Music: “Control Yourself” by The Roly Mo.
One day wandering around Glasgow with a camera.
Music is by a great young Glasgow band well worth a listen.
One Day In Glasgow
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Colour Temperature at Kilchurn Castle
An insanely early trip to Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle this week. Arriving at 5.30am before sunrise we picked our way through the marsh to the edge of the water and waited for the dawn. The air was still and clear with a magical display of stars above. To be honest, the images from this trip are a bit underwhelming but there’s always something to observe and learn. The photographs have a subtle shift in colour as the light rises from a blue pre-dawn light that is flat and mysterious with 30 seconds of exposure time to the warmer tones at first light and the harsher contrast and warmer light as the sun clears the hills.
Niall and I got to discussing the merits of each situation. Most of the pictures we have seen are taken after sunrise because most people are infinitely more sensible than the the two of us stumbling around in marshland in the dark to catch the very first light of the day. The fully lit scene is normal. It looks like the landscape we all experience. It’s ok but its familiarity makes it less interesting I think. That blue, flat light that comes from no direction in particular is a rare thing. We both agreed that even if we did not make any earth-shattering images that day just to be in that light, at that place for a few minutes to experience something that is out of the ordinary is worth the 3am rise.
Kilchurn Castle March 2019 05.20am
Kilchurn Castle 2 March 2019 06.02am
Kilchurn Castle 3 March 2019 06.42am
Winter at Loch Chon
Back at Loch Chon to catch the snow before the thaw. Arrived to a localised flurry of snow landing on the frozen surface of the loch. Not nearly as cold as it looks. Great company with Niall and Joe.
Conditions: Breezy with heavy snow flurries. Overcast. Needing a faster shutter speed due to the reed movement hence ISO 400.
Camerawork: Canon 5D3. 17-40L @22mm, ISO 400, 1/60″ @ f/11.
The Might Ard
Never gets old. Some images from a previous year. Reminds me to get back there soon.
London and New York (for Aleen)
Back to the River Braan.
After just a few short days the leaves have taken on a much more autumnal hue. The days are colder and near to freezing at sunrise. Lots of empty acorn cupules lying on the forest floor but no acorns so let’s hope they are all squirrelled away (literally) for the winter. The erosion of the rocks has carved out some beautiful forms and today we noticed some long strata of quartz stretching across the river.
Another lovely day out in the company of Niall and Joe.
Seasons Turning
Dunkeld, Scotland.
An early morning visit to the river Braan reveals the subtle change in hue and tone across the forest as Autumn creeps in.
The sunlight in the river valley is just beautiful. Areas of darkness punctuated by shafts of light that light up the leaves like lanterns of green and yellow.
It’s a bit too much work to write up all the camera settings etc but if anyone is interested to know I would be happy to message you back.
Once again a big thanks to Manoj for the company and the chat.
Loch Chon as the Heavens opened.
Loch Chon Rain and Reeds
Camera work: Canon 5D3 with a 17-40L at 17mm, 0.4″@f/16, ISO 100.
Conditions: Moderate breeze. Heavy rain.
Out at Loch Chon in the Trossachs area near Aberfoyle for sun up today. Thanks Manoj for the company and your patience in the face of being soaked to the skin to get a photograph.
It rained heavily and incessantly for hours and hours. I love these conditions. It’s challenging but pays off with the beautifully muted colours and the separation the rain creates between the Island in the middle of the loch and the forest behind.
At this point I dropped my camera into the loch and my morning’s work came to an abrupt end. Had to happen someday. This is the danger of working with a tripod in the rain while up to your knees in water. I must buy one of those fancy camera bags that allow access to camera without having to juggle on open sack on your knees. My apologies to everyone I previously told that such bags were a gimmick. Consider me bitten in the bum.
Lewis and Harris
It was a delight to be back to the place that always will feel like home to me. Lewis was where I grew up and the landscape of moors, lochs, cliffs and beaches is always a tonic for me. Even more important than the place are the people. Warm, genuine and down to earth. I always leave feeling refreshed and happy. Thanks to everyone who passed time with me and with my family these last 2 months.
Harris sunset
Cliffs Near Dail Beag
Pittenweem Again
Pittenweem Harbour
A grey but fun day exploring the East Neuk of Fife again.I wanted to go back and reshoot this little beacon at Pittenweem with a long exposure. I like the composition but will need to go back to try again with better light and weather. Once again I was so focused on the camera that I didn’t even notice the seal poking around until I looked at the images on the computer at home.
