A Few Days at Loch Ard Mark Sims LRPS CPAGB BPE4*
I don’t know about you, but once in a while I like to book some time off work and go ‘somewhere new’ and challenge myself to capture some images outside my usual ‘comfort zone’. I like to try and get away around October time so, in search of inspiration, I had another look at my Landscape Photographer of the Year (Collection 13) book and was drawn to an image by Chris Lauder (page 168) taken at Loch Ard. I got in touch with Chris and he spoke highly of the area, so I booked some accommodation for my wife and I at Aberfoyle for a few nights and, when the time came, we set out on the long drive from our home just north of London. What I’ll say right away is it’s a beautiful part of the world – even if the weather gods decided to toy with me for those few days! Apparently, Aberfoyle and the surrounding area had had beautiful weather in the preceding weeks but, unfortunately for us, rain was pretty much the order of the day. And the day after. And the day after that… However, we did get some breaks in the weather here and there, so waterproof coats and walking shoes on, we ventured out!
Image 1 was taken on the western edge of Loch Ard, about a 10 minute drive from Aberfoyle, and was my ‘attempt’ at something along the lines of Chris Lauder’s beautifully executed image. I think I was in pretty much the same spot but regretted not having my wellies on that morning, as I would have preferred to have been closer to the reeds and a little lower down to occupy the space between foreground and background.
1 ICM Grand Avenue Savernake Forest
March 2022 Volume 7 Number 2
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