Eilean Donan - Scotland - Europe Trip Part 2
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:26 amWARNING - I got carried away and very long winded, even though I tried not to be, the story isn't necessary for to view the shots, but it does set the scene.
Well some people have been pestering me for some more of my trips and sadly after this it's probably all down hill as so far this is my favourite set (along with Mont Saint Michel posted last week).
As a little back story, we were told if we visited Scotland the one place we had to see was Eilean Donan Castle. Having seen some photos on the net I agreed it looked like a must see experience and then you consult the map and find its not near anything else we wanted to visit, arh well it's on our list anyway. Anyway we drove up from Edinburgh in thick cloud and rain, weather we were already accustom too (only 2 days of no rain in 5 weeks???) We drove past some of the most lovely country side I've ever seen the country side is just amazing and we even saw patches of snow still on top some of the taller peaks (this in in UK summer mind you). Even with the bad weather we made good time up to Glenmoriston where our charming bed and breakfast was I highly recommend staying there if you make a similar trip. Check out there site here
After a short chat and refreshments (at roughly 4pm) we made our way towards Eilean Donan Castle again along a winding road with just breathtaking views, a little more relaxed this time stopping for photos every so often before we reached our final destination. Well when we first arrived it was both spectacular and a little disappointing all rolled into one, the tide was out and instead of nice reflections there was rocks and seaweed, it was also fairly well populated by tourists, the weather wasn't kind and neither was the lighting either but I was adamant I wouldn't leave until I got the shots I wanted. (I realise I'm being very long winded so I'll try to be briefer).
Over the next few hours I took photos from a number of angles and vantage points, the castle was closed but we walked around the small island it sprung up from. Kate well and truly bored, and starving suggested we head for to the local pub, which served some of the best grub we had in the UK (the steak and ale pie was fantastic). Having killed an hour or two, we headed back out to immediately notice the clouds had lifted a little and the tide was rushing in, excellent things where all coming together. After taking a few more shots, the light still wasn't right so I got Katie to drive up a steep track to try to get an angle looking down which I'd seen in a magazine, 40 minutes later we still hadn't found it so we returned to the car park. Katie bless her who had to do all the driving on our trips had a migraine coming on, so being the darling husband I am, I left her sleeping on the back seat of the car while I went and took more photos for the next few hours, only return when my battery was flat and card full, for a quick change over. Time had got away from me, and it was already 11pm and Kate insisted we had to leave in the next 30 minutes. Well I knew I had a few decent shots (I'd taken 100's) but I still didn't have the one, so I got her to drive around to a different angle. Finally I saw it, the air was clear, the sunset set and the reflections glassy I frantically set up the tripod fearful I'd lose the moment, I fire of the shots really enjoying the moment then it struck me, the 18-200VR had served me well but this wasn't the best lens for the job. I ran back to the car and Katie and I rummaged through my bag for my 50 1.4, lens hood off, UV filter off, a quick lens change and then back to the tripod. ARGH, the 50 was too tight and I was missing the reflections. Looking around a change was coming down the loch, the mist rolling down the mountains and a breeze in the distance. I grabbed my tripod and camera and bolted along the shore, stopped framed the shot, still too tight, and ran around 100 metres to natural point in the shoreline, perfect. With Kate visible impatient and my time up I fired off just a few shots bracketing my exposure, and knowing I'd nailed the shot I'd set out to achieve. I then packed up quickly as it started to rain (again) and we started the 50 minute drive back, and the while I'm chimping in the front seat, and Katie is struggling to drive in rain, fog and dodging the Red Deer (I stopped chimping to admire them) on the side of the road.
(Wow, I'm not good at being short and concise am I, sorry).
Anyways, short #1 is the short, in my opinion the best I've seen of my 20+ thousand I took, I really hope the lead up was worth it.
#2 and #3 were taken from similar angles but at significantly different times just showing the difference the light and timing can make on a shot. I like both for different reasons but there you go. My pick of the bunch from one of the most magical places I've been too.
#1
#2
#3
Well some people have been pestering me for some more of my trips and sadly after this it's probably all down hill as so far this is my favourite set (along with Mont Saint Michel posted last week).
As a little back story, we were told if we visited Scotland the one place we had to see was Eilean Donan Castle. Having seen some photos on the net I agreed it looked like a must see experience and then you consult the map and find its not near anything else we wanted to visit, arh well it's on our list anyway. Anyway we drove up from Edinburgh in thick cloud and rain, weather we were already accustom too (only 2 days of no rain in 5 weeks???) We drove past some of the most lovely country side I've ever seen the country side is just amazing and we even saw patches of snow still on top some of the taller peaks (this in in UK summer mind you). Even with the bad weather we made good time up to Glenmoriston where our charming bed and breakfast was I highly recommend staying there if you make a similar trip. Check out there site here
After a short chat and refreshments (at roughly 4pm) we made our way towards Eilean Donan Castle again along a winding road with just breathtaking views, a little more relaxed this time stopping for photos every so often before we reached our final destination. Well when we first arrived it was both spectacular and a little disappointing all rolled into one, the tide was out and instead of nice reflections there was rocks and seaweed, it was also fairly well populated by tourists, the weather wasn't kind and neither was the lighting either but I was adamant I wouldn't leave until I got the shots I wanted. (I realise I'm being very long winded so I'll try to be briefer).
Over the next few hours I took photos from a number of angles and vantage points, the castle was closed but we walked around the small island it sprung up from. Kate well and truly bored, and starving suggested we head for to the local pub, which served some of the best grub we had in the UK (the steak and ale pie was fantastic). Having killed an hour or two, we headed back out to immediately notice the clouds had lifted a little and the tide was rushing in, excellent things where all coming together. After taking a few more shots, the light still wasn't right so I got Katie to drive up a steep track to try to get an angle looking down which I'd seen in a magazine, 40 minutes later we still hadn't found it so we returned to the car park. Katie bless her who had to do all the driving on our trips had a migraine coming on, so being the darling husband I am, I left her sleeping on the back seat of the car while I went and took more photos for the next few hours, only return when my battery was flat and card full, for a quick change over. Time had got away from me, and it was already 11pm and Kate insisted we had to leave in the next 30 minutes. Well I knew I had a few decent shots (I'd taken 100's) but I still didn't have the one, so I got her to drive around to a different angle. Finally I saw it, the air was clear, the sunset set and the reflections glassy I frantically set up the tripod fearful I'd lose the moment, I fire of the shots really enjoying the moment then it struck me, the 18-200VR had served me well but this wasn't the best lens for the job. I ran back to the car and Katie and I rummaged through my bag for my 50 1.4, lens hood off, UV filter off, a quick lens change and then back to the tripod. ARGH, the 50 was too tight and I was missing the reflections. Looking around a change was coming down the loch, the mist rolling down the mountains and a breeze in the distance. I grabbed my tripod and camera and bolted along the shore, stopped framed the shot, still too tight, and ran around 100 metres to natural point in the shoreline, perfect. With Kate visible impatient and my time up I fired off just a few shots bracketing my exposure, and knowing I'd nailed the shot I'd set out to achieve. I then packed up quickly as it started to rain (again) and we started the 50 minute drive back, and the while I'm chimping in the front seat, and Katie is struggling to drive in rain, fog and dodging the Red Deer (I stopped chimping to admire them) on the side of the road.
(Wow, I'm not good at being short and concise am I, sorry).
Anyways, short #1 is the short, in my opinion the best I've seen of my 20+ thousand I took, I really hope the lead up was worth it.
#2 and #3 were taken from similar angles but at significantly different times just showing the difference the light and timing can make on a shot. I like both for different reasons but there you go. My pick of the bunch from one of the most magical places I've been too.
#1
#2
#3
