Summer is not normally a time when I have much enthusiasm to photograph the countryside or mountains. Here in the UK most of the fields, fellsides and mountains are covered in the verdant green of grasses and brackens, a colour which I don't find very appealing. I much prefer the Autumn and Winter colours of reds, yellows and browns but not all locations lend themselves to be exclusively photographed in the colder months.
Mountains tend to look more dramatic, menacing and generally more appealing during the colder months when draped in Autumnal colours or clad with ice and snow but often a Winter scene cannot be photographed with the most complimentary light due to the wide shifts in the Sun's azimuth. Many of the interesting features or dramatic aspects of mountains, annoyingly, happen to be North facing, this has the problem that the Sun doesn't always highlight these features from a frontal or side on angle and have to be photographed with the Sun directly in front of you resulting in difficult contrast problems.
The options are to persevere with the awkward contrast situations or photograph the scene in the Summer months when the Sun is at compatible angles, but here lies the dilemma, the scenes often don't look as dramatic and are usually covered in unappealing green.
I recently travelled to Torridon to try and photograph a particularly spectacular North facing crag with the intention that the Summer sunrise would light it well but soon realised that it in fact doesn't look very spectacular unless it has a covering of ice and snow and the lochan needs to be frozen for maximum effect, I'll have to go back in the Winter and just hope I can cope with the difficult lighting then.
Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to photograph a remote Lakeland valley, again the light would only be right in May or August, definately green foliage season but I gave it a go and I think I've got a reasonable result.
Ennerdale, a Summer evening up one of the more remote valleys.

Another valley that is awkward to photograph other than in the Summer months is Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike. There is still predominently green foliage around but I used the browns of the lake bed to offset them, hope I got away with it!

Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike, mid August evening.

Please click on an image or visit the Lakes, Tarns and Waters gallery for more.

What is regarded as a long exposure? well it can depend on a photographer's perspective. A night scene photographer may think 5 minutes quite normal or an astronomer a few hours.
For my landscapes anywhere between 1/4 to 1/30th of a second is a frequent range of shutter speeds without using any external filters to lengthen the time, this is usually a function of small aperture for large Depth of Field and the low ambient light I prefer to shoot in.
Recently though I have been extending my exposure times into the minutes rather than fractions of seconds, for this I have to place a light inhibiting filter in front of my lens to extend the shutter times. There are many manufacturers of such filters and vary in range of light reduction from 1 stop of light all the way to 10 stops. I've been having some fun using the 10 stop filter and made some reasonable images but, is it just a fad I'm going through or is the long exposure here to stay?

This is a normal shot for me, a 1/8th of a second exposure time produced a relatively sharp and motion free image, much as you could imagine seeing with your own eyes perhaps.




This is the same scene with similar light but a 2 minutes and 15 second exposure.



You can see that the ripples in the water have completely been smoothed out as if there wasn't a breath of wind but the sky looks as though the clouds are being blown perhaps.

I like both versions for different reasons and can't really say if I prefer one over the other, for me the 10 stop filter has a place in my bag as a useful tool to experiment with and hopefully occasionally to capture something memorable.

Please click on an image or visit the Lakes, Tarns and Waters gallery for more.

For a tutorial on the selection and use of a 10 stop filter please click here.

I've been meaning to climb and photograph An Teallach in the North West Highlands for quite a while now. I've been impressed by many fine Winter images of it's crags, coires and buttresses but an opportunity of a Summer weekend arose to climb it so I took the chance. The weather forecast gave a few days of settled warm weather so to take full advantage of the trip I decided I would try for both sunset and sunrise shots of it. The logistics and time involved to walk in each day though was too much and the only real option was to camp closer to the summits.
I set off from the Corrie Hallie car park and made steady progress to Loch Toll an Lochain where I pitched my tent, a quick feed then it was time to get up on the ridge, a steep hour of climbing later and I was on the summit of Bidean a Ghlas Thuill, the highest of the peaks.


Sgurr Fiona and the ridge towards Sail Liath, Loch Toll an Lochain in shade.

I took a few shots from here but knew that the light would be better from Sgurr Fiona with the western ridge being illuminated so I headed for the second summit.
Once on top of Sgurr Fiona breathtaking views of the ridge and the wilderness of the Fisherfield Forest opened up, mind, the midges still helped themselves to an evening supper from me!


The ridge from Sgurr Fiona towards Sail Liath, the Fannich hills can be seen in the distance. My camp site was at the corner of the loch, a fabulous amplitheatre of rock and water.


The expansive view into the Fisherfield Forest and Bheinn Dearg Mor from Sgurr Fiona.


A look back to Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill, An Teallach's highest peak. It was a steep walk down the grass slope on the right to my camp.

After getting the shots the light was fading and I had over an hour to get back to my camp so I made the return trip down a very steep grass slope and was mighty thankful for a lie down once back in my tent.
The alarm was set for 4am but a kindly Stag close by kept barking every half an hour just to ensure I didn't sleep in! I woke to an eerie silence (apart from the stag who eyed me from a crag) and the promise of a good sunrise. Bleery eyed I made the repeat trip back up to the ridge and made Bidean a Ghlas Thuill just in time for the first rays of light. I waited half an hour or so and made some pictures of the light dancing across the opposing peaks of Sail Liath, Cadha Ghoblach, Corrag Bhuidhe, Lord Berkeley's Seat and Sgurr Fiona, these would be the ridge peaks I'd be walking along.


Sunrise over the An Teallach ridge, one of Scotland's finest walks.

A quick nip up to Sgurr Fiona again and some more pictures of the light illuminating Bheinn Dearg Mor then it was off along the ridge. I had intentions to climb over the Pinnacles of Corrag Bhuidhe but one foot on the ridge before Lord Berkeley's Seat made me opt for the tourist route around the western traverses, discretion being the better part of valour and all that! Live to tell your grandchildren, I say!
The ridge can easily be traversed if opting for the horizontal paths that skirt all difficulties but could be a different proposition in Winter, I finally made it to Sail Liath and the descent back to my tent but made a few more shots of the Fisherfield wilderness en route and a few encounters with the ferral goats.
Once back to the tent, it was packed away and an hour or so walk back out to the car and some much needed sleep.

I'd recommend An Teallach as a walk of the highest order, it looks spectacular and offers tremendous views to the Bheinn Dearg and Fannich group of hills but especially towards the Fisherfield and Letterewe wildernesses.

One of Scotland's finest.

Please click on a photo or visit the An Teallach and Fisherfield area gallery for more images.

I've spent the last 4 or 5 weeks, mainly in vain, chasing that elusive light that is often so desirable in a landscape image. I've spent 3 weekends in a row trying to get a particular shot of sunrise over the Three Sisters in Glen Coe, Scotland. On each trip I have travelled long, slept little and not got the shots I'm after, I've admitted defeat on this particular shot for the time being and will wait until Autumn when I don't have to get up at 03:30 am!

I have been persisting though even when the cloud formations and light haven't been as expected or wanted. I took a quick look at an old favourite secluded tarn recently in the Borrowdale valley and managed to get a reasonable shot of the tarn's character even though the light didn't turn out as wished for.



I quite like the understated atmosphere and sense of calm in this and the lack of direct lighting has made a mellower feel perhaps. I must remember not to be too picky about the lighting conditions and attempt images in all conditions!

Please click on the image or the Lakes, Tarns & Waters gallery for more.

I thought my Skye gallery needed a few updates and I usually try to visit Skye in May before the dreaded midges make life a torment, so I planned a wee trip. I didn't want to revisit too many of the regular photogenic and easily accessible locations so I decided that I would base my visit around an overnight camp at Loch Coruisk.
Loch Coruisk lies in a remote location and is hidden from view by the Cuillin hills, to reach there it is either a long walk or a boat trip from Elgol. Once I had shouldered my packed rucsac I quickly decided that the boat was going to be the least painful and quickest mode of transport (this photography business makes one quite lazy!!).
Loch Coruisk makes a pleasant day trip from Elgol and attracts many visitors but I wasn't returning until I had a few photos in the camera. I found a quiet corner beside Coruisk shore and set up camp, did a bit of scouting around for photo opportunites and climbed Sgurr na Stri for a few sunset photos.
My real intention was to capture the sunrise over the Cuillin so I got as comfortable as I could in the tent and set my alarm for 04:30. As usually my sunrise plans are thwarted again by light rain and low cloud, after a lie in and lazy breakfast of the regulation bacon and mugs of tea it was time to see if there were any photos to be taken. The clouds did rise and actually turned into a pleasant day but the best time for photos probably alluded me this trip.

  Sunrise over Blaven on my way to catch the boat from Elgol.

  The back of Blaven and Marsco from Sgurr na Stri.

  The Scavaig river and Loch Coruisk, the Cuillin ridge beyond.

Please click on an image to enlarge or visit the Isle of Skye Gallery for more images.

I think I prefer photography towards the end of the day rather than the start if only for the better predictability of what may happen.
I do still though drag myself out of bed at unearthly hours in an attempt to capture scenes that many folk never have the chance of seeing. There is always a dilemma and gamble though if the weather conditions are actually going to turn out as you might hope.
I recently had a plan to photograph Windermere in the English Lake District at sunrise, I knew the location I wanted to be, where the Sun would rise and all I hoped for was a nice layer or two of high level cloud to turn red and provide aerial interest.
I woke a little too late, looked out of the window and saw clear skies and twinkling stars, this normally sends me straight back to bed as it heralds a plain and fairly uninteresting sky but I persevered anyway.
A mad dash in the car for 30 minutes enabled me to be at the foot of a hill which was my vantage point, another 15 minutes of hard labour up the hill and I just made it with minutes to spare before the Sun rose above the neighbouring hills to illuminate the scene.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky but a gentle hue from yellow to blue across the horizon. I was a little disappointed that I had made so much effort only to be rewarded with a clear sky but made the most of the opportunity anyway.
Reflecting on the images I made now, I am quite satisfied that the sky wasn't dramatic as I had hoped, I think it has reinforced the calm and tranquil qualities of the image and I'm more than pleased with the results.

  Windermere at dawn from the hill overlooking Clappersgate.

Please click on the image to take you to the large version or the Lakes, Tarns and Waters Gallery for other scenes.

I had a chance to spend a night in Glen Coe and decided to use the opportunity to try and take some pictures of the glen but specifically the range of mountains that make up The Three Sisters. The south western side of the glen has some superb mountains for walking or climbing, Stob Coire Sgreamach and Bidean nam Bian, however, they are difficult to see from the road but the buttresses that spur off these two mountains are very prominent.
The usual view of The Three Sisters are from just above the road from a vantage point called the Study but I've always wanted to view them from a high position.

  The Three Sisters from The Study, taken a year or so ago.

My intention was to climb Am Bodach before sunrise and be in a high vantage point for dawn and the early light that would hopefully stream down the glen to illuminate the ridges in relief. On waking, the weather was poor with low lying mist so a relaxed breakfast and a potter about was in order. After a bit of debating I decided to go for a walk up onto the ridge anyway as the exercise would be welcome. Once onto the opposite ridge the clouds broke and lifted to reveal a fine spring day in the Highlands, I'd missed dawn light but made the best of the changeable midday conditions anyway.

  Beinn Fhada, one of the Sisters and Buachaille Etive Beag.

I don't usually shoot straight into the Sun or when the Sun is so high directly overhead as contrasts can be very difficult to deal with but on days when there is a lot of broken cloud then some interesting atmospheric images can be made.
Once I'd reached the summit of Am Bodach it was time for a bit of lunch and a spell of just sitting and taking in the view. After a while I headed down but chose a different route as I wanted to recce a vantage point for a future image of the Sisters, I headed over to A Chailleach and found a decent location. I took a few from here but the Sun was directly infront and overhead so it will definately be worth going back when the light is more favourable.

  The Three Sisters from A Chailleach.

Please click on an image to see larger or visit the Glen Coe gallery for further images.

Liathach, the Grey One has been on my agenda to climb for a while now but I have been waiting for a day of good weather for the views and favourable photography. My friend and I had planned Easter weekend to stay in Torridon with the plan to climb Liathach if the weather was good. During the night it had rained constantly and I had little hope of there being clear skies in the morning however, the forecast was for the clouds to lift.
After a lazy breakfast we set off up the southern flanks to reach the ridge close to the eastern peak of Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig, it soon became apparent that the rain had fallen as snow on the upper slopes and progress became tiring in knee high snow in the gullies.
Once the ridge was reached we made the short walk to Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig, our climb had been timed to perfection as the clouds started to lift from the summits. Great views south and east are available from here especially the huge bulk of Liathach's neighbour Beinn Eighe.

  Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig

After a short rest and a few photos it was time to continue the ridge westwards towards the main summit, along the way ever changing views of the northern expanse opened. The hills of Wester Ross rarely seen by many folk dominate this great expanse of wilderness.

  The views north towards the Wester Ross hills

After a few ups and downs and some tricky narrow ledges along the ridge we arrived at Spidean a Choire Leith, from the main summit it became apparent that we had chosen an amazing Winter's day to climb one of Scotland's iconic ridge mountains.
The views in all directions were spectacular but especially to the north where the great corries stretched out in a blanket of white. The northen slopes of Liathach are rarely seen by the visitor to Torridon, the southern slopes barring the way except for enthusiastic walkers.

  Coire na Caime and Mullach an Rathain, Beinn Alligin in the distance

The ridge continues to the western peak of Mullach an Rathain via a section that is the trickiest and most exposed. The Pinnacles and the small peak of Am Fasarinen offer superb scrambling over a very exposed knife edge ridge and are the main highlight to many who traverse this ridge, a good head for heights is required and a serious undertaking in Winter conditions.

  The Pinnacles and Am Fasarinen.

All in all one of the best days I've had walking in the hills. Please click on an image or check out the Torridon Area gallery for more photos.

I've admired Glen Torridon for a while now for it's fabulous remote feeling and spectacular mountains. It is home to some of Scotland's most iconic mountains and the Torridonian sandstone that is the building block for these mountains enables them to show a unique ruggedness.

I managed to spend a brief day in the glen recently and attempted to capture the mountains in the late evening light that highlights them so well.



Liathach over Loch Bharranch.



The appearance of remoteness and ruggedness down the glen. Please check out the Torridon gallery.

I've had in mind to photograph the Scafell range of hills from a high vantage point in Wasdale for quite a while now. The Scafells are quite a tricky group of hills to photograph from the Wasdale side as they are tucked away in a corner and obscured by the Screes from most views from Wastwater. I have visited the summit of Middle Fell on numerous occasions usually in running shorts as part of a fell race or training runs and had always admired the view across to the highest land in England.
On this particular day I was traveling home from work on the train and noticed that there was a good covering of snow and the clouds looked promising for a good sunset shot, once home I decided that I'd give the lofty heights of Middle Fell a try, you can see my attempts in the Mountains and Fells gallery or click on the image.

I recently spent a great weekend walking, climbing and photographing the Ben Cruachan ridge near Loch Awe in the Scottish West Highlands. The nine mile ridge starts at Dalmally on the shores of Loch Awe and traverse westward over the peaks of Stob Diamh and Drochaid Glhais before finishing on Ben Cruachan itself. Conditions were perfect for winter walking and the use of crampons and ice axe were essential for efficiency and safety. The weather was mostly in our favour with a slight breeze but with temperatures down to a minus 20 degrees windchill it was bracing to say the least.



Stob Diamh from Drochaid Glhais.

Check out the Ben Cruachan gallery for more images.

I've decided to revamp and update my website which will mean larger images, a slideshow feature and easier ability to regularly add new images. Have a look around and I hope you enjoy the scenery.