Scotland Outdoors Winners

The good guys at Scotland Outdoors magazine ran a competition last year with two days in the Highlands with yours truly being the prize. Lucky winners Rob and Rachel from Bristol arrived on Friday and we spent the first day around the Cairngorm National Park, conditions weren’t ideal but it was loads of fun photographing the cascades around Glenfeshie and the ruined castle on Loch an Eilean.

Day two and we headed North up into wild and wonderful Inverpolly and Coigach. Cloud rolled in and out and we dodged a couple of showers but generally conditions were excellent, with constantly changing light creating some amazing views and images. Highlights included Loch Lurgainn and Stac Pollaidh, Achnahaird beach and Rhue point.

Above -Achnahaird beach, An empty expanse of beach to explore with Rob and Rachel. The hills of Coigach in the distance behind us. Below-  just after a passing shower we made our way down the lochside to photograph Stac Pollaidh, the cloud did clear but I kind liked this image with the summit cloaked in a lump of passing cloud.

Just before a looming shower I took this image of the beach, almost shooting into the light, I used a 2 stop hard grad to hold back the sky and a Lee big stopper (10 stop) to give me a 30 second exposure and create a more ethereal dynamic to the water. With second the rain hit and we took shelter under a rocky over hang. Some of the best light you’ll experience in the Highlands is just before or just after these frequent but short showers.

My thanks to Rachel and Rob for being good sports and congratulations on winning the competition, I’ll post a couple of their images once I’ve received them. Thanks also to the Lovat Arms Hotel in Beauly for providing  the accommodation and a warm Highland welcome.

Rachel and Rob on Rhu beach.

The Old Man

Even in ordinary light this scene naver fails to impress me. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been up to the Sanctuary and wandered around this location, doesn’t matter what the season or how dramatic the light is it always comes up with something new.

One Eyeland and me

One Eyeland is a website featuring a host of photographers work from around the world. Within the site is some the best imagery that you are likely to encounter. It’s an inspiring, thought-provoking hot bed of ideas, observations and creativity. Work is submitted, accepted and rejected on a daily basis and photographers are ranked globally and nationally. I guess this keeps up with egos and gives the site a competitive nature. I have been a premium member for over and year and currently rank #7 in the UK and #32 in the world. Maybe I should submit some more images?

One the way to Skye via Glensheil this view smacks you in the mouth as you drive along the shore of Loch Clunie

Creative directors surf the site looking for images and talent, commissions are made and ideas are born. I just like the images and thought you might too. Visit www.oneyeland.com

Winter Highlander Photo Tour with Lightstalkers Scotland

The end of February could be the last chance to capture some winter scenes here in the Highlands, 6 glorious days to explore, capture and create some great winter images. Highlights include the The Cairngorm NP, the UK’s biggest and the mountains and lochs around Wester Ross.

Inverpolly and some wild landscapes on Skye will also feature. It’s mild here at the moment but things can change quickly and the temp is set to drop. We have known cold conditions and snow into April and even May on the low mountains.

Images: top – From the Quiraing, Isle of Skye, below – view from An Cobar (Ben Wyvis) Wester Ross.

Happy New Year

Thanks for all your support in 2011, been a good year. Looking forward to 2012 and exploring some great locations. Re visiting Tasmania in March as well as some new Highland locations and hope fully meeting some new faces along the way.

This is one of my favourite scenes from 2011, not necessarily my favourite photograph but it’s one that always grabs my attention. It’s Kilbride on Skye, on the way over to Elgol. I love the mountain “Blaven” in the background and I often wonder if the folks that live in that house ever get lonely?

Another memorable trip in 2011 was Harris and Lewis, the outer Hebrides. I went over a few weeks before the workshop just to touch base with the locations and iron out a few things, the rough ferry trip over from Ullapool was an ominous sign. After 2 hrs crashing through big waves I drove down to Luskentyre on Harris. It was high tide and still blowing a wild gale as water whipped up over the road. This was September. After failed attempts to get onto the rocks I went for a walk on the dunes, a safer option. Impossible to take any photographs I retired to the pub to watch Manchester Utd get humbled by inferior opposition. I guess when it’s not your day it’s not your day.

After a wild night sleeping in the back of the car  buffeted by the howling wind all night I set off north to Lewis, stopping en route at the Calanais standing stones (above). An atmospheric place that leaves a lasting impression on the mind and the camera sensor. Harris and Lewis  really get  Fortunatly the workshop in October was a mild affair with great weather, light and company.

New Lightstalker Tour

This has been my busiest period since starting Lightstalkers almost 2 years
ago. All my recent trips have sold out and I’m now looking towards 2012
and developing some new locations and ideas.

 After the success of the
Highlander tours I thought I’d det up a new tour with some new locations
with a similar format. The New Lightstalker Tour will run during May and
feature some new locations that don’t normally feature during the
Spring/Summer/ Autumn months. The Lightstalker tour will feature Glencoe,
Glen Nevis, Glenfinnan, Arisaig beaches and some other areas on The
Isle of Skye. I’m also going to develop a further trip that starts in
Inverness and ends in the Scottish capital Edinburgh, it will also feature
Torridon, Applecross, Dornoch and the Tarbet Ness Light house and the  Cairngorm National Park, watch
this space.

Isle of Mull Images

Isle of Mull – The workshop

Julie, Kerryn and Sandra at the mouth of Fingals cave on the Island of Staffa, the sun eventually found us after a bouncy, wet and misty trip over.

Chilling out (and holding on) on the boat back.

The guys on the top of Staffa

Getty ready for the post sunset shoot on Calgary beach.

Sandra and Julie at Eos Fors Falls.

Early morning session at the Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse.

Raasey

Every now and then you witness a scene, and even with your best efforts it can never do the place or event justice. This was taken while driving along the Applecross peninsula , looking west towards Skye. Crepuscular rays as they are known are a common sight along the North West Highlands, but this one was pretty dramatic and I doubt I’ve done it justice.

A day in Torridon

Spent yesterday with Katy and Stuart from London on a day trip to Torridon and Applecross. Although the weather proved to be frustrating we still managed to get some great results and the guys are now shooting in manual mode and have a new understanding of light and the capture process after a day in the field. Thanks guys.

Couple of images straight out of the camera below feature a stand of Caledonian pines amongst a swathe of colourful bracken and heather, soft side lighting the key to this image. Forests provide a great location during dodgy spells of weather.