https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog lesleypeatfieldphotography: Blog
https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-12/u430001972-o493213703-50.jpg 2022-06-25T16:20:00Z (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography lesleypeatfieldphotography https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2021/3/some-thoughts-on-blogging Some thoughts on blogging.

Some thoughts on blogging.

I haven't really got the hang of this blogging thing and am going to use it as a record for me and my journey in the photography world.
If anyone else wants to read it, here it is.

I see from my last post we were away in the Outer Hebrides - a fair while ago! 
Now we are approaching the end of the third lockdown in the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020/2021.
It has had different outcomes for most people. 
For me it has meant no travelling, no time spent with friends, but lots of time to try and get my thoughts a bit clearer about my photography. 
My paid work has stayed constant apart from the initial lockdown, but that's for another day's chat.

After achieving my LRPS in 2019 I set myself the challenge of achieving the ARPS within the next year or so. I'm pleased to say that this was managed in October 2020 with a series of images I called Parallel Lives. A series of multiple exposures made around York and the immediate area.
I've also had time to look through my older files, get them in better order, and have a better idea of where everything is.

This is short blog to hopefully get me in the habit.

we'll see....
 

 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2021-03-18T16:45:49Z 2021-03-18T16:45:49Z https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/10/hebridean-adventure-day-4-another-glorious-day Hebridean adventure day 4....... Another glorious day.

Wednesday day 4 

Got up to amazing light and the most clear view we've had so far. We decided to head down to swordsal bay to make the most of the light. It was stunning, azure blue sea, and the Shiant Islands clearly visible like icebergs rising out of the sea.
We then headed off the the little gem that is Great Bernera. It is actually an island but connected to Lewis by a bridge that is across the Atlantic Ocean!
It is a privately owned island and the population is only 275 people. We drove to the edge which is Tobson, and yet again the landscape was different. Lower lying land intersped with mini lochs. The sky was an unremitting blue reflected in the water all around us. We walked a little way and found a small beach and picnic bench so we had our pack up, accompanied again by two chickens. They seem to enjoy Apple cores!! 
As we sat enjoying the view, a family pulled up, and the Dad appeared around the headland in a kayak, they were there to collect him!
We visited an amazing artist who worked from a converted Blackhorse on the way back. Sally Tyszko, who was so welcoming and enthusiastic. She introduced us to an amazing book about the islands and the relationship with tweed. 
We then headed up the northern tip of the island which didn't disappoint - beautiful white sands, with an azure sea, broken up by small islands just off shore, which took it in turns to reflect the glorious sunlight.
Then Tim was a man with a plan, so we headed up the west road of Lewis looking for the Iron Age broch, which we chanced upon, although don't know how you could miss it! After a short steep climb, we felt transported back in time as we stood inside the footprint of an ancient chieftains dwelling, with all the magic that goes with that. Again, he had good taste as the view to the Uig mountains and their friends, was stunning, with strings of water and lochs breaking up the receding lines of the landscape. 
We then headed up the coast with half a plan to find somewhere for a possible sunset. We passed a harris tweed sign in Carloway so decided to pop in. 
We met Mr Norman Mackenzie, a master craftsman. He was pedalling away on a machine that looked like it had come out of the industrial revolution. It was actually made in Yorkshire, around 1923, and he explained the history of tweed in the Isles, and how it was made. It was absolutely fascinating, and so complete to hear a master talking about his craft. I asked if he minded if I took a few pictures, and he was happy to let me. I was pleased with them so have sent him them by email, hope he likes them too!
We then headed up the coast a wee bit more thinking about the sunset, and drove down to Dhal Mòr, but realised halfway down the road that the hills were already obscuring the sun....... A quick turn around ensued and we faced back down the coast to Dun Carloway Broch, and raced back up the incline to get a feeble sunset that belied all the promise of the previous hour. I took some shots, but time will tell!
 
Another amazing day on these amazing isles of contrasts.
 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2014-10-16T20:36:33Z 2014-10-16T20:36:33Z https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/10/hebridean-adventure-day-3 Hebridean adventure day 3..........

 

Tuesday day 3

Woke up to a slightly greyer day with a haze, and carried on with our plan to tackle the West coast of Harris. Set off down the island road towards Tarbert. Started up the right hand arm of the circular route. The scenery is so different to lewis, so much more moutainous, especially as you drive over a scary mountain to get there...... The Clisham!!! 
Even scarier to think we did this in the dark from the ferry to get to our cabin on Saturday night.
As we approached Tarbert, the weather was still overcast. We followed the road ahead, and it was like driving through a post apocalyptic landscape. You could almost see the trails of lava and where they were frozen in time. We headed north, and were soon amazed by flashes of white sand through the rugged landscape. We took the left fork and headed along the track to Losgaintir, although the Gaelic spelling and scottish spelling AND the English spelling are all different so stopping at road signs can cause some consternation! 
The flashes of blue and turquoise were stunning, and when the sun came out, breathtaking.
We headed back up the track and continued around the headland to Sheileboist. The view from above was stunning, and I spent a happy hour making some images. The wind seems to have changed direction today so I was happy to find a pair of gloves in my camera bag.
We then carried on along this very different road, with mountains on one side, and white sand and seas on the other. We stopped at the visitors centre just near Scarista beach, and had our pack up at the closed cafe!
We watched the geese doing practice runs for their migration journey which must be looming. We were joined by some local chickens who seemed to want to share our lunch!
We then carried on to leverburgh, it is a tiny settlement clinging to the bottom of Harris, mainly famous for its ferry and trips to St Kilda. A quick fuel stop, and a mad decision to take the yellow dotted line back to Tarbert. The roads here are mainly single track, but you know you're pushing your luck when there is no sign of any municipal paint anywhere to be seen. We headed up the side of the hill and looked down onto an amazing reed bed, with lovely soft light. I leapt out of the car, to run back and take a shot, standing to one side to let the postie by. On such a desolate road I can't believe another car was coming, Tim was in the passing place, so postie had to reverse back past me to the previous passing place to let the car through. Tim was oblivious to all this as it was happening behind him. He hates it when I ask him to stop briefly in passing places!!
The landscape soon changed to the lunar landscape we had passed on the way down, and windy roads in a desolate looking place intersped with azure blue mini lochs. All the place names were Gaelic, but the whole area had a Scandinavian feel to it. We spotted a sign for a gallery so took a chance and drive up there. It was a lovely lady called Margarita Williams and her work was stunning. We carried on ploughing our way back up to Tarbert, and wended our way home.
Another interesting day, and the sun came out in bursts.
 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2014-10-16T20:19:37Z 2014-10-16T20:19:37Z https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/10/day-2-of-the-hebridean-adventure Day 2 of the Hebridean adventure.

Monday, day 2.

I was up with the lark, and watched an unremarkable sunrise from the cosines of our cabin. I felt quite relieved I hadn't listened to the inner photographer ( she can be quite manic at times....) who was raring to go at 6.45 am!
We had a lovely walk down to a little cove called swordsal bay, which had some seals bobbing about in the sun, catching the glistening rays as they played. We met a local guy walking his dogs who told us that as long as he could remember, a pod of killer whales come to this bay for about three weeks every September. 
Another reason to revisit! 
He told us that from the headland, the water was so clear you could see the whole whale. I could quite believe it looking at the turquoise water twinkling in the sun.
When we got back, Angela our next door neighbour, and host was outside so we had a nice chat. There was the house cat glowering at us from a gap in the garage wall which made for a hilarious picture......she retreated backwards frowning as she went so I was lucky to catch it!
We then set off for our second day of Hebridean adventures. The rough plan was to visit the western reaches of Lewis, via some very windy roads. I would say that one Hebridean mile is equivalent to ten normal miles in respect of driving!
I spotted what looked like an interesting circular route off the 'main' road so off we went. 
The landscape over there is very lunar, reminding me very much of Iceland. There is a real Scandinavian vibe to the island, hardly surprising as it was inhabited by the Vikings for two hundred years. It was a single track road, and we passed some beautiful lochs, with small islands looking like they had been thrown in by giants. 
I thought we were nearly there, and we came upon this amazing bay with pure white sand, and the darkest turquoise blending to navy blue sea. I checked the map and we weren't even half way round this tiny loop. 
We stopped the car, and I almost ran onto the beach, straight through a small river ploughing a pastel blue path through the sand out to the sea. Tim followed at a more sedate pace with the pack up, and found a dry way across! I spent a happy hour trying to do justice to the curve of the bay, ate lunch and on we went.
We completed the circular route, and marvelled how small it was on the map for how long it took us! We then continued down the west coast road, just drinking in the amazing rugged views, almost untouched by man. The road comes to an abrupt halt as the end of the land mass becomes clear. We had a coffee, and again, just absorbed the energy and the view.
Coming back long that road we came face to face with a highland bullock who didn't seem to want to budge. After him and Tim eyeballing each other, he grumbled his way past us, very slowly! 
There was a sign to another beach so we had to go and have a look. Oh my lord, it was breathtaking........the whole bay was a swirl of white sand and turquoise water. I spent a happy hour there making some images, and looking forward to visiting again in the near future.
Another lovely day, with lots seen, and lots done!
 
 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2014-10-16T19:34:09Z 2014-10-16T19:34:09Z https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/10/our-hebridean-adventure-first-full-day OUR HEBRIDEAN ADVENTURE....... first full day.

So we are here in the Outer Hebrides safely ensconced in our log cabin on the causeway to Knock. The journey here was wonderfully uneventful, accompanied by great weather and light all the way. Many quick stops for snaps with the ipad, the new IPad Air seems to have an amazing camera......makes you think!!!

On our first day we woke up to sunny skies with fluffy clouds, not what we expected so a massive bonus. Headed off in the car to see what we had missed in the dark last night, and realised our little log cabin was at the end of a causeway.....
We decided to head up the Port Nis, the northern most point of the Island. The skies stayed blue, and the sea was a darker shade of blue. Why do we need to fly away when we have this on our doorstep, if you've got a day to spare, to get here.
 
 
According a friendly local we had just missed Dolphins playing in the harbour there, so headed up to the lighthouse to see if we could see them, and were rewarded with some very shiny seals bobbing about, and a glimmer of Dolphins in the deep water. Also passed a cove with amazing white sand, and green and blue sparkling water. 
 
 
 
We then wended our way to a stone circle, up on a hill overlooking the Atlantic. I can see why they put it there...if it was a meeting place to celebrate the sun, the moon, and changing of the seasons it would be a great place for a party.
We then went to see the largest standing stone in the world across the way...... Quite hard to miss but we couldn't find it to begin with and realised it was behind us!!
We then had a drive down the island towards the Callanish stone circle.
This was a truly amazingly spiritual place, Tim was lost in his own world, and I just lost myself in the fizzing energy and amazing landscape.
We stopped on the way back for another stone circle for Tim, and a low sun view of the old lady of the North for me. A satisfying sunset ensued, with some orange edged clouds as we neared home, once I download the card we will see if I had any success.
A very full and enjoyable first day is finished, and we are sitting here with a nice chilled glass of something bubbly planning what to do tomorrow. 

That's all for now.

 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2014-10-13T21:57:46Z 2014-10-13T21:57:46Z https://lesleypeatfieldphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/10/thoughts-turn-to-autumn-travels Thoughts turn to autumn travels

As autumn approaches my thoughts turn to our much anticipated trip to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and a chance to revisit The Isle of Skye.

A most enjoyable and memorable trip I had there is represented in the above image from 2012. It was a great week with Garry Brannigan, Greg Smart, Rosie Mathisen, and a few others. We had very mixed weather, more rain than seemed fair, but we' were blessed with the light that follows a storm - just needed to dry ourselves and the cameras off to catch it!

Our plans this year start with a night in Callander, and then straight  on to Skye for the ferry to Harris. A short drive should take us to Lewis, and the cabin we plan to make our home for the week.

All this sounds lovely, just the question of a week more at work, and all the preparation for a trip of this calibre.

watch this space.....

 lesleypeatfieldphotography (C) lesleypeatfieldphotography 2014-10-03T14:45:37Z 2014-10-03T14:45:37Z