An t-Eilean Sgitheanac

[Birma]

An t-Eilean Sgitheanac in Scottish Gaelic means The Misty Isle which is one version of how the Isle of Skye in the Hebrides was named. My wife's folks live on the island and here are some landscape scenes from this October's visit. You will see that it is not always misty .

We are staying near Loch Bracadale on the west coast of Skye.


Loch Bracadale 2 by Birm, on Flickr


Loch Bracadale 3 by Birm, on Flickr

[Birma]

A bit further South on the island is Glen Brittle, much loved by mountain climbers due to its closeness to the Black Cuillins. The cows seem to like it too .



Grazing at Glen Brittle by Birm, on Flickr


Glen Brittle Shore by Birm, on Flickr

[Birma]

This shots is taken near the single track road to Glen Brittle, passing the foot of the Cuillin ridge. The rough path in the picture leads around the ridge to a very fine pub, only 4.7 miles away!


Cuillin Tracks by Birm, on Flickr

Sunset over Loch Bracadale on the way home one evening.


Loch Bracadale Sunset by Birm, on Flickr

(Stood near a guy using what looked like a digital medium format camera while taking the sunset scene, so a similar picture to this will probably be on some calendars next year .)

[David Kilpatrick]

The Misty Isle looks like a very sunny isle - the only time we've been to Skye was in January when it was VERY misty (that's what you get from dead cheap timeshare bonus weeks in the chalets on Loch Oich - January, one week for £85, I love RCI!). We did a lot of driving but Skye did not produce photos as it needed something other than dull overcast winter conditions. And I was testing a Nikon D200 which really lacked the colour response to make the most of what was there - Shirley's KM 5D shots were much better.

Here is a 2003 celtic guitar piece from me to go with your photos (though it's really describing a less vibrant image, a bit softer): Mist on the Shore

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... gID=714862

David

[david antony]

Thats a great place to have inlaws Birma.
Such a nice place to go visit. Great photos
you took. For me the last 4 are just marvellous.
Thanks for sharing.

[aster]

Honestly, Birma, I'm more than jealous!

What a great piece of land and shore to be on!

I love them all but I have to agree with David Antony on that the fourth is good enough to make the cover of a photo periodical...: )

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

I like those scenes Birma, very nicely done and very easy on the eye. (DK's well played sound track fits nicely as well). Haw I can see how well worn that path is that leads to the 'local' ha ha.
Greg

[Birma]

Thank you David, DA, Yildiz and Greg . Greg is right, David's guitar music is an ideal accompaniment!

Yildiz. I'm glad you like that one - it was a rare-ish run out for the A100, with the Tamron 11-18 lens. It was my first chance to try the UWA on the Scottish landscapes that I love so much. Keeping my shadow out of the picture was a challenge!

The weather was amazing at the start of the week but has returned to grey cloud and rather flat light. Here are some more, but without the unexpected October sunshine.


Coral Beach by Birm, on Flickr
Just down the road from Dunvegan on Skye is a popular walk to the Coral Beaches. There was a squall coming in from the Minch so we had our picnic in this more sheltered bay before the main beach. Rather than sand, the beach is made up of tiny pieces of broken coral, hence the name.


Preshal More from Talisker Bay by Birm, on Flickr
A lovely spot on the west coast of Skye. The distillery that shares its name is a few miles back along the road in Carbost. I can recommend the single malt as well as the bay .

[David Kilpatrick]

I have used the A55 with GPS but sadly it recorded exactly the same position for every shot I took yesterday - 'using the last recorded position' every time. Otherwise, it would be great to visit beaches like these and pin them on the map with the GPS embedding!

David

[Birma]

Talisker Bay Stack by Birm, on Flickr
This sea stack stands at the south end of Talisker Bay.


Preshal More by Birm, on Flickr
This massive block of basalt rock looms over the head of Talisker Bay like the prow of a ship.

[Birma]

I have used the A55 with GPS but sadly it recorded exactly the same position for every shot I took yesterday - 'using the last recorded position' every time. Otherwise, it would be great to visit beaches like these and pin them on the map with the GPS embedding!

David

Agreed. I think I am pretty convinced by the GPS on cameras concept now. However, it sounds like the A55 GPS is as slow and unreliable as the GPS on my 'phone', where it is also a big battery drain if left on for any length of time. I expect we will see improvements in the future but I still like to keep a map handy . That flip out screen would have been handy though - it would have saved damp knees and soggy socks .

[Birma]

Here are a couple of shots as a change from my usual landscapes.


Trumpan Gravestone by Birm, on Flickr
Hebridean cemeteries have some of the best views in the world. This one at Trumpan also has a fine collection of lichen, testimony to the good air quality. This stone looks out over the Minch to the Outer Isles, but the view on this day was rather grey and flat.


Dusk by Birm, on Flickr
An almost abstract view of MacLeod's Tables, taken through moorland Sedge Grasses in the dusk light, after a fine blue sky day. I know that OOF shots are not everyone's cup of tea, but I like the colours and subtle shapes. This was taken almost a whole 50 yards from the back door of my in-laws house - what a place to live .

[Greg Beetham]

Nice scenery Birma even with the cloud cover, looks like there's some sheep on yon hill beneath the bow of the ship. That coral sand is very white isn't it, there is an Island here too the North that has that type of beach, very peculiar, the waves wash up the beach but instead of it flowing back like normal the water sort of disappears into the 'sand' and is gone, and the sand makes loud squeaks as you walk on it.
Greg

ps. It's certainly 'different' that last one, I can't make my mind up about it, I wonder how it would look at dawn.....

[aster]

Birma, I love this shot especially.

You have 'nailed' everything that a landscape photo can offer; the miniscule coral pieces definitely make an incredible beach. I can imagine how they would look under a bright sun or a sunrise / sunset when colourful light is reflected off of those tiny mirrorized surfaces...

The whole bunch is excellent! It was hard to pick a favourite but I have a soft heart for the sea shores, corals and you nicey composed the green that reaches the shore while also including the 'prow' in the distance!

Well done!

Yildiz

Preshal More from Talisker Bay by Birm, on Flickr
A lovely spot on the west coast of Skye. The distillery that shares its name is a few miles back along the road in Carbost. I can recommend the single malt as well as the bay .

[bossel]

Hey, these are some great shots! Actually I first thought the title is just made up, to raise interest, but it is a real language Well, anyway, you got my interest