September 9th Was a day out!

 

The forecast looked reasonable for Mallaig which was the closest place that gave weather reports for The Ardnamurchan Peninsula my intended destination. After being confined to the caravan for almost a week due to the continuous heavy rain in the area it was good to be out travelling again. The first bit of excitement was joining the queue for the Corran Ferry. This is a small car ferry that crosses the narrows to Ardgour on Loch Linnhe, it only takes about 5 minutes but saves probably over an hours drive if you were to go the other way. I switched off the engine and wound the window down and looked across the loch towards the ferry that was on the otherside. The photo below was taken about half way across the loch showing the Ardgour Lighthouse which is just south of the ferry pier.

 

 

Within a few minutes I heard the tell-tale siren which means the ferry is arriving or in this case departing the pier to come and collect us. I watched the little ferry make it's crossing which I always love to see, there is something almost magical about the ferries in Scotland; they serve the community very well and whether the crossing takes a few minutes or hours one knows that when you arrive on the other side all is very different. They transport you to a different experience.

 

Upon reaching Ardgour if you turn right then you'll immediately be travelling on a single track road for many, many miles. Left will also lead eventually to the same driving experience. We all know what driving on normal roads is like, these single tracks take on a different pace altogether usually much slower. Every few hundred yards or so there will be a widening in the road which will facilitate oncoming vehicles to pass. If the widening is on your side then you pull over and usually stop to allow the other vehicle to pass before you continue on your way. The driver [those that know the system] of the other car will wave to offer thanks and you'll wave back! Well, how lovely is that you wave at everyone you meet and they wave hello in return. So much more friendly. If you are driving along mile after mile and then notice a vehicle in your mirror it means only one thing o importance; that the car is travelling faster than you are.

 

Here are your three choices as I see it;

 

1] You could put pedal to metal and try to pull away and lose the vehicle, problem solved but now he has caused you to miss the scenery you were admiring while you were sedately cruising along.

 

2] Much more likely you'll pull into the next passing place and wait for the vehicle to 'overtake' before continuing behind it. Again those that know the system will do this immediately.

 

3]  Frustratingly those that don't will see to it that they hog the road until you almost push them off the road in frustration flashing your high beam and sounding a continuous horn. Well I don't do that [except for once with a French registered car] but others will, you can guarantee it. It costs nothing to be courteous to other road users who are for reasons of their own in more of a hurry than you. It could be a budding rally driver or an elderly lady who is late and trying to catch the next ferry, it doesn't matter, pull over and let them through.

 

Driving quickly on these roads usually means travelling over 34 mph and will seem pretty exciting at times. You just never know what you will come across. Sheep are common and they are usually content to sit on the grass right by the road side it's still very sensible to slow right down especially if inexperienced youngsters  are about, remember they don't have too many brain cells and think the road actually is their's. They love to lie in the middle of the road to either enjoy the heat being radiated off the surface or perhaps because it's cooler either way you are a hazard to their relaxed way of life. Deer if you are fortunate to see them also use the road usually to cross it on tracks that deer have used for hundreds of years to cross the glen to find pastures anew to graze. Just like this lovely doe...

 

 

 

 

Highland cattle not as common as sheep or even deer for that matter are still available to share a road with, here is one for you to study closely, believe me it's possible to meet something head on like this. Now who owns the road?

 

 

I bet you are beginning to see why I love the ferries so much. This way of life has gone on for many years very quietly up here; less so every year as tourism is increasing all the time, it's a simple numbers game. Increase in population and wealth and hey presto you've got more tourists coming. Bless the Scottish Tourist Board they even advertise on the television nationally to attract more people. You can't blame them the tourist dollar, pound or euro is valuable to the local people and economy.

 

So onwards with my outing which involved turning left towards the Ardnamurchan Peninsula which as I said is initially on normal roads. It's always the same everytime a ferry unloads a mix of vehicles and drivers for that matter. There will be normal cars, sporty cars, foreign cars, trucks, caravans and motorcycles may be others but you get the picture. The inevitable jostling for freedom of the road ahead is about to begin. You see the ferry deck hand will control the order in which vehicles leave his ferry within reason of course. No matter how you try you can't jump the queue if you are one of the last on the ferry it means you'll be one of the last off even if you thought slipping him a quiet tenner would help your case. Even on normal roads there are only a few stretches that are safe to overtake on assuming nothing coming the otherway. As we aren't on a single track road yet the polite working system for that class of carriageway as described earlier doesn't apply. It takes many miles for the jostling to sort itself out sometimes it's the single track road itself which sorts out the order of play working on the polite principles. Just after the turn off for Lochaline and beyond the single track road begins in the direction I'm travelling today.

 

The drive if the weather is kind is bordering on breathtaking. Often hugging a loch always with mountains to admire you slowly cover mile after mile at an average speed of 20mph which is comfortable. I invariably drive a little slower as I am on the look out for possible places to stop and jump out and set the camera up to take photographs. Here is a lovely lochan I passed on my right not before stopping and taking this from the comfort of my driving seat, that's correct I didn't even get out of the car for this shot.

 

 

  

Ardanmurchan Point Lighthouse is the end of the road situated just south of the most westerly hamlet [Portuairk] on the Scottish mainland. The exposed headland affords a lovely view of The Minch with some jewels such as the Isle of Eigg to be seen on a clear day which it was. The lighthouse is impressive built from Isle of Mull granite and for over 150 years has aided navigation in these tricky waters. Today it's like most lighthouses being automatic and not supervised constantly by a lighthouse keeper and assistant.

 

 

Here is a photo of the Isle of Eigg to the north, Isle of Skye is to the north of Eigg.

 

 

Another pleasant detour I made before arriving here was to visit Mingary Bay and pier. A ferry to Tobermory [Isle of Mull] connects these two otherwise very remote from each other places again showing the importance of the ferries. The bay with pearl white sand offers a view to Castle Mingary and also the headland known as MacLean's Nose. Being a McLean this has extra significance for me and as you look down the Sound of Mull if it were possible you'd see Duart Castle on a small headland which is the MacLean Clan Seat. So this was a MacLean area! Here is a photo of the lovely bay.

 

 

Sorry about these small images but Castle Mingary may been seen in the above image if you know where to look. Have you spotted it yet? Indeed have you worked out why the headland bears the name of MacLean's Nose? Answers to accompany your cheque please.

 

Well I did title this Murphy's Law and as it turns out there are three reasons that now spring to mind for this headline. On the outbound journey I completely missed it and shot passed it on the return journey but not before catching a glimpse of a scope on a tripod. I decided to stop and had to reverse up on the single track road, well it was a necessity. I drove into the Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre carpark and decided to stretch my legs at least. I was drawn to the scope but suddenly my gaze was pulled in the direction of a rather beautiful cat. The cat was being petted by another visitor so I gave them privacy to continue their liaison hoping I'd later get a shot also. A man with a pair o binoculars was hovering around the scope and I noticed his RSPB badge. I asked what was in the area and he told me I'd just missed seeing Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles, Murphy's Law strike one.

 

A couple sat on an adjacent picnic table with their treats and large mug of something covered in a heap of whipped cream. It didn't take long before the cat jumped up onto the table and asked for a taste of whatever was on offer. Well they succumbed and were soon feeding the cat. The RSPB man noticed me admiring the cat and told me his name was Murphy. Bingo hence Murphy's Law strike two; You have to offer Murphy something to either eat or drink or preferably both.  

 

I knew I could bend Murphy's Law to my favour and attract Murphy over if I had something equally tasty to offer. I popped into the Centre and ordered a large mug of hot chocolate and a scone served with fruit. The kind man who took my order inquired where I'd be sitting and I told him "Outside please" well that's were Murphy was! He told me he'd bring the order out to me when it was ready.

 

I sat at another picnic table and eagerly awaited my beverage and scone in the certain knowledge I'd entice Murphy over to the otherside! Murphy being Murphy was crying out to be photographed so I dashed to the car and grabbed my camera which had the zoom lens attached, yippeee! I then from a distance began taking photos of this beautiful feline.

 

 

See what I mean he is a Star Cat!

 

Murphy's Law strike three was about to be delivered to me. The nice man appeared with my hot chocolate and told me that there was a problem with the scone I'd ordered. I look perplexed and awaited the gen on the scone. It was placed frozen into the microwave he whispered which is what they do to defrost them fresh for serving. Well the scone blew up the microwave and itself in a cloud of acrid smoke which I had earlier whiffed but had ignored. He asked if he could get me something else and I decided to politely answer, "No thank you."

 

Sure enough Murphy arrived as soon as nice man's back was turned. I then poured a generous amount into the saucer and cooled it before serving Mr Murphy. By my reckoning Murphy had three helpings amounting to 37.5 pence worth of my lovely hot chocolate.

 

But all told I felt like the cat that swallowed the cream by having this opportunity to photograph Mr Murphy and his Law. in action

 

 

 

Lip smacking delicious!

 

 

A little about my life in more recent times...

Well the last time I exercised my shutter was late aternoon on Tuesday the 1st Sept. You won't believe the amount of rain that has been our privelege to receive. After being interned for days due consistant heavy rain on Tuesday I felt there maybe a chance albeit tiny that I may be able to do some work.

Reluctantly and in desparation I fled the caravan and drove down alongside the loch [Loch Leven] to the hotel by the bridge and parked up. I didn't even bother to switch the engine off as the rain was still lashing down. Well it didn't take long or me to feel this was a wasted exercise and I slammed into first gear and drove off back the way I had come. Half way along the loch I felt there may be a chance so back I went. In light rain I left the comfort of the car and Elton John playing his piano on the CD player. With tripod in one hand and camera in the other I walked to the spot you can see in the bridge photo.

I quickly saw a composition of the bridge and set up the tripod and camera. The best I was hoping for was a chink in the cloud and some direct light on the bridge, I quite liked the stormy cloud over the Pap of Glencoe beyond the bridge. I began taking a few shots to check the exposure when right before me this lovely rainbow appeared. Talk about the right place at the right time. I fired off a series of bracketted shots [different exposures] in the hope of getting this beauty of nature onto my sensor. All the while I was cleaning the lens as rain was falling lightly which would degrade any images.

Within about a minute the rainbow faded away as if it had never been there and happy at least that I had hopefully achieved something I returned to the car. I decided to drive over the bridge and do a loop around the loch clockwise [the long way] back to the caravan site.

I stopped at a few locations to scout them out for a revisit when the conditions and light would be better. I spotted a local beauty spot on the south side and parked up in the hope of getting something. I got no more than a couple of shots when the ferocious midges descended upon me teeth first and got many shots at me. I was literally forced to get back into the safety of the "dizzy bee" [Mitsubishi Shogun] and drive off. The bench you see looked so inviting I'd actually mentally kicked myself for not buying fish-n-chips in Kinlochleven so I could sit on this bench, admire the lovely view and have my dinner. Fat chance, hahaha.

Loch Leven is aligned east to west and as I was on the south side and heading west I was looking to the setting sun. Well, I knew it was setting but couldn't see the sun due to the cloud cover. As I pulled into Invercoe I spotted a possible chance to get a shot as there seemed to be a tiny chink in the cloud and a few rays were escaping towards the ground. I quickly drove to the boat yard and parked up and dived quick as a flash out of the car. I had no time to consider my composition and just set up the tripod and camera. I decided that the use of the ten f/stop filter would be the best way to approach this shot [40 second long exposure] and quickly set up the camera. The cloud was scudding passed overhead and I knew at any moment the light would be non existant so I just guessed an exposure and fired the camera on the timer in 'bulb' setting and counted to 40! I got the shot you see attached, of which I'm rather thrilled about. It may not be the best composition in the world but I had won in a small way and made the best of difficult circumstances.

Then it was speed back to the caravan and download my images for processing, throw last nights remains on the stove and get some food down me.

Since then I have been sat on my couch, the pouring rain hammering on the roof of the caravan and going sideways passed my picture window awaiting the next possible chance to dash out and grab the moment and hopefully capture something.

This is the life of the keen scottish landscape photographer based in Glencoe!

The things I get myself into, hehe!

I have recently begun processing some of my images as HDR [High Dynamic Range] conversions. This is where a number of shots of the same image taken preferably with a tripod at different exposures are 'mixed' together to form an HDR image. These images are more technically correct in exposure and are able to represent the tones in a fuller manor producing a real 'eye catching' result.

 

Please see my new album entitled HDR Images. I shall add more as they are produced.

We joined the MSY Windsurf in Venice for a seven day cruise to Rome [Civitivecchia] via Korcula, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Messina and Sorrento.

The Windsurf is a five masted seven sail motor sail yacht and is absolutely cruising heaven. Her crew friendly and very professional. The cuisine was mouth wateringly wonderful. The only downside to cruising with Windsurf was leaving the ship at the end of the cruise. But we hope to cruise with her again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There have been some big changes since I last wrote in my Blog.

 

I recently bought a Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Warrior for my travels which I love and loaded it up with camping and photographic gear and we set off for a two week trip up to Scotland. First day we made it to camp one at the base of Glen Coe. The weather was supurb and we stopped to take some shots of my favorite mountain Buachaille Etive Mor up on Rannoch Moor above Glen Coe. When we set up our new tent a Vango Orchy 600 for the first time we were unmercilessly attacked by the infamous midges. As soon as the tent was up we dived in for cover and made some hot food and opened a bottle of wine. We were both cold during the night, we slept on air beds which were very comfortable but we needed a carry mat or two underneath for insulation. I woke early to the sunrise and set off up the glen to take photographs of Etive Mor, Glen Etive and Etive Beag. Wow it was paradise as I scrambled over the rocks at the base of Buachaille Etive Mor on an almost dry stream bed and set up my shots. About 7.30am I lay back on a warm rock and basked in the early morning sun like a lizard it was heaven, I truly didn't want to leave.

Just had two wonderful days in Cumbria touring the Lakes.

 

Day one; went to Langdale and up and over Wrynose and Hardknot Pass then onto Wast Water which has my vote as the most dramatic of the lakes. Day two; went to Ullswater to see the Aira Force Waterfall then to Troutbeck and into Keswick and onwards to Buttermere via the Honister Pass then finally to Ennerdale via Loweswater and Coniston.

 

                                                                           

 

I enjoyed a lovely sunset at Ennerdale. You will see that day two weather was perfect for photography and day one had overcast conditions which gave muted colour and contrast. I have uploaded all the best photos.

 

I hope your enjoy the tour.

 

About me

 

I was born in Singapore while my father was serving in the R. E. M. E. with the British Army. Within about twelve months we were based in Hong Kong where I grew up and attended school except for an eighteen month stint in a co-ed boarding school in Brisbane Australia.

 

My father loved photography and had his own dark room were he would spend hours developing and printing his images. I have early memories of his Rolleicord a popular medium-format twin lens reflex camera swinging from a strap around his neck wherever we went as a family. As a teenager I dabbled with the Rolleicord but it wasn’t until very recent times that my interest was really sparked.

 

After a twenty six year gap of not owning a motorcycle I bought sight unseen a Yamaha 600cc Thundercat on eBay. This purchase was made a few years ago when I was probably having a mini mid-life crisis. I quickly made many new friends with similar motorbikes and I felt a desire to buy a small camera to capture some images from my many happy hours touring the UK countryside on two wheels. I bought a Canon A80 4megapixal point and shoot digital camera. I was very pleased with the results that I was able to achieve and being digital it meant no lab processing or waiting for prints being instantly viewable on a computer.

 

 

 

                                                                               

 

I began taking my camera to work and would carry a small album with me to show my colleagues my images. One day while flying with Steve Rainbow one of my First Officers on the Airbus we found ourselves chatting about photography. I proudly showed him my album and camera whereupon he pulled out of his flight bag his Nikon D70 DSLR well I felt like I had suddenly shrunk to about 6 inches tall. This was a “real” camera and being a friendly sort of chap Steve let me have a closer look. In fact as we were paired up the following day he lent the camera to me over night so I could have a proper play at home. On Steve’s suggestion that I had to get a DSLR I set about thinking about what camera to buy.

 

My choice was the brand new model Nikon D200 and an 18mm to 200mm VR lens as a starter kit. Well this is a semi-pro camera and required a lot of getting to grips with. I’d only had the camera about two months when I had a heart attack. I then had a year’s sick leave from flying and while recovering I spent my time and energy with the camera practising photography and learning the art of digital processing using PhotoShop. This kept me both active physically and gave me a much needed challenge to keep my mind active. In a very short time I knew this was something that I “had” to pursue and I was totally hooked.

 

Almost immediately I was using the camera in manual modes and was taking RAW images instead of JPEGS. This forced me to learn about exposure and shutter speed settings, also RAW images must be processed in a digital environment before conversion to a JPEG for printing or displaying on a computer.

 

All this began about eighteen months ago. I am unable to return to flying on health grounds albeit I have made a very good recovery from the heart attack. So now I find myself staring at the start of a new career in photography after having been a professional pilot since the age of nineteen almost 33 years and 17,000 flying hours ago.

 

Apart from my photos [taken with the Canon A80] in the “From The Air”  & "Budapest" albums all images to date were taken with the Nikon D200. It is my intention to upgrade to the Nikon D3 very soon. The other lenses I use now are the Nikon 12mm - 24mm; 50mm; 80mm - 400mm and the 105mm macro.

 

There is so much to learn and so many possibilities with photography however I feel my apprenticeship is drawing to a close and now I must begin the next phase; that of focusing on selling my images which will push me even more to improve as a photographer.

 

This is a very exciting new start for me and I wish to thank the following people;

My father: Peter McLean Ryan for sowing the seed so many years ago.

My friend: Steve Rainbow for pushing me onto the next level, buying a DSLR.

My partner: Tracey for her loving care and support.