​A collection of images taken in each month of 2022 that portray the varying landscape of this unspoilt part of the north-west coast of Scotland

Read the story behind them in my blog titled “A Year of Recovery”

Harvest Moon Reflections
Ardtoe Pier, Kentra Bay, Ardnamurchan

In the autumn months the full Moon rises over in the east, making the Ardtoe Pier near the entrance to Kentra Bay a great place to photograph it. The summit of Ben Resipole is almost 9 miles away from there meaning that you can use a long lens to zoom in and emphasis the size of the Moon as it rises above it. On this occasion the September Harvest Moon managed to shine through the clouds, to give some back light to them and to also cast a lovely golden reflection on the surface of Kentra Bay.

Into the Galaxy
​Dalilea Jetty, Loch Shiel, Moidart

September is one of the best months of the year for photographing the Milky Way because its cloudy core stays above the southern horizon for about two hours after sunset. On this occasion, I headed out to the wooden jetty at Dalilea to photograph it rising in the sky above Loch Sheil using the screen on my phone to project just enough light to illuminate the jetty’s wooden boards and metal railings.

Purple Pool I
​Gobshealach, Kentra Bay, Ardnamurchan

Three nights after my visit to Dalilea, there was the promise of a clear night sky, so I headed out with the aim of photographing the Milky Way again. This this time I was hoping to capture it rising above one of the many pools that can be found in the salt marshes around the fringes of Kentra Bay. Unfortunately, mist formed as darkness fell and it obscured the stars, but fortunately there was a fantastic aurora dancing in the sky directly behind me. When I saw it, I turned the camera from south to north and took this image of the purple in the sky being reflected one of the salt marsh pools.

September Stillness
​Ardtoe Pier, Kentra Bay, Ardnamurchan

This shot was taken at sundown on a September evening just as stillness was descending on the water surrounding Ardtoe Pier located near the entrance to Kentra Bay. I was particularly drawn to how the golden glow from the last light of the day bathed the stone surface of the pier with warmth and brightly lit the small white boat that was moored beyond the rock that stands just of the pier. It was so peaceful standing there taking in the scene and watching the receding tide slowly reveal the pier.

Intricacy
​Loch Sunart, Carnoch, Sunart

If you drive along the edge of the head of Loch Sunart towards Morven, you probably won’t notice the intricate network of pools in the salt marsh on your right. However, with the help of a drone, you can get a bit of height and the sight of the various arms of the Carnoch River flowing through this amazing mix of land and water reveals itself. It makes for a spectacular sight, especially late on a September evening when colours for the setting Sun get reflected in the surface of the water.

As the Stars
​Ardgour War Memorial, Corran Point, Ardgour

I took this image of the Milky Way rising above the Ardgour War Memorial on a late September and named it “As the Stars” with these words being taken from the 7th stanza from the poem, “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon:
 
“As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.”
 
The 4th stanza is used as the Ode of Remembrance and ends with the familiar words “We will remember them”. It is an extremely thought-provoking verse, but I find the words of the 7th and final stanza incredibly poignant.

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