January

[wanderer]

Once upon a time, well 10 years ago, I got away for a holiday in January.
I've managed to continue to do so every year since.
Its great fun to wander off into the Highlands with no tourists or midgies. The weather has also been surprisingly good and not nearly as snowy as one might expect.
The photos were taken on a progression of cameras from C-5050 through C-8080, E-500, E-3 to E-5.
After some of the photos and comments on the forum I decided to revisit the photos I took on these trips. Quite an exercise, boiling it down to 137 pictures.
No, I'm not going to show them all. But I thought I could put up a few under themes. If you are interested let me know.
This for example comes under texture.



The shoreline of a lochan beneath Suilven. These pebbles were formed between 1 and 2.2 Billion years ago.

[Zuiko]

Re: January

Sounds a facinating and very worthwhile project, Duncan. Yes please, I'd like to see more. That's an excellent example of natural textures.

[Imageryone]

Re: January

Superb detail and colours. Taken with the C5050z I see. How much editing was invoved?

I am interested in seeinf a selection too.

[IainMacD]

Re: January

I like this one Duncan, nice colours as well as texture - keep 'em coming

[DavidJ1609]

Re: January

This is a nice shot, and a reminder of how little we think about the detail all around us.

I'd like to see more. This site has more photographs than last time I had time to visit and it's great to see.

David.

[Phill D]

Re: January

Yes definitely go for it.

[brianvickers]

Re: January

Yeah....definitely looking forward to seeing more!

[David Morison]

Re: January

Love textures and this is a good one, let's have more!

David

[Seonnaidh]

Re: January

Yeah bring 'em on Duncan. I know we will all enjoy them.

[wanderer]

A big lump of quartz in rock at Diabaig, Wester Ross. i liked the lichen too.



From rock to ice on Loch Dochard. I thought this looked better in black and white.



The Water's edge at Uath Lochans, Glen Feshie. These dubh (black) lochans are very photogenic in many ways.



Also at the water's edge you find reeds. Here at a little lochan on the north side of Schiehallion.



The reeds die, fall and get swept up by floods and left six feet above the normal level of Loch Insh.



The river flows to the sea and on the tideline, patterns are drawn. Here at the Braes on Skye.



And on the other side of Skye at Loch Bracadale, a stormy grey day throws up the kelp.

A few ideas to be going on with. There are likely to be a couple more threads (stories).

[gregles]

Re: January

Some great examples of textures in there Duncan. The pattern in the sand and the ice make for stunning shots

[IainMacD]

Re: January

Nice images Duncan, I too like the sand and ice plus the reeds

[Zuiko]

Re: January

I'm glad we did persuade you to post more, Duncan, these are really excellent and one or two are exceptional. More! More! Encore! (Just getting in practice for the rock concert I'm taking my daughter to see next week)

Just out of curiosity, how many days in a dreich Scottish year do you actually need to artificially wet rocks for a photograph?

And if you've drunk all your water (and there isn't a burn nearby), what else could you possibly do to achieve the same effect?

[wanderer]

Re: January

Just out of curiosity, how many days in a dreich Scottish year do you actually need to artificially wet rocks for a photograph?

And if you've drunk all your water (and there isn't a burn nearby), what else could you possibly do to achieve the same effect?

Well, I wouldn't waste whisky on it.

Thank you for your comments.

The funny thing about Scottish winter weather is that it is not nearly as bad as is made out. Out of the 10 years I've been going away, I've only ever had one week where it was poor (photographically) most of the week and most years its been great. Spectacular, rather than fine, and that is something you can work with.

[Zuiko]

Re: January

Well, I wouldn't waste whisky on it.

Thank you for your comments.

The funny thing about Scottish winter weather is that it is not nearly as bad as is made out. Out of the 10 years I've been going away, I've only ever had one week where it was poor (photographically) most of the week and most years its been great. Spectacular, rather than fine, and that is something you can work with.

I've found that over the years the weather evens out. For example, I had a wretched week on Skye as part of a group with Gerry Ackroyd. It rained all day, every day, with prolonged periods of heavy rain. Gerry dragged us all over the Cuillin but we didn't get to see a thing or appreciate the unique exposure. Perhaps that was just as well!

Another year I camped for a week at Barrisdale in Knoydart during a heatwave. It was only when I emptied my pack back at home that I realized I didn't take my waterproof trousers.

Yet another time I backpacked coast to coast and it was the severe heat of the first week rather than the persistant rain of the second that nearly forced me to give up!