Winter in the Highlands

Photographing in winter can often be a miss rather than a hit. The weather here in Scotland can tend to be mild, damp and grey for days upon end. I'm quite frustrated at the moment because for the last month, we've had clear skies, beautiful sunsets and cold snaps abound. But now I have some free time to head off into the hills, the weather has turned very mild and grey. Not the kind of weather you want for landscape photography. So I'm house bound today.

So it was nice to head round to a friends house to get this image scanned in. It's a Large Format transparency and I don't have the means to scan it myself. We had a good chat about the state of photography and I thought I'd show you this image. It is a picture of the Buchalle Etive Beag, a mountain in the Glencoe region of the highlands. It was taken a few years back.

I'm a real sucker for this kind of light. Winter can provide some of the most beautiful light of the year. Those pink tones and blues are seldom repeated throughout the year. I just thought this image would make up for me not being able to head off into the hills. Until the weather improves, this will be my yard stick for what I would like to accomplish in the following weeks ahead.

I'll be up in Applecross on Thursday to meet Mark from BBC Scotland's Great Outdoor Show. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the dawn will bring something special. Until then.....

Interview with the BBC

Hi All, I'm off to the Isle of Eigg on Sunday to stay in a £10 a night caravan - no expense spared for me. This is part of my 2 week trip up into the highlands.

As part of my trip - I will be meeting Mark from the Outdoor Show (BBC Radio 4) on Thursday morning for sunrise. I'll let you all know how it goes and whether they decide to broadcast any of my musings.

Until then......

Scottish Workshops 2009

I've just published information on some new photographic workshops that I will be doing in Scotland during 2009. I will be conducting a one week workshop on the Isle of Eigg in the Scottish Highlands during September, whilst during October and December respectively, I will be holding two short workshops - weekend trips to Glencoe in the Highlands too.

Please feel free to checkout my workshop section of my site for more information.

Fay Godwin

I love many aspects of the photography world : landscapes such as Ansel Adams, Paul Wakefield and of course Michael Kenna, but I also like images which have no immediate asthetic appeal to them. Reportage images tell a story yet they are seldom beautiful to look at in an obvious way.

© copyright Fay Godwin

And then there are photographers that I cannot define so easily. One such person is Fay Godwin. Her images have a sense of reportage about them, yet at the same time, they don't appear to have any particular message to give anyone. They just are.

But the reason why I bring up Fay, is that tonight I've been reading Elmet - a book she made in the 1970's, and decided to look up the internet, only to find an interview with her with a line I feel I must share with you all.

Fay is asked the following question: What would be your advice to a beginner in photography?

And her reply is : Look at lots of exhibitions and books, and don't get hung up on cameras and technical things. Photography is about images.

Winter Photography

I'm getting all set for a trip up north. I'll be hitting the Scottish Highlands from mid December till just after Christmas. It's long overdue as I've not had much time over the past few years to photograph my own country and I have to say that I cannot wait! So what I would like to ask you all is this: Do you ever plan trips to a place you love? If so, do you find that your mind 'dreams' up images of what you wish to photograph when you get there? Do you essentially day-dream about the experiences of being out there, roaming the landscape with your camera?

I know that my mind is currently filled with aspirations and dreams about my forthcoming trip. But it's not just the images that I am seeking. It is the feeling of just heading out there with a loose plan, knowing that surprises will come my way and images will be born that I had never anticipated.

Then again, there is the sense of freedom I am looking forward to also. The right to wander the landscape during the small hours of the mornin once I've dragged myself out of my sub zero tent no doubt. I guess it all ads up to be part of one big adventure.

My rough plan is as follows:

Half a week on the Isle of Eigg Then into Torridon, exploring Applecross beach with it's fine views over to the isle of Skye Then up towards Ullapool and Inverpolly which has some of the most distinctive mountains in Scotland Up towards Oldshoremore beach reaching Cape Wrath, one of the most bleakest and barren parts of the British Isles Over towards the Kyle of Tongue with expansive beaches and mountains hitting my Dad's house sometime on or before Christmas for some warm food and a bath no doubt.

So where are you heading to next?