Outer Hebrides shoot

Harris, sunset beach

Rest of the week quickly fell into a rhythm of early morning shoots, late breakfasts, boxed lunches on the road, afternoon and sunset shoots, dinner and bed; repeat. The routine was only varied by the weather which in a matter of hours could, and did, ring all the changes on cold, windy, cloudy, sunny, rainy, snowy and back again.

Harris, beach

If this description sounds as if it was not interesting or enjoyable, let me set correct that impression; it was very good fun and very hard work in equal parts and there was terrific sense of accomplishment in completing some of the more challenging shooting assignments. I think that there will be some good shots and I'm looking forward to having the leisure to review all the raw images that are piling up on my traveling hard drive.

We spent a total of 3 days on Skye and 3 on Harris and Lewis and 3 back on the Scottish mainland in the Cairngorm mountains. Very varied but compelling landscapes, reduced to their bare essentials. No trees, rolling heather-covered hills, lowland peat bogs, cliffs, headlands and around every turn a different view of the sea. My only regret is that our time was limited and as part of a small group it was not possible to stop and explore. There were many times when I had to keep my impatience in check as we drove past locations where, had I been on my own, I would have stopped and spent the day exploring. I know that Lewis and Harris will be on our itinerary again and I look forward to V and I exploring them at our leisure.

Lewis rocks and seas

Cairngorms, day of departure, snowstorm

Exploring the Harris tweed shop in Harris I found a series of books by an author previously unknown to me, Peter May, who has written three mysteries set on Lewis which are wonderfully evocative descriptions of the life and culture of the area; can't recommend them highly enough. Look for the "Lewis Trilogy", great reads!