A Year of Recovery
January
Ardgour | Ardnamurchan | Moidart | Morvern | Sunart
Anticipation I
Loch Sunart, Salen Jetty, Ardnamurchan
I started the year with a number of early morning visits to the old jetty in Salen because in January, the sun rises well round to the south-east and is able to cast beautiful light and colours onto the waters of the bay and the jetty itself. On my final morning, the sun seemed to take an age to appear from behind the hills of Morvern, but it was well worth the wait because the light and colours were just as I had hoped for.
The Hide I
Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide, Ardery, Sunart
The wildlife hide that overlooks Garbh Eilean in Loch Sunart faces the high hills of Laudale and in January, the Sun rises directly behind them. This means that on calm and partly cloudy mornings the light rises from behind the hills to paint the clouds with a lovely mix of warm colours that are reflected on the surface of the Loch. This sure does make this perfect place to watch seals and spot otters look its best.
Snowy Cuillin
Eigg and Rùm viewed from Ardtoe, Ardnamurchan
I think that the view of the Small Isles of Eigg and Rùm from Ardtoe rarely disappoints and on this particular January morning my visit coincided with low tide. This meant that I could walk out onto a spit of sand near the entrance to Sailean Dubh and photograph the snow covered Rùm Cuillin sitting behind the uniquely recognisable profile of An Sgurr on Eigg.
Storm Haven
Raelands, Kentra, Ardnamurchan
January always seems to be a month when we get one storm after another here on the Peninsula. However, because we jut right out into the sea, storms tend to pass over quickly and with this, the light from the low winter sun often breaks through the storm clouds to create dramatic scenes like this one of Raelands croft house, which sits at the edge of Kentra Bay.
Silver Sunart II
Loch Sunart, Resipole, Sunart
This photograph was taken directly in front of my house, which sits on the shore of Loch Sunart. Our view of the Loch is ever changing and for a few moments on an overcast January morning, some gaps appeared in the clouds to let some silvery light shimmer on its surface. It was a scene that was just too nice not to photograph.
Standing Alone
Ariundle Oakwood, Strontian, Sunart
When it’s misty or foggy, a great option is to go to Ariundle Oakwood for some woodland photography. The mist and fog are great for simplifying complex woodland scenes by separate the subject from busy backgrounds, just like in this image of a single silver birch tree standing in isolation on the grassland near the start of the walk around the woods.