I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with modern cameras, I’ll admit. For one thing, they are far more complex than they need to be to shoot landscapes. It seems that there is no end of buttons, menus and controls that perform functions which vary from the gimmicky to the downright arcane. The realityContinue reading “What are the best camera settings for landscape photography?”
Author Archives: David Russell
Camera Exposure – A Primer in Photography’s Most Important Fundamental
Understanding exposure is the most fundamental knowledge in the world of photography. This short primer will explain all the terms and what they mean. By the end of this article, and with a little practice, you should be confident in understanding how and why to control the exposure on your camera and how it affectsContinue reading “Camera Exposure – A Primer in Photography’s Most Important Fundamental”
An Incredible Summit Camp on Scotland’s Third Highest Mountain: Braeriach
It was three little words that cemented my decision to attempt the hill I’ve been dreaming of for nearly a decade. Three little words in the weather forecast that carried a prospect of such beauty as needs to be seen to be believed. Summits above cloud. The moment I read that I knew I hadContinue reading “An Incredible Summit Camp on Scotland’s Third Highest Mountain: Braeriach”
Diving into the Fantastic Beauty of Scotland’s Purple Heather.
Heather season is well and truly here at last in the Highlands, with the tiny pink flowers drenching the landscape in colour. I got out a couple of times in the last few days to do some exploring around the forests near Loch an Eilean. Around six weeks ago I hurt my back and hadContinue reading “Diving into the Fantastic Beauty of Scotland’s Purple Heather.”
Why Do People Dirty Camp?
It seems like I can’t go more than a few days without seeing a facebook post about another ‘dirty camping’ incident in the Highlands. And, as a ten-year resident of the Cairngorms, I feel like I’ve cleaned up more than my fair share of other people’s mess when I come across it during my photography adventures.
The Best Time for Landscape Photography in Scotland
As July comes to a close, I’m keenly aware that I haven’t been very creative lately. That’s ok. I’ve always found that high summer is the least inspiring time of year for me. It’s a combination of factors. The heat for one thing. The uniformity of the landscape during ‘peak green’. And also the factContinue reading “The Best Time for Landscape Photography in Scotland”
My Perfect Night Out – Cairngorm Solstice
A certain euphoria came over me as I dashed back and forth. This was living. My heart was bursting with the joy of the mountain. My lungs breathed the clarity of the air. My blood flowed with the purity of the water that flowed and pooled in the rocks. My eyes sparkled with richness of the morning light. My body felt the coldness of the wind and stone, but met it with its own life and warmth. A part of everything. Not apart from it.
Coire Mhic Fhearchair – A Perfect Torridon Night
For many years I’ve wanted to spend a night camped at the spectacular Coire Mhic Fhearchair in Torridon. This magnificent coire is one of the finest in Scotland, owing to its remote location and its incredible geology. The coire lies on the north side of Beinn Eighe, among some of the wildest terrain to beContinue reading “Coire Mhic Fhearchair – A Perfect Torridon Night”
Moments of Loch Maree
I have always thought the waters of Loch Maree are one of those few places in Scotland that can only be described by one word: elemental. As if they came fresh from the forging of the world. Pure. Tempestuous. Wild.
The long nose of the kayak rode up on a wave and slapped down hard, splashing water into the air. The wind snatched the spray and slapped me in the face with it, catching me in the eyes. Stung, I shook my head and blinked, but I couldn’t raise a hand to my eyes. I couldn’t stop paddling; not even for a moment. Instead I dug in again, keeping to the rhythm, keeping the boat moving forward. I was alone on the water in the storm, fighting through the headwind. As my eyes cleared once again I looked up through the spray. I could see I still had a long way to go before I reached the shore.
A Walk Among Elementals
“this journey (…) is not to be undertaken lightly. One walks among elementals, and elementals are not governable. There are awakened also in oneself by the contact elementals that are as unpredictable as wind or snow” Nan Shepherd, The living Mountain I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about this place. TheseContinue reading “A Walk Among Elementals”