Autumn on the Isle of Skye

[Birma]

I hope you'll forgive another stream from a sojourn on the Isle of Skye

The day started very damp and grey but then we had much more interesting light this afternoon.

From a short work outside Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye. Shot with Nex 5 with SEL 16.


Skye Autumn 2012 - Below Ben Chracaig by Birm, on Flickr

Extensive searches have failed to locate the crock of gold . Sony A700 with Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro


Skye Autumn 2012 - House at the end of the rainbow by Birm, on Flickr

[Birma]

Looking out to sea and the spectacular clouds. A700 with the Sigma 70-300


Skye Autumn 2012 - Idrigill Point by Birm, on Flickr


Another view with the A700 and the Sigma.


Skye Autumn 2012 - Healabhal Mhor by Birm, on Flickr

[mvanrheenen]

Oh wow, the shot of the rainbow on that house!!! That has to be a one in a million shot Andy.

The first shot has nice colors and clarity. The third has pleasing and a bit tense feel to it, as if a storm is coming. The layers of the fourth image give a good feel of depth. I do find the colors a bit dull.

Mark

[Greg Beetham]

Quite a variety there Birma and all very atmospheric, I like the rainbow shot especially also, pity about the crock of gold, maybe it’s at the other end? I quite enjoy the views from Skye even though the light is sometimes (often?) in an overcast condition.
Greg

[Birma]

Thank you Mark and Greg

Mark - I agree that I think they need a bit more contrast. Hopefully we'll get a few more rays of sunshine today.

[mvanrheenen]

Thank you Mark and Greg

Mark - I agree that I think they need a bit more contrast. Hopefully we'll get a few more rays of sunshine today.

If you do, please share the results with us. From what I gather from all you images, the isle has to be a beautiful place!

Mark

[caporip]

Always like your Skye shots and these are great!

[jbtaylor]

Wonderful images.
You are one productive fellow.
Could the last one be effective in a portrait crop with the house at lower left and the largest part of the mountain as the top focal point?

[Dusty]

Birma, you should offer all of your shots from the island for the official tourist website - as long as they recommend getting their on your in-laws boats!

Dusty

[sury]

Andy,
The three (#1, #2 and #4) are so dramatic, the #3 looks kind of flat. It would have been quite an atmospheric as
Greg put it, had it been on its own. So it is your fault to overwhelm our senses with the aforementioned three.

With best regards,
Sury

[Ken M]

I think #1 is really sharp!

[Birma]

Thank you Caporip, Jbtaylor, Dusty, Suty and Ken - all comments much appreciated

I will try your suggestion JB.

Hi Dusty - I'd be very happy if the tourist board wanted to use any of my shots (some will probably find their way on to the in-law's website ). The Isle of Skye is one of the UK's photographic hot-spots and so I think my shots have some very, very tough competition. You can't pick up a photo magazine in the UK without finding a picture of Skye in it (even Cameracraft has a picture of Eliean Donan!). It is just the sort of place were you can't keep the camera in the bag for very long

[Birma]

Here are some pictures from Monday. All with the Nex 5 plus LA-EA2 adapter and CZ 16-80.

There were some sunny spells amongst the showers.


Skye Autumn 2012 - Ullinish Sunshine by Birm, on Flickr

We walked to a tidal island called Oronsay (which means "tidal island" and so there are a lot of islands called this in the Hebrides!). This is taken from the island looking back across the causeway (low tide!) towards Skye.


Skye Autumn 2012 - Oronsay Causeway by Birm, on Flickr

[Birma]

This is taken from the tidal causeway looking out across the loch. Just after I took this an otter surfaced less than 100 yards from the beach with a small flat fish, one quick bite to finish it off, and then it must have sensed us and it swam off. Too far for the 80mm, and too quick for me sadly. We saw one on Sunday as well, at the bottom of the croft running across the field back to the burn. They are becoming more common than eagles !


Skye Autumn 2012 - Loch Bracadale Shore by Birm, on Flickr

This sort of fauna is easier to photograph. These three ewes seemed to be having some major disagreement. There was a lot head butting and staring.


Skye Autumn 2012 - Woolly Face-off by Birm, on Flickr

[Greg Beetham]

Lovely compositions Birma, the processing effect might be just a tad strong for me to get used too right away, sortof HDR-ish, I still like the scenes in their own right very much though, including the mysterious ‘conference’ at the end. I wonder about the causeway across to the island as well, it looks like a place you need a tide chart handy, just in case…also what are the white patches…foam or sand?
Greg