It was a magical day on the far west cost of Scotland just above the Isle of Skye. We were on a long drive from Ullapool, and had just turned south along the shoreline towards the village of Applecross, which was going to be the far point of the day’s adventure. In a bit of a change from earlier weather, the sun was trying to make an appearance — and mostly succeeding, though there was an offshore rain shower between us and Skye.
Continue reading Skye, Rain Over the Inner Sound
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.
Continue reading Valley and HIlls
I photographed this doorway on a block in Dublin’s Temple Bar District that features several little shops — eateries, a used clothing store, and so forth. Temple Bar is a busy place and not visually subtle. So I imagine that the bar is pretty high when it comes to attracting the eyeballs of passers-by. As a result, there is eye-catching exterior paint, large and colorful signs, and more.
Continue reading White Door, Dublin
Trees, much less groves or forests, are a bit of a rarity in much of the Scottish Highlands, at least compared to what we might expect in similar mountain country in the Western United States. Much of the highlands landscape is devoid of trees, and when they appear they are scatted in small groups… or part of tree farms. So it was a very pleasant surprise to arrive on the coast near Applecross and see these lush, green trees next to the River Applecross.
Continue reading River Applecross