Scotland - Isles of Skye, and Lewis and Harris

pathfinder

Kdog recently commented that we haven't seen much of Scotland lately, and I strongly agree.

I have just returned from 15 days on Skye, Lewis and Harris, and Edinburgh and Hadrians's Wall. The weather was typical Scotland, windy, wet, and a fair amount of grey - nevertheless, it was a fabulous trip and I have begun editing my images, and have a few that I will post for comments. I have a lot left unedited yet, so I may add may add more images later as I get them presentable.

The first few days in and around Glencoe were wet and grey, and I have better images from a 2014 trip, but I saw lots of new areas this time as well.

The Jacobite steam engine on the Glenfinnan Viaduct - just think how capable our Scottish guides were to get us here at the specific right time and right place to capture this infrequent steam engine passage with its billowing steam cloud. Also, contemplate the name of the engine - Jacobite - and the role of the Jacobite's in Scottish history.

A slightly different view of the Quiraing, captured with an EOS R body and a Venus Optic 15mm f2.0 all mechanical lens - I like the lens a lot!

A shot of the beach sunset at Elgol from 2014, I haven't gotten to the new ones yet

A small beach on Lewis Island rendered in monochrome

Edinburgh night scene - wind so strong we had to shield our tripods with umbrellas or people

Hadrians's Wall at sunset

A statue of a Roman soldier at the Museum at Vindolanda Roman fort in monochrome

Bamburgh Castle at sunrise at low tide

And west of Edinburgh, the famous Kelpies against a storm dark sky

In fifteen days we covered a lot of ground walking 6-8 miles or more a day, often over pretty rough terrain. I had forgotten how much up there was in Scotland, but it was great fun.

I loved all of our Scottish guides - Marcus McAdam, Henry Martin, and Paul Tomkins. Each one was a true gentleman and a great photographer who managed to make it look like we all knew what we were doing.

I encourage questions, comments and criticisms about each image.

Cheers.

I also learned to appreciate a great folk/rock Scottish band - Runrig - over 40+ years of hits in Scotland and Europe - and they're all available on Spotify!!

I also know several others if folks are interested in Celtic music groups

sarasphotos

Thanks for sharing these wonderful shots. They we just up my alley! I found them all to be well-framed and for my taste perfectly processed, with strong colors but remaining natural-looking. And great b&w work, too.

pathfinder

Wow, thanks Sara. I was a bit concerned that maybe Hadrian's Wall was a touch over-saturated, but I had seen so many grey days I wanted some color in the image. Glad you liked them, and the monochrome renditions, as well

Here's another monochrome of a gargoyle at Melrose Abbey

sarasphotos

@pathfinder said:
Wow, thanks Sara. I was a bit concerned that maybe Hadrian's Wall was a touch over-saturated, but I had seen so many grey days I wanted some color in the image. Glad you liked them, and the monochrome renditions, as well

The Hadrian's Wall shot was (no pun intended) borderline for me. Lots of color but quite not over-the-top.

Here's another monochrome of a gargoyle at Melrose Abbey

I always love a good gargoyle shot!

pathfinder

I think I should clone out the mild grey cloud in the upper corner now that I see it large....

Here's a view of the nave at Melrose Abbey shot with the EOS R and the 15mm Venus optic - I don't have a LR profile for it yet, except in the Sony mount and that one doesn't work for the EOS R version of the lens. - Still the image looks pretty sharp to me

jerryr

Very nice - especially the third image - nice work !

pathfinder

I had the same feelings about the color in that frame of sunset on Hadrian's Wall, Sara - but here are two frames of that view - the first with an edited frame from my 5DMk IV, and the second a totally unedited frame from my iPhone - colors seem pretty similar, except for a slightly brighter sky in the iPhone shot

the iPhone image

Stumblebum

Sweet captures Jim! I would view them few more times! Cheers!

pathfinder

Here is another image of the Quiraing for scale - iPhone image - but a RED jacket!!

Here is a iPhone shot with a human in the image for scale of the Old Man of Storr- in a RED jacket too! The hike up is about 1 kilometer long, and 250 meters of UP.

And some shadows in Melrose Abbey in monochrome - EOS R

jerryr

amazing images - especially Quiraing - very nice !

redleash

These are wonderful! It’s been years since I visited Scotland so these bring nice memories! I think the ones of Hadrian’s Wall and Bamburgh Castle are just stunning! I look forward to seeing more as you process.

Lauren

pathfinder

Lauren, thank you for your kind words.

Here is another view of the Old Man of Storr

And here's one I rather like - every one wants a shot of a Highland coo, but frequently they are in pasture, or near fences, or like these we saw very near metal feeding troughs in fairly heavy rain and I was wandering around in deep mud and cow manure - and then, I got this frame which says Highland coo, better than any I have ever gotten - let me know if you agree

Another shot of Hadrian's Wall - not at sunset, but a good view of what the terrain in the Midlands is like that the wall runs through

Cornflake

Terrific shots! All of them. The last one, of Melrose Abbey, particularly sings to me.

pathfinder

Shadows in black and white - I like that one too!!

dlplumer

Great series, and an awesome trip.

pathfinder

Thanks Dan - it was an awesome trip, partly because I had been to Scotland two previous times.

So this time I kind of knew what I wanted to see, and where I wanted to go, and was willing to spend the time and the capital to achieve them. Fifteen days is no where near enough time to really see and appreciate Scotland, but it does let one see quite a bit of terrain. I really have enjoyed all three trips to Calidonia, and I know I probably won't get to go back again soon, so I really tried to go for broke. Both my spouse and I are history buffs, so we really had a great time. I have scads of throw away images, many shot with an iPhone of the Scottish National Museum and other locations in and around Edinburgh that I enjoyed seeing, even if the images were of lesser image quality to most viewers other than myself.

I not only saw a lot, I listened to a fair bit of radio while there and was introduced to Runrig by Paul Tomkins, who guided me and Kathy for 5 days in and around Edinburgh and the Abbeys and Hadrian's Wall. I love Runrig's music -

https://youtu.be/rbb9aRSQpsY

Stumblebum

Round 2 was incredible!

pathfinder

Thanks Taz.

Here's an abandoned house on the Isle of Lewis and Harris, in monochrome

And a morning shot of Edinburgh Castle

Stumblebum

Abandoned house is wall hanger!

pathfinder

That's funny Taz. I originally posted that image in color in my Smugmug gallery and I got a comment from a lady in Germany that I should do it it B&W - Ergo!!

Sam

Great images all!!

pathfinder

Thanks, Sam!