musings 3 days out & about
3 Days Out & About As the title suggests these photos represent a 3 day trip I recently took into the Highlands of Scotland. The Highlands are my workplace, my office and the place I need to go to re-adjust to life in general. My 'style' if I have one is organic, in that I shoot whatever I like which can be a wide open vista or the smallest of details. Whilst I don't 'try' to be different I am very mindful of the similarities in the Landscape Photography World, Photography should be a personal endevour, from the heart and about the soul. With this in mind every photograph you make should be made up of every thing you've seen, listened to, read, loved and hated and if it isn't you've failed in your task. I find the showing of photographs a very vulnerable place to be because of this. I hope you enjoy what I was able to produce in 3 days . The equipment I used in those 3 days were..... Sigma SD Quattro Sigma 17-50 Ex Lens Sigma 50-500mm APO Lens Huawei P9 Smartphone Gitzo Sysytematic Series 2 Carbon Fibre Tripod Gitzo Series 2 Off-Centre Ballhead Where I feel necessary I will butt in with comments on the shots.
Day One
The plan for today was to drive from Inverness to Applecross in Wester Ross, then to come round the long was and arrive in my new base of Fort William
I think the omens were with me, The Sunrise at the Kessock Bridge, Inverness
The Russell Burn on the Bealach Na Ba
End of Day One I felt as if I was easing my way into the trip and if anything the weather was too good! I know what you're thinking but for a landscape photographer who (admittedly) has a bad attitude I wanted it to be colder, stormier, more drama .... weather to match my personality. I covered a lot of ground today and didn't shoot a lot of things due to over familiarity... some places need to ferment with the end of year weather and I find the Bealach Na Ba to be one of them.
Day Two
The plan for today (I use the word 'plan' but there isn't one, it's completely organic) was to drive from Fort William to Elgol on the Isle of Skye. I wanted to spend some time at Elgol because if there was anywhere to get the drama it would be Elgol. Skye has never let me down really and I wouldn't be upset if I forgot my camera, just being there in certain places is like a plaster on your scarred soul.
This kind of image has as high importance to me as the big wide vista, details are important.
This is me in a photograph, stormy, turbulent with lots of hidden detail...... Elgol was definitely giving me something I wanted.
This little gorgeous ball o fluff refused to move for about 15 minutes, I would have tried to move him (or give him a big cuddle) but his mother was HUGE
End Of Day Two Well day 2 has come and gone and it was definitely more of what I wanted, I'm now in full on Photo Ninja mode... no music, just scanning the area for more opportunities .... as close to being at peace as I get to be honest. Tomorrow is day 3 and a meander home , but not without spending time in my second home for a while.
Day Three : The Journey Home
The journey home and the 'plan' today is a good one.. I get to spend time in Glen Etive, a place I have come to think of as home of my photography. I think it is going to be a good one.
The same scene from different angles and it's one I have shot many times. I love going back to places I have been as the conditions change, the feeling changes and most importantly the light changes.
The Glencoe Skyline as a Long Exposure
The magnificent Etive Mor, the most recognisable mountain in Scotland.... My muse it has to be said.
That was the end of the journey, aside from some timelapses that cannot be included here this is what I achieved in the 3 days and I'm sure you'll agree it is significant. I went home happy and content, waiting for Autumn to start. If you would like to see more of my work I can be found at: www.redstagphotography.co.uk www.instagram.com/redstagphotography www.facebook.com/redstagphoto