Monthly Archives: December 2023
where the lochs meet
Oh, look! Another castle.
This one is strategically located where three lochs – Loch Long, Loch Dutch, and Loch Ash – meet. It’s been there, in various configurations, since the early 13th century. It was abandoned and fell into disrepair, until this happened: “For the best part of 200 years, the stark ruins of Eilean Donan lay neglected, abandoned and open to the elements, until Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911. Along with his Clerk of Works, Farquar Macrae, he dedicated the next 20 years of his life to the reconstruction of Eilean Donan, restoring her to her former glory. The castle was rebuilt according to the surviving ground plan of earlier phases and was formally completed in the July of 1932.”
Also: is “Farquar Macrae” the best name you’ve ever heard?!
Eilean Donan Castle
Isle of Skye, Scotland
photographed 11.8.2023
cliff and castle become one
I don’t even know what to say about this place or about this photo.
So…here’s a castle. And the North Atlantic. And sunset.
Duntulm Castle
Duntulm, Isle of Skye, Scotland
photographed 11.7.2023
Quiraing and a rainbow
“This is the best view in Great Britain.” That’s what our Scottish guide told us about this place. And while I haven’t seen all the notable views, I tend to believe him…
It’s called the Quiraing, and it’s a geological formation on the very top of the Isle of Skye. Parts of it are still moving, and as a result, the road up requires frequent repairs.
There’s a lot of weather there. We had drizzle. We had rain. We had sleet. We had driving rain. And then we had sun…and a rainbow.
The Quiraing
Isle of Skye, Scotland
photographed 11.7.2023
Old Man of Storr waits for the sun
OK – so here’s a more traditional sort of landscape photo (because it includes, you know, landscapes and stuff.)
Specifically what this includes is Loch Leathan in the foreground and the famous rock formation Old Man of Storr way back there on the ridge.
Here’s a legend about the Old Man:
A giant was minding his own business on the Isle of Skye until he fell over and died. Just like that. Pretty short story, don’t you think? The earth covered him, and the big pointy bits of rock are said to be his fingers. Well, this is the polite version of the tale.
Some say that The Old Man of Storr’s original Gaelic name translates to the ‘Penis of Storr’.
Yes, you can stop giggling now.
When the historians discovered this, they were too polite to keep this name, so they incorrectly translated it to the ‘Old Man of Storr’. So, when the giant died, the locals didn’t say his fingers were sticking out, it was his…his you-know-what!
The ancient Gaelic tribes even worshipped this large piece of rock as a symbol of fertility.
So, there you go.
Loch Leathan
Isle of Skye, Scotland
photographed 11.7.2023
boat/tilt
Even if you don’t necessarily think of yourself as a landscape photographer, but you get the chance to go to the Scottish Highlands with Don Toothaker and Karl Griffin, you should do everything in your power to make it happen.
It’s hard to find two better photographers/teachers than Don and Karl. Then there’s the added benefit that the two of them together are just hilarious. And don’t overlook the fact that the Highlands are full of fabulous things to see and photograph. Like this beached ship, to give but one example. (More examples coming though, so don’t even worry about that.)
Corpach, Scotland
photographed 11.6.2023
One Day | One Image 