The weather has been truly dreadful today, so I thought I would post a blog on a visit to the Isle of Skye back in October.
This is without doubt, a photographers paradise as there are so many places to photograph! Quiraing, isundoubtedly my favourite place to visit. It is so peaceful and tranquil with views on either side, it really is spectacular! I shot this photograph in October when the weather was so changeable and dramatic. One minute it was pouring with rain and the next sunshine, there are not many places on earth where the weather changes so rapidly.
As this was October, I didn't have to get up at a silly hour to get shots as the sun rises at about 7 o clock ( unlike the summer months where i get up at 2.30 and travel for a couple of hours) Yes, it’s still early but you have to get the light!
I stayed in Broadford which is about an hour and a half away from Quiraing depending on your speed, but you have to take extreme care as there are plenty of sheep on the road. If you plan on visiting Quiraing, it is quite straight forward to get to. You head on the main road to Portree, going past the old man of Storr into Staffin and there is a sign an the left. The road is extremely tight and windy so take care when driving and watch out for sheep and other wild life.
Once up there, you will be greeted with the best scenery (yes, i am biased). I have been to Skye before so I knew what i wanted to shoot, but Scotland has such changeable weather, you are never sure what your going to get. On this occasion, I had everything, from 25 mile an hour winds to torrential rain, just Scotland really. I did experiment with a long exposure having my wife hold an umbrella to reduce to wind but there was still camera shake and she nearly took off, Mary Poppins style (I love photography, but I think the wife comes first!!)
I was planning on shooting a long exposure and hoping for sweeping clouds creating a dramatic effect, but had trouble keeping the tripod still because of the wind so I decided to a close up image. I was using my 24-70 on this occasion and had to go all the way out to 70mm. I had a graduated Lee ND filter to balance the sky, (3 stops or .9) whichI think it works really well. The light was amazing and added to the drama of the overall image.
Any questions on locations in Skye, feel free to contact me.