Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Quiraing
The Quiraing is a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
One of the most surreal scenery I have seen in Scotland, almost like being on a different planet. As I took the road via Uig there were very few signs of the upcoming dramatic landscape. It was really quite flat and almost hidden but once I had reached the car park all of this suddenly changed and the dramatic, majestic and beautifully rugged terrain revealed itself with colour and mystery.
Neist Point Lighthouse and surrounding area
Neist Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Neist Point on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It was designed by David Alan Stevenson and was first lit on 1 November 1909. An aerial cableway is used to take supplies to the lighthouse and cottages.
Driving up towards Neist Point the rain was torrential and battered off the windscreen. I wasn’t hopeful at all especially as the fog moved in but knowing Scotland’s weather well I continued in hope of a break. My luck was in and as I reached the end of the road the clouds began to break up and after 10 minutes or so the landscapes below in all their beauty appeared. I could not stop smiling.
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Kilt Rock is a sea cliff in north east Trotternish Peninsula.
It gets its name from the pleats (vertical basalt columns) said to resemble a kilt. At first I could not see waterfall, just stunning cliffs with a steep drop, however I could hear loud running water hitting of stones below. I made my way closer to the edge and could finally see white cascading water tumbling over the cliff slide. Definitely a popular destination for tourists.
Elgol
Elgol is a village on the shores of Loch Scavaig towards the end of the Strathaird peninsula in the Isle of Skye.
The narrow road to Elgol take one's breath away . It’s winding and narrow with passing places for vehicles and takes about 50 mins from Portree. Once I arrived I stayed in the car waiting for the rain to stop. It was dark, windy and I wasn’t really enthusiastic about taking my gear outside. After 20 minutes I lost all hope, that the rain would stop, but suddenly I noticed some bright patches on the sky. This is it, this is what I have been waiting for. Quickly, I grabbed my gear and moved at speed to get to the spot. The waves were dark and rough and the wind was blowing in every direction. I used the Big Stopped Lee filter and set up the tripod, putting my filters on and started counting. 3 minutes later I looked on my 3 inches screen. Yes ! I had got what i came for and the weather had been kind in the last few moments. With a big smile I went back to the car and headed back home.
The Old Man of Storr
The Storr is a rocky hill on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The hill presents a steep rocky eastern face overlooking the Sound of Raasay, contrasting with gentler grassy slopes to the west.
The most iconic location on Isle of Skye, and very popular with tourists. From a distance I did not realise how tall The Old Man of Storr (719 metres) actually is. As I got closer I felt smaller and smaller. The view from the top is stunning and with the dusting of snow and the sun set I was able to capture the amazing glow.
During the winter months the colour palette is definitely “smaller” . With fewer colours such as browns, blacks, grays editing and enhancing images is definitely more challenging. These limited options in Winter gives you a better understanding of how important light and composition is while working in such extreme conditions.
Sligachan Bridge and The Cuillins
On every trip back to Portree I was drawn to the Sligachan Bridge. No matter if it rained, snowed or was surrounded in fog this location always gives you good opportunities to take a dramatic and spectacular photo.
Different day, different colours but I still loved it. Just one day before it was all frozen, today the ice melted and made for a perfect reflection.
Sadly, all good things comes to an end (for now). I will definitely return for more. No matter what month, or season Skye will guarantee extremely exciting, beautiful, and surprising views which will stay with you forever.
Here are a few tips I learned during the film shoot:
On this occasion I have used LEE Big Stopper [10] filter and Polariser;
I have used two lenses: 16-35mm and 70-200mm
Winter weather helped with beautiful snow on the hills
Use natural framing - bridges, side of the buildings, trees;
Use water reflections if you can;