Solar Eclipse 2015: a teaser

Posted on by

After all that driving to get this, I couldn’t let today pass without posting taster shot from the solar eclipse.

I find it interesting that, for all the posturing online about the need for Baader solar sheets and that ND filters wouldn’t provide enough protection, nature provided clouds as the best kind of filter anyway.

The colour photo was taken with a 20-year-old Centon 500mm f/8 mirror lens and probably an ND8 filter hand-held in front; the black and white image was the kit telephoto 55-210mm lens at the far end.

Both taken from the road beside Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven.

Up East Lomond

Posted on by

image

image

The trig-point on top of East Lomond, one of the more noticeable hills in Fife. It’s not a bad route for spending a couple of hours strolling around – but the view’s much better on a sunny day.

Around Mull

Posted on by

A small selection of photos from a weekend trip to Mull last September – a couple of views around Lochdon, Duart Castle from the ferry and Lismore Lighthouse basking in the sunlight  on the way back.

The Varying Moods of Scotland

Posted on by

Summer in the Highlands? Hold a Games, break out the pipes and drums and play Scotland the Brave.

Tourist season in Edinburgh? Break out the pipes and drums and play Scotland the Brave.

Autumn, pretending to be winter, in Perth? Break out the pipes and drums and play Scotland the Brave.

This was one of the above situations.

Water: Around Loch Rannoch (1)

Posted on by

It’s hard driving around Loch Rannoch – all the stopping and starting makes for lousy mileage. But that’s OK – the scenery is more than worth it.

The first time I came around here, more used to the road network than the geography of reality, I drove beyond the end of the loch (into the setting sun in these photos) up to Rannoch Station, and was surprised to see `Glencoe’ on the adjacent page on the map. No mistake – it’s only about 5 miles directly across Rannoch Moor, and yet by road it’s at least 83 miles and 2.5 hours’ drive.

Trees

Posted on by

Pine forests: what’s not to like? Scots Pine trees stand tall and proud, burnished orange-gold catching the sun; birch trees get a bit old and develop gnarly character.

These are from a stroll in the Black Woods of Rannoch, on the south shore of Loch Rannoch.

I noticed Gunnar’s Tree, named for Gunnar Godwin, a chap whose fondness for these woods led him to manage them and agitate for them to be designated a Caledonian Forest Reserve.

A Lunchtime Stroll

Posted on by

I spent a lunchtime recently with a friend from the Photo Society, strolling in leisurely fashion around the South Inch in Perth, mostly admiring the shapes and colours of trees. Well, why not… especially in Autumn!

Light, Land and Heather… and ferns

Posted on by

I was quite pleased to notice that one of my favourite afternoon quick-escape locations is technically just north of the Highland Boundary Fault.

As I drove off the road, a flock of over 20 grouse shot out from the undergrowth and sprinted for dear life in front of me up to the carpark. Walking through the trees, I disturbed a deer grazing on the heather. Sometimes, you just can’t beat a few hours in golden sunlight, staring at mountains, for relaxation.