E L G O L , I S L E O F S K Y E , N O R T H W E S T S C O T L A N D
ELGOL IS ARGUABLY THE MOST ICONIC LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION IN SCOTLAND...
ITS SITUATED ON THE SOUTH WEST COAST OF THE ISLE OF SKYE. I MADE THIS PHOTOGRAPH BACK IN 2003. EVEN THOUGH ITS NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO I STILL REMEMBER THE DAY QUITE CLEARLY. IT WAS FEBRUARY AND THE WEATHER ON SKYE WAS TYPICAL FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR. I REALISED QUITE QUICKLY THAT THE TIDE NEED TO BE AT ITS HIGHEST IN ORDER TO GET THE SHOT WITH THE WATER SURROUNDING THE “CANNONBALL” ROCK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT I WAS THERE AT THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR.
IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON AND THE FADING LIGHT. WAS NOT MAKING FOCUSING MY CAMERA ANY EASIER. THE WIND WAS STRAIGHT INTO MY FACE. THE OCCAISIONAL WAVE HIT THE ROCKS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE SPRAY COVERED MY LENS. AS MUCH AS I TRIED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PERFECTLY CLEAN, SO EVENTUALLY I GAVE UP TRYING.
MY METER WAS SHOWING A FOUR MINUTE EXPOSURE..! I LOADED A FILM HOLDER INTO THE CAMERA, MADE SURE THE SHUTTER ON MY LENS WAS CLOSED, PULLED THE DARKSLIDE AND CLICKED THE SHUTTER.
I FIND THE TIME DURING THESE LONG EXPOSURES FASCINATING, I GAZE AT THE MOTION OF THE WAVES, AND CLOUDS AND STUDY THE LIGHT AREAS OF THE SKY AND THE DARK SHADOWS UNDER THE ROCKS AND TRY TO VISUALISE HOW THE FINISHED PRINT MIGHT LOOK.
I COULD SEE A SQUALL HEADING TOWARD ME AND ANXIOUSLY LOOKED AT MY WATCH HOPING THE EXPOSURE WOULD BE FINISHED BEFOR IT HIT. AS IS COMMON WITH SQUALLS, THE WIND INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AS THE STORM APPROACHED. THE LAST FEW SECONDS OF THE EXPOSURE TICKED BY JUST AS THE RAIN DROPS LANDED. THE EXPOSURE WAS FINISHED. I PUT THE DARKSLIDE BACK IN AND PUT THE FILM HOLDER SAFLY INSIDE ITS WATERPROOF POUCH.
THE HEAVENS OPENED..! AS QUICK AS I COULD I FOLDED THE CAMERA AWAY AND GOT EVERYTHING PACKED UP. I TOOK REFUGE JUST BEHIND ME UNDER AN OVERHANGING ROCK WHICH ACTUALLY OFFERED QUITE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROTECTION FROM THE STORM. IT LASTED ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES THEN SUBSIDED AND I WAS ABLE TO WALK BACK TO MY CAR.
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS THE OUTCOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE. IT TOTALLY REMINDS ME OF MY TIME SPENT AT ELGOL, THE IMAGE REALLY EVOKES THE LIGHT AND THE CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED LOOKING AT IT.
REGARDS
COLIN
