2010-06-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

February 2011
Weather
The weather has been somewhat disappointing in Scotland over the last few weeks. At least the forecasting has been accurate. We had several storms. Maximum wind gusts at the tops were somewhat frightening. Cairngorm summit recorded gusts of 141mph and much lower down at Glen Ogle 123mph was recorded. Even in the cities gusts of over 80mph were claimed
Cairngorms
I enjoyed some time in the Cairngorms in January. I was hoping for spectacular sunsets which did not materialise. I was rewarded however with the ice on Loch Morlich which had expanded and contracted to the point of breaking into slabs. I include an image in my blog photographs
Change of Technique
My biggest recent change was to give up using ND Grads. For some time now I have regarded these as being essential. They certainly were for film. I now consider that these are not required for my style of digital photography. They will always be essential where movement is involved but this is rarely an issue for landscapes and seascapes. The filters record differently for different apertures albeit in using full frame most of my work is shot at f16. I will now shoot images at different exposures to meet the separate requirements of the sky and the foreground for blending later since this will be a purer process and less risky process. Badly positioned filters cannot be remedied later. I may still carry the odd one in my bag for demonstration purposes or for the instant image.
I also gave up on the 24 TSEII for landscape as whilst this may be considered to be a fine lens for Architectural photography it is not as sharp as it needs to be at long distance landscape images. I now use the 24-70 f2.8 and the 70-200 f4 for landscapes
Thanks for reading and here’s hoping for better weather
Images mentioned in earlier blogs below have been removed or are now filed under appropriate headings

Last Quarter 2010

In October I visited Islay with Colin Prior who was accompanying Iain Gardiner of Bowmore Whisky who were sponsoring the trip. There were two other photographers and a man called Pat. I became slightly suspicious of Pat who was extremely inquisitive and took copious notes. Could this man be a Newspaper Reporter? However all was soon revealed and it transpired that Pat was equally suspicious of us.

Pat's story:
http://thewhiskytastingclub.co.uk/Blogs/blog/2010/10/14/pat-goes-to-bowmore/

Adding to Pat’s story: After Pat left the island, Bowmore arranged for a fast boat to take us to Jura and laid on a most enjoyable seafood lunch at the Jura Hotel serving fish caught that morning. The final highlight of the week was a special dinner with each course accompanied by a specially selected Bowmore dram. Neil and Carol Scott the owners of The Harbour Inn Hotel (whom I knew from Glenmoriston) and their fantastic staff were responsible for providing this special meal. A great example of fine dining and learned drinking on this remote island.

Whilst on Islay Colin took me to a very interesting beach near Lower Killeyan where I photographed the quartzite vein shown in the Blog Photograph in my gallery. Colin is world famous especially for his panoramas and he includes many more in his new book which I strongly recommend that you purchase entitled "High Light" by Colin Prior. This book contains a number of special images interspersed with the panoramas which makes it very enjoyable reading and he includes his own interpretation of the quarzite vein. I have also posted an image of the Paps of Jura shot from Islay and three seascapes of Islay

I continue with my photography of Charles Rennie Mackintosh interiors. This has been most enjoyable and I am especially grateful for the courtesy extended to me at Hill House, Helensburgh, The Mackintosh School of Art, The House for the Art Lover, Scotland Street Museum and Derngate, Northampton.

This is St Andrews Day so I am hoping for a few weeks of winter photography before the year ends

Best

Jim