When I encounter a new landscape I virtually always start comparing it to other landscapes with which I’m familiar. I think this is my way of trying to make sense of unfamiliar spaces. Some of the vast, open spaces of northern Scotland reminded me, at times, of parts of the American Southwest or the wilderness of Alaska. I think this is a combination of the very long views, the lack of large vegetation, and the huge valleys.
I made this photograph as we drove across far northern Scotland, crossing from west to east. Here, near or at the coast, taller inland mountains give way to lower terrain and a palpable sense that the North Sea is not far away. On this day the general cloudiness broke up enough to allow beams of sunlight through, and they moved across the landscape, turning it into a dynamic canvas of light.
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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
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