Tag Archives: heather

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

In the Scottish Forest

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In the Scottish Forest
“In the Scottish Forest” — A small tree growing in the dense forest on a rainy day on the Great Glen Way, Scotland.

I made this photograph near the end of our May trek along Scotland’s Great Glen Way. It was the final day of our walk, and we would end arrive at Inverness later that day. I think we thought this would be a sort of easy, level and downhill walk to our destination. It started that way, along a narrow country road through fam country, but the sky soon clouded up (hey, it is Scotland!) and before long it began to rain. I saw this tree off to the side as we walked through a particularly dark and wet section of forest.

The rest of the day was a bit odd — though it was not all dark like this photo. The rain continued, mostly light but fairly continuous. Eventually we began to spot buildings on the edge of Inverness through breaks in the trees. Before long the path dropped toward the outskirts of the town, and the hike was more and more along urban sidewalks and paths. Then we missed a sign somewhere and got off route, eventually realizing our mistake and correcting — and before long we crossed the river to downtown Inverness and reached the official end point of the walk.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Highland Trees and Fog

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Highland Trees and Fog
“Highland Trees and Fog” — Small trees and mountain fog in the highlands along the Great Glen Way near the “View Catcher.”

We began our spring walk along Scotland’s Great Glen Way in distinctly lowland country. We started a sea level in Fort William, then headed north along the Caledonian Canal, passing by agricultural country and eventually a large loch. But eventually the route took is into higher terrain, most dramatically on this day when we climbed steeply out of the town of Invermoriston, eventually crossing a high ridge before a long descent to the final miles of the day along the canal once again.

Much of this part of Scotland is thickly forested, but there’s often a distinct and sudden division between trees and barren highlands. We had passed through some highland country on the train to Fort William, but this was the first time we walked into it. It was a dramatic change! The day was cloudy and damp, and even though it momentarily cleared at this point, fog clouds drifted in and out of the scene, alternately revealing and blocking views of higher ridges.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Highland Trees and Fog

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Highland Trees and Fog
“Highland Trees and Fog” — Fog and trees along the Great Glen Way in the Scottish Highlands above Loch Ness.

Most of our hike on Scotland’s Great Glen Way passed through various bucolic landscapes: flatlands, tree-lined canals, the shores of the lochs, lowland and hillside forests. But on a couple of occasions the trail ascended above the forest and into true highlands terrain. Both times the gentle (though occasionally a bit wet) Scottish weather turned more dramatic. In this location, on the boundary between forest and open highlands, the fog drifted in and out, occasionally obscuring the view of the Glen and Loch Ness far below.

This photograph comes from the section of the walk that lies just north of Fort Augustus. Here the trail quickly climbs out of town, passing the iconic “View Catcher”, crossing a ridge, dropping into a valley, and then ascending steeply to a ridge high above Loch Ness.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Cascades, Photographs: Nature

Trees and Boulders, Artist Point

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Trees and Boulders, Artist Point
Trees and Boulders, Artist Point

Trees and Boulders, Artist Point. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. August 28, 2010. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Ridgetop trees and boulders along the trail catch the afternoon light at Artist Point, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington.

I had been admiring this steep, rugged, and distant ridge all afternoon, starting with our first shooting location down lower on the mountain. As we hiked up the Artist Point trail, we took a detour to the right and I noticed this low rocky ridge covered with trees and the ridge in the distance. At first I couldn’t quite see a shot and I looked elsewhere, but soon I came back to this spot and thought that something with the foreground rocks and trees along with the clouds and more distant ridge might be interesting – but as soon as I saw this a large cloud floated over and blocked the sun from my position, leaving the nearby trees and rocks in shade!

Sometimes when this happens it makes more sense to move on and look for a photograph that works with the conditions you have, but other times it can be worth waiting. It is hard to know for sure which is right, but I decided to set up and sit tight, waiting to see if the light would improve. The light shining around the edge of the cloud was tantalizingly close, but the cloud was stubborn about moving. At one point the light increased a bit for perhaps 15-20 seconds, but then quickly went away. I continued to wait. Finally, the light began to gradually increase, and I got about one minute or less of sun before the cloud again blocked the light – but this was long enough to make a few exposures of this scene.

I have a favor to ask of anyone who is familiar with this area – help in identifying the trees and, even more, help in identifying/naming the distant ridge and the peaks that sit on it. I’m not great at plant identification, but I’m really out of my league in the Cascades. One person walking by as I made the shot seemed to think that the trees are mountain hemlock – but I’d be grateful if anyone can confirm this… or set me straight. Although I was impressed with the peaks on the ridge in the distance in this photograph… I do not have any Washington topographical maps or guide books, so I’m completely in the dark about what to call this ridge or the peaks. Here, too, I would be grateful if anyone can help me identify the ridge, the peaks, and any other important features in the photograph.

Update: A Facebook reader shared information about the peaks on the distant ridge in this photograph…

Alan Majchrowicz writes: “From left to right, Tomyhoi Peak, Canadian and American Border Peaks, Larrabee Mountain. Nice photo Dan, hope I can break away this week and spend some time up there!”

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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