“Isle of Rum” — The Inner Hebrides Isle of Rum, viewed from Elgol, Isle of Skye.
I made this photograph of the distant Isle of Rum from the hills right above the Scottish village of Elgol, on the Isle of Skye. It does not seem like this is one of the more popular places on Skye, to say the least. It is a long drive on remote single-track roads and, to the best of my knowledge, there are no big, iconic tourist sites there. It seems like a quiet place, and we had to search around to find one little place where we could get a cup of coffee and a snack. We were the only customers.
“Canisp and Loch Ewe — Canisp peak rises above Loch Ewe with a tree-covered island.
Some travelers like to know everything about their destinations before they depart. I can understand — one reason we travel is to learn about new places and, more practically, knowledge can help you travel efficiently. But I’m partial to not knowing everything in advance, instead leaving plenty of room for discovery. (Of course, it helps — a lot — that my wife is a planner!) The details of this photograph may be a case in point. (There has been an update to this post. Click the “more” link below to see… more.)
“Eilean Donan Castle” — Eilean Donan Castle, on the inland sea near Isle of Skye
We have been traveling. A week ago we returned from a six-week visit to the British Isles — a couple of weeks in Scotland, a bit more than a week in Ireland, a one-week walk in the Cotswolds, and then some time in English cities. The photograph comes from near the start of the trip, just before we arrived on the Isle of Skye. We paused at the Eilean Donan Castle along the inland sea before crossing to the island. It was a welcome break on my first day of driving on left side of the road!
“Wetland Island and Fog” — Tule fog mutes the wetland landscape beyond reed-covered islands.
Fog can make photography wonderful… or difficult when I photograph migratory birds in California’s Central Valley. There are practical issues, such as driving on roads that are dangerously obscured, or not being able to see the birds in the murk. It is cold and damp. But I love the atmosphere that tule fog brings to this landscape, and that’s why I keep going back.
I also like the way that it lets me “minimize” the landscape. Fog blanks out any subjects that are not close to the camera position. On a clear day you would see trees, possibly utility lines and poles, a sky with clouds, and who knows what else. But when the fog is thick all of those distractions disappear and I can work with the most minimal of materials.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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