Photo of the Week 2025-01-27

 

Nearing the end of our time in Scotland, we were looking forward to the drive through Glencoe ...

 

' Lagangarbh Cottage '

As timing would have it, our trip was made in glaringly bright mid-day sunshine. Not great for photography and not what I would choose if I were to plan a photography specific visit to the stunning area.

Add to the scenario, roads very busy with tourists (off season now begins in October and perhaps as late as November) and any of the parking areas were jammed full leaving no opportunity to stop at the locations I had planned. Three Sisters ... scratch. Glencoe Waterfall ... scratch. Meeting of Three Waters ... scratch.

Well I'll be dammed if I'm not gonna get a shot of Lagangarbh Cottage! While the traditional spot to stop was chock full, a bit further south I saw a small farm entrance with space for one more, turned sharply and jammed on the brakes to skid to a stop. With a "what the ..." from my passenger I said "I'm at least gonna get one photo while in Glencoe !

 

And here you have it! Lagangarbh Cottage, on the banks of the River Etive with the mountains of Glencoe as a backdrop.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-01-20

 

' Jacobite Steam Train @ Glenfinnan Viaduct '

Having been thwarted from visiting Urqhart Castle and Loch Ness by lack pre-booking and then finding it at sold out at capacity upon arrival the previous day, I was worried that plans to see another Scottish icon would not pan out ...

I'd scoured Google maps for alternate parking possibilities should the Glenfinnan visitors centre be full and the options were not promising. Not having feet on the ground previously at this location made it a bit of a wild card scenario but we headed out with a "get what we get, see what we see" attitude.

Lady Luck would shine on us, literally, with weather and available parking (lots of it) when we arrived just before 9am. The train was scheduled to cross the viaduct at 10:45 so we had some time but still wanted to be in position to capture the event well in advance. Fortunately we were some of the early visitors to arrive and found our way along a well used route, ultimately finding our perch with over an hour to go.

We passed the time waiting by watching others arrive, the workers maintaining the viaduct structure, and chatting with a lovely couple from SW Ontario who were also on vacation. As the scheduled arrival time approached, I made sure the camera was ready, batteries charged, settings were as desired and trained my eyes and ears to the scene ...

... at a couple of minutes passed 10:45 the train came within earshot and then within view at the far end of the viaduct. Conveniently the train stopped on the viaduct, fired up the boiler pressure and photogenically let out a big belch of white steam as it commenced the crossing for all present to snap and video away.

As with most of the locations we visited during this trip, I was always on the look for something other than the common shot. Unfortunately for photography, there were quite a few maintenance personnel in orange overalls working to maintain the viaduct and scaffolding was in place at various points. Fortunately for this piece of history, Scotland cares enough to take care of it's treasures.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-01-13

 

' Eilean Donan Castle '

Destroyed by the English in the early 1700's, rebuilt over 20 years in the early 1900's, it was restored to it's former glory by 1932 ... such a shame that we destroy so much of history through conflict and ignorance.

We arrived at this iconic and extensively photographed castle mid-morning on another another bright, sunny and clear Highland day. With the waters of the lochs so calm, I wish the timing had been at high tide and reflections would be better but ...

While trying to see as much as we could throughout this trip, we opted not to enter the castle or tour around other than from the shore and parking area so I could get some photos ... oh, we also used the facilities ;-)

As I work through my images from this trip, I find myself thinking of what I would do next time, where I would allow additional time, when I would plan to visit each location for more optimum lighting conditions for photography. At the same time I know that we had such unbelievably good weather while we were there and count myself fortunate.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-01-06

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR !

 

I'm glad to be here and have anyone following, continue to do so. While I'm in 2025, my photo posting hasn't made it out of September 2024 when I was in Scotland. I'm still working through the images that I made during that 12 day self drive tour. I still have images from the last few days to work on and share. The complete set can be see via this link to my flickr account Scotland 2024. I'm adding to the album as I finish processing more from the trip.

 

This week I bring you to the Isle of Sky ... wait ... we were they with last week's post. Well ... we're still there with this week's post. This time it's Neist Point and the iconic lighthouse. As with many locations I photograph, I make a number of different compositions, some horizontal orientation, others vertical as the subject may warrant. With it getting later in the day and my companion not wanting to be on the remote, narrow roads in the dark, I had to select a position to get some images. Fortunately I had scouted the location via Google Maps and with some delicate tramping over soggy ground found a suitable spot ... or maybe I should have just looked for the gaggle of photogs with tripods and long lenses ;-)

 

' Evening Light at Neist Point - H '

' Neist Point from the Clifftop Viewpoint - H '

' Evening Light at Neist Point -V '

' Neist Point from the Clifftop Viewpoint - V '

There is so much more to explore photographically with this location. Trails lead from the clifftop down to the lighthouse and the rock peak on the left is accessible for what I am certain is an exhilarating vantage point. An then there's night photography with starry skies and auroras ... the options go one.   

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-12-30

 

There were an overwhelming number of things to see for the amount of time we had on Skye during our September trip. Both The Quiraing and Old Man of Storr were at the top of the list, each hike would require a few hours but given logistics and the duration of our visit we had to choose just one ...

... and now you see which won out.

' The Old Man of Storr '

It was a two hour hike up, counting stops to rest, take in the views and of course make use of the camera. This was the ultimate goal, the scene from the lookout, back south to The Old Man and points beyond. It was clear, sunny, very very windy as we reached higher ... and a thrill I'll never forget.

 

The Storr is a prime example of the Trotternish landslip, the longest such feature in Great Britain. The area in front of the cliffs of the Storr is known as the Sanctuary. This has a number of oddly shaped rock pinnacles, remnants of ancient landslips. The most well known of these is 'The Old Man of Storr', a 55-metre-high pinnacle of basalt rock which is all that remains of a 2,800-million-year-old volcanic plug.

Every direction you could look on this hike offered sunning views and scenery. With more time I would have liked to continue the trail further north and perhaps around to the other side of the Old Man, but that may have been a little much for this old man ;-)

 

It will be the Quiraing next time we visit Skye, -with a tip of the cap to to The Old Man on the drive by ...

 

DJE