofed, one partially roofed, two roofed buildings and some field walls. These days there are at least six roofed and restored houses. There are however a good few abandoned buildings dotted about the area still like the one below. All in all it was a very pleasant walk in on a lovely autumnal day with no midges. Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

I try never to be put off from shooting at any time of day, you do not need golden hour to take a pleasing image. A growing love of black and white images is also no bad thing and midday sunshine can offer light you might not be able to get at other times of the day. I prefer to intentional shoot with a monochrome image in mind rather than thinking the light is too harsh for colour so I can change it to monochrome. This was the case with this image of Bauchaille Etive Mor. I just loved the cloud structure at this time of day and included the bridge to try and add a sense of scale. 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 Force of Nature

As can often be the case with photography sometimes you have to FORCE yourself to go out and shoot. The past few nights had just been cloudy and grey, but there was a sunset. Tonight was no different looking above just grey to the east grey to the west a hint of pink. Surely there could be no sunset with all this grey, so out with little hope. It paid off though with this image there was a break on the horizon.

 

A slightly complex to edit image comprising four 10mm shots blended. Two for a small pano for the foreground and two for the bright sky and blended together. Thanks for looking. 

 

 

 

 LOCH TROOL

 Probably not a hidden gem? That said Loch Trool near the village of Glentrool is perhaps overlooked by many photographers. It has so much to offer in one small area with wild woodland many burns (scots for river streams) waterfalls a plenty and let's not forget the Loch itself. The main purpose of this trip was to photograph the Buchan Burn.

 

The idea was not to shoot the three tiered falls just up the hill from the Buchan bridge, but the often more overlooked rapids and falls upstream.

 

One good thing about this time of year because the bracken is still low and not filled out yet means you can find areas of the Buchan Burn that are usually hidden. Most of these shots in previous years I have walked passed not knowing they were there. You could hear the water but with the bracken at shoulder height they just could not be seen and wading through tick infested bracken is not too appealing.

 

 

Thanks for looking.