Isle of Sky – Day 4 2024

For the final day we finally got a lie in, well pick up was 7am so it felt like a 3hr lie in. With bags packed we checked out of the Uig hotel and boarded the car for the journey back to Inverness. We planned 3 stops on the way, Sligachan Old Bridge, Eilean Donan Castle and Eas-Nan-Arm Bridge again. The weather was still overcast with little sunlight.

Parking back in Sligachan, we knew the terrain and headed for the Old Bridge, quickly stopping for some pictures over the river to the hills. The cloud formations were moving quick and the view changed every few minutes. On to the Old Bridge and I found the best vantage point was below the bridge to the side, looking up and across it.

We briefly stopped at Eilean Donan Castle again and had some lunch. The car park was full with visitors and tourists. The cafe was packed and hardly any space so we stood outside eating our pasties admiring the views and reminiscing on the photography tour.

For the final stop we parked up on the A87 and walked out to Eas-Nan-Arm Bridge. Still very little sunlight to talk of however there were a couple of photo opportunities that took our fancy. Then, sadly, it was time to board the car once more and head back to Inverness and have one final coffee together in the train station.

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Isle of Sky – Day 3 2024

Day 3 start was even earlier than day 2, I didn’t think this could be possible. However to dive to Storr and walk up to the viewing point for Old Man of Storr, we need to be parked up for 4am and with about an hours walk we set up the tripods at 5am. The sun had just risen however, this didn’t spoil the spectacular views over the bay, and my first sights of the unbelievable rock formations. This was like something out of Jurassic Park, I kept expecting dinosaurs to stroll across the land in front of us.

On the way back to the car, the size and scale of the rockfaces was just mesmerising. Small clouds were dwarfed by the rocks that were formed over 60 million years ago by lava flows.

Heading back for breakfast, we stopped at Kilt Rock Waterfall. Fascinating to see the layers of rocks built up from lava flows over millions of years.

After a wee nap and some lunch we headed out to the beautiful town of Portree, where the houses are painted in amazingly bright colours. There was a cruise ship docked in the harbour, I imagine with lots of tourists ready to come ashore and taste the local fish and chips or buy souvenirs.

After dinner we headed to Neist Point Cliff Lighthouse Viewpoint for sunset and again the weather did not disappoint. Along with sun rays and clouds we could see 2 rain storms in the valleys in the distance, separated by the mountain, and a 3rd storm in another valley.

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Isle of Sky – Day 2 2024

Day 2 started with a 2.45am alarm with a pick up from the hotel at 3.30, this was not my idea of a holiday but it was the best time for getting some sunrise pictures. Unfortunately, when we arrived in the car park the clouds had other ideas at Quiraing. It was only a 30 min walk from the car park to our stop to set up the tripods and cameras. Our auto focus was really struggling with the amount of white cloud floating by, so we had to grab a focus lock on anything when there was a break.

After an hour we started to walk back to the car park and the clouds finally broke, sunrise had long gone, but the landscape that presented its self was breath taking. The Sharks Fin rose out of the ground with moody clouds surrounding it and with a reflection in the water below it stood there more prominent.

We found a lone tree peeking out of the side of the rocks, this presented a great photo opportunity, however whichever angle we chose, it just didn’t generate the picture that we hoped for. The time now was 7am and we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. I wanted a full-English, but for some reason I could only order a fully-loaded breakfast in Scotland!

After breakfast, a wee nap and some lunch we headed out to Sligachan where we set up the tripod by the river and took instruction on using ND filters for long exposure shots. This is my first attempt and I’m quite pleased with the results.

After an evening meal we took a short journey up the A855 to the Lewis and Harris View point for sunset. We weren’t disappointed with the combination of clouds and sun rays that light the sky and the sea up.

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Isle of Sky – Day 1 2024

The 4 day trip started by arriving at Inverness airport and catching a bus to Inverness City Centre. After meeting up with our guide, Alex, at Inverness train station, we embarked on an journey from Inverness Airport to the Isle of Skye, with our tour guide expertly navigating the winding roads in his SUV. Our first stop was the legendary Loch Ness, where the calm waters held a mysterious charm, perfect for a quick photo opportunity.

We continued on, pausing briefly at the River Moriston, where the river flowed in to the Dundreggan Reservoir creating a naturally beautiful area. A short drive later, we reached a stunning viewpoint along the A87, offering sweeping views of the surrounding Highlands—this was my first view of the rugged, raw, hills of Scotland and draped in a fine mist and cloud.

As we crossed the Eas-Nan-Arm Bridge, the landscape opened up to reveal more of Scotland’s wild beauty. Our final stop before driving to Uig was the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, standing proudly against the backdrop of mountains and water. Capturing this historic site on camera was a highlight, a perfect end to day 1 of travelling to Skye.

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Picture a Month – Dunham pond 2023

Following on from the success of last years ‘Picture A Month’ at Ashely, blog here, we chose a pond at Dunham Massey. This benefited us on many levels as meant we could stop and have a coffee, or meet with family & friends and then pop out to the pond to take the monthly picture. Amazing how, through the seasons, the flora & fauna around the pond changed so drastically. Also interesting to see how the animals flocked to it at different parts of the day. For example, the May shot was taken at sunset and we found the deer were walking down towards us like we hadn’t seen when the park was full with visitors. I realise we are intruding on their natural habitat but really gave an insight in to the lives.

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Chrome Hill 29.10.2023

Beginning our winter walk from Hollinsclough, the countryside was a mix of muted winter tones under a soft, overcast sky. We walked up the road from the village and turned off at the footpath, leading us through fields and across streams, however the countryside was devoid of the usual summer greenery but still enchanting in its simplicity.

As we approached Chrome Hill, better known as The Dragon’s Back, rose before us adding a sense of anticipation to our journey. The sun beaming down on one side of the hill. Climbing to the summit of Chrome Hill, we were rewarded with expansive views of the surrounding landscape. The winter-bare trees and rolling hills created a peaceful and understated beauty, highlighting the natural contours of the land. When we reached the peak, the distinctive shape of Parkhouse Hill emerged in the distance.

Descending from Chrome Hill, the sight of Parkhouse Hill ahead was a striking focal point against the subdued winter backdrop. Its rugged profile stood out, reminding us of the timeless beauty of the Peak District, even in its most quiet and reflective season. This winter walk was a reminder of the simple joys of nature, offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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Salisbury Cathedral 13.09.2023

On a bright and sunny day, we ventured to Salisbury Cathedral, and what a sight it was! The sheer size of the cathedral’s exterior was awe-inspiring, casting its grand shadow over the surrounding grounds. As we stepped inside, we were immediately captivated by the intricate architecture that adorned the interior. The soaring vaulted ceilings, adorned with delicate tracery, seemed to reach towards the heavens, while the stained glass windows bathed the space in a kaleidoscope of colours.

Walking through the nave, each step revealed new details and artistic wonders, from the meticulously carved stone pillars to the ornate chapels that lined the sides. The cathedral’s history seemed to whisper through its walls, inviting us to explore and discover its stories.

One particular highlight was the reflective still water of the Cathedral Font. I managed to capture a magnificent reflection of the stained glass windows in the Font. As we wandered through the cathedral, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of history and nostalgia, humbled by the beauty and majesty that surrounded us. Salisbury Cathedral truly is a masterpiece of architecture and a must-visit for anyone exploring this historic city.

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Mach Loop 07.07.2023

Climbed up to CAD West to see the amazing spectacle of the Mach Loop with F15s, F35s, a Merlin helicopter and even a Lockheed AC-130 come flying through. Armed with radios, flight trackers, camera’s and many cups of tea, we had about 20 passes for the day.

At one point, I managed to film a couple of F35s powering through the Mach Loop. I assume the 2nd pilot was a rookie as his base level was considerably higher than the lead F35. The howl from the 2nd aircraft was reminiscing of the Vulcan bomber.

CV
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Brant Fell 28.01.2023

A short walk up to Brant Fell from Bowness-on-Windermere, looking South down Lake Windermere, gave us these wonderful views.

Looking North to the top of Lake Windermere, the sun light up the clouds and Loughrigg Fell.

Some wonderful rock formations scattered around the top of the Fell. Great viewing points, as my walker friend found out.

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Picture a Month – Ashley tree 2022

In late 2021 I read a post about how to stave off photographers block by planning to take a picture once a month of a subject. Could be a building, a location, a car and we settled on a tree at Ashely near a place we go for coffee. It is in the middle of farmers fields, that we found during lockdown (it did have its good points) and is quite remote. Its is a 25 minute walk from my house and they serve might fine coffee at Into the Wild cafe, what more of an excuse do we need to visit once a month?

Starting off this project was easy, we’d go for a winters day walk, take the camera, grab a coffee then take a picture of the tree. I paced out how far passed the tree I needed to be and marched those all important 29 paces, and set my focal length to 35mm, the same for every shot, and took the picture. Next month we did the same again, simples, what could go wrong! Then in March, the end of the month was nearing, the weather had been poor and we hadn’t taken the shot. Panic set in, sleepless nights ensued and we ended up dashing out on the last weekend of the month just to grab this damn shot. From then on we knew we were hooked as this was quite the rush to get the shot and be settled. Did we then decide to get the shot taken early for the rest of the months??? Did we heck!!!

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