There’s no point in complaining about the weather in Scotland. It is what it is. National hero, Billy Connolly joked once that he didn’t need to see cloud symbols on the TV weather chart; “I know what fucking clouds look like!”
Elsewhere in the world, cloudy weather often forces the abandonment of photographic plans. The light is usually poor, there’s little drama, not much contrast and often as not, it won’t be long before it’s peeing down.
Scotland’s drama is in it’s landscapes. It’s surprising how a heavy overcast, sheets of rain and the occasional shaft of bright sunlight can bring just about any barren hillside, loch or rock face to life.
We bid Bob farewell near Inverness – he was heading to Beauly to return the boat anchor Leica SL and zoom – and turned south. Not far. Farr, just a few miles away, to our Air BnB home for the next couple of days.
This part of the country is much greener and less desolate than the far north we’d come from. I got up early on both mornings in Farr, drove much of the neighbourhood and delighted in the wonderful greenery and bright early morning sunlight.
Despite driving many kilometres on my morning explorations, I discovered the gem was just around the corner; a tiny inlet, right at the road’s edge, leading to the loch and a boat shed. This turned out to be such a treasure trove of images, I made a second visit the following morning.
This is almost enough verbiage from me. After the brief sojourn in Farr, the next stop was Grantown-on-Spey, for friendship, fishing and quite a lot of photography especially around the house.
Weather or not, one thing’s for sure; we’ll be back next year.
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It’ll improve your appreciation of a fine drap o’ Isle of Islay single malt – a nice smoky malt whusky – the sassenachs take the rubbish, and glad of it – the Scots keep the best o’ it for themselves.
The russian equivalent is vodka. Quite why white rum is so popular in the tropics is a complete mystery, since these drinks are all a form of anti-freeze to deal with those northern climates.
I love your photos Paul, but you can have that place all to yourself.
I appreciate the site and the work the better ones of you are doing. Yet, this series from Scotland is utter mediocrity. Why are you not ashamed to show this crap?
Dmitri, how about contributing something yourself?
One man’s crap is another’s gold, Dmitri.
Paul,
While these are not strong individual photos (to me), as a group – less the B&W and Rover shots, which feel out of place – they give a wonderful sense of being in the place. That feeling of a morning walk and the scenes taken in. A success in that regard, which I think is the point from your text.
Michael