Scotland Bound

Struan Gray said:

Have fun. Don't get lost. Don't try all the malts in one night.

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Struan!!

I can't thank you enough for all the tips as well as the time you took to put this all together. I have printed-out your post and packed it in with my maps. I will begin plotting several alternative paths that I can take, but judging by your recommendations, I am heading straight for the north to begin. If there is time, I will wind down into more familiar places. I may base myself near Dornie or Kyle of Lochalsh the first night as my flight arrives in late morning. I don't want to drive into the dark and perhaps I won't make it that far the first day. I really can't remember how long travel between places takes as the last time I was there I was using my thumb and trains for travel. Now, with a car, you never know where I will end up! I have rented a pretty normal vehicle, so I won't be doing too much in the way of challenging drives, but I love to walk. As long as weather permits, I intend to try the Sandwood Bay beach. I read more about this place and feel it is somewhere I simply must go. Don't worry too much about my getting lost in the Highlands though. I have learned from my times in Iceland and life in general in northern Michigan and am not one to take the dangers of wild places lightly.

Thanks as well for the great link to the ordinance survey maps! I love these maps and will purchase new ones when I arrive as the ones I have are pretty torn-up after all the years. I'm sure a few things have changed as well.

Again... I can't thank you enough and will post back upon my return to tell of my travels.

Mono said:

So Bill, go on, there is no better way of shooting!
And: The first copy of your Scotland book is mine ;-))

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Thank you as well Mono! I very much appreciate your help and enthusiasm. As I can see you agree with Struan, I will save that call for another time. I will be sure to post images to the gallery upon return... that is providing I do my job well!

Bill

I'm glad to have helped. I am currently planning my own trip to Arran and Coigach at Easter so I promise I didn't have to think too hard

The main, 'A' roads are fairly fast these days. Inverness to Ullapool is half an hour in normal conditions. The only problem is the 'high' passes at Drumochter, Slocht and under Ben Wyvis on the Ullapool road. These can be blocked by heavy snowfall, but they usually shut the snow gates in good time. I would recommend a basic winter car kit so you can sit out a night with a blanket and thermos, but you won't have to contend with really low temperatures.

The small single-track roads are often easier to drive at night becuase you can see oncoming headlights a lot further off than a car in daylight. On the other hand, the sheep always sleep with their backsides out on the tarmac, so you need to drive carefully all the same.

One thing however, don't forget to take some Velvia.

roteague said:

don't forget to take some Velvia.

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Velvia??? Isn't that some kind of cheese?

billschwab said:

Velvia??? Isn't that some kind of cheese?

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Somebody, on the Analog "Black and White" Photography Users Group has to mention color.

Happy you can take a joke.

roteague said:

Somebody, on the Analog "Black and White" Photography Users Group....

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There is a lot of great color work posted into the galleries here by some wonderful photographers... am I missing something? I hadn't realized it was supposed to be just black and white.

Bill

billschwab said:

Happy you can take a joke.

There is a lot of great color work posted into the galleries here by some wonderful photographers... am I missing something? I hadn't realized it was supposed to be just black and white.

Bill

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Just tweaking everyone's nose a bit ..... Yes, there is some great color work here, I particulary like Baxter Bradford and Robert Jaques's work. You have to admit though, sometimes there is an expectation of B&W here.

As you know Robert, I use mostly Portra NC. Velvia is like deep-fried mars bars: too much of a good thing.

Struan Gray said:

As you know Robert, I use mostly Portra NC. Velvia is like deep-fried mars bars: too much of a good thing.

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Struan,

Thanks, I didn't realize you did color as well. There are a lot of good color workers here, like the ones I mentioned, but many I didn't mention, like John Callow and yourself. Of course, I didn't mean to slight anyone, with 10000 members it is hard to keep track of everyone. But, it is true, the most active part of the forum is from the B&W community - and there certainly isn't anything wrong with that, there are some stunning B&W photographers here, some that would get approval from the old master Ansel Adams, if he was still alive, I'm sure.

Hello All,

6AM in Amsterdam Airport with a 3 hour layover before moving on again to Scotland. Thought I'd look-in on the site to see what's up to kill some time. Hoping to soon check-out some of the great tips I got from Struan and all others. Tired, but excited to get there and explore. Thanks again to everyone that has given their help!

Bill

Nice one Bill

You have got a nice little 'WHERE TO GO' view points list here from some fine photographers. And I'll be following in your footsteps in february. Cool.

What a great community to belong to!

Have a great trip.

Stoo

billschwab said:

Hello All,6AM in Amsterdam Airport with a 3 hour layover before moving on again to Scotland. Bill

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You must have arrived by now ! Hope we get some updates of your progress.

roy said:

You must have arrived by now ! Hope we get some updates of your progress.

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Hi Roy and all,

Writing this from a bar in Kyle of Localsh 'looking' out at the Isle of Skye. I really can't see it though due to the weather. Had some good results so far, but not nearly what I had hoped for. My luck withy weather has been not good. So it goes for Scotland in the Winter!!! Almost a total rain-out so far, but there is still time to go. Great suggestions Mono and Struan! Goigach was beautiful!!!!

More to come if I see another access point.

Bill (wet)

I've been keeping an eye on the weather up there and have seen it has not been good . Should improve over the next few days (http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/nscotland/)

Cheers, Bob.

Bill,

Here's a five day forcast for that area.
5 day weather
Looks like the rain will ease off.

Thanks Dave and Bob!

It has let-off and I have had some great working weather the last couple of days. Home to the states soon and will post some photos if they warrant. It has bee a great time so far even with the weather. I love this place!

Thanks again,

Bill

Looking forward to your photos and stories. This has been a great thread to read -- I'll be going to Scotland (back for the first time in 15 years) this coming September and this is a great source of ideas.

Gabe Racz said:

Looking forward to your photos and stories.

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Hello Gabe, All,

I am just now back home and already envious to hear of those still to go!

I have had some wonderful help and suggestions from people on this board as well as support while the going was rough. Through all of my travels, I never kept-up with a thread like this and I have to say that it has been one of the better resources I have had. When you're ready to go, let me know and I can add some of my impressions to those that have helped me. That goes for all others.

I ended up covering a lot of territory... over 1,000 miles on the little rent a car.... shot over 40 rolls of film... and drank a lot of fine beer and single malts in the downtime. There was a lot of the latter as the weather was less than perfect. I always seem to choose questionable times for my visits, but that is pretty much by design. Although I love a sunny and calm day, there isn't the sort of drama in them that I seek. I've had the same experience in Iceland several times where 90% of my time was spent eating bags of pretzels in my car while watching the rain come at me horizontally and hard. The other 10% spent blissfully and feverishly working in places scouted while unable to work. It is becoming a common experience for me and I am getting used to relaxing while not shooting. Nothing like traveling 4,000 miles to sit in a car watching it rain!

Also took several long walks that were as rewarding as they were drenching. All the rain gear in the world wasn’t going to keep me dry and I just resigned to being wet and took more trouble in keeping my gear dry. After all, I made sure I had a nice hotel pub in which to warm my bones by means of coal fires, malts and beers each night. I’m not a huge drinker, but I know what I like and it was all there with only a climb up the stairs to my bed. And I pretty much had the places to myself aside from locals who all were very kind and went out of their way to make me feel at home. I can’t think of a better place to visit as a photographer traveling alone. Although I have to admit to feeling a little bit an outsider explaining to fisherman in the pub in Ullapool who had just come from many hours of back-breaking work on the sea that I made my living running around places taking pictures. Boy… did I feel like a lightweight.

Anyway… it was a great trip and I am spending the day running film and proofing. Hopefully my memories of all the things I photographed will match my film. I’ll post a few if they do.

Thanks again to all who helped. I love your favorite places and was happy to discover many of my own as well.

Bill

PS. Can anyone over there explain the crazy obsession with Celebrity Big Brother?

billschwab said:

PS. Can anyone over there explain the crazy obsession with Celebrity Big Brother?

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Nope.


Closest I can get is it's the attraction of watching a slow motion train crash. Of course, the fact that you don't know the background of any of them makes it even less comprehensible (but then, I don't know who the £V*& most of them are either)...


Glad you got SOME shooting weather! Like the man said: there's no such thing as bad weather: only the wrong clothes...

Cheers, Bob.

Sorry to have missed you...

I've been away home for the last week in Broadstairs else I would've endeavoured to meet up. Hope all has gone well and from the images you have already posted it certainly looks to have done.

All the best, Carl.

Bill, here is the news you have been waiting for, Celebrity Big Brother has ended, & the fake celebrity has won.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4653346.stm

Andrew

Bill: That was a fine piece of writing, and it intensifies my anticipation to see your photos. It also heightens my desire to go to Scotland.

Slainte!