Image Details
This shot was one of those opportunistic shots that fall luckily into one's lap from time to time. I had spent most of the day several miles down the right hand side of the loch in this image, mostly in gloomy conditions with fleeting moments of lighting drama. This loch, Loch Maree, in the Scottish North-west Highlands, is a happy hunting ground for me when out doing landscape photography.
As the gloom increased I decided that further opportunities for good photography were non-existent, packed up my gear and trekked back to the car. I really should know better by now, but after being in the gloom for several hours one's optimism tends to wilt!
The drive home took me through Gairloch which, amazingly, was bathed in brilliant sunshine despite being only a few miles away from Loch Maree. Continuing north I eventually came to the Tollie viewpoint and was presented with this fantastic view superbly lit by a sun that was not far from setting below the hills behind me.
Now in the usual state of mixed panic and excitement which is the landscape photographers lot, I worked as quickly as I could to capture this photo before the sun dropped behind the hills. As soon as I got the first shot 'in the can' I was able relax and take time to consider more carefully how to get the best out of the opportunity presenting itself to me.
Typically amongst these considerations are; have I composed the shot optimally, should I move to another viewpoint, more careful consideration of exposure, and so on. Frequently it is the first shot taken in the heat of the moment that is the one to keep, but not always, more time to think and plan can lead to better images. Often a small change in ones viewpoint can work wonders, so if you have the time it is always worthwhile wandering around a bit to change your image composition.
North-west Highland Place Names
The landscape of the North-west Highlands and the Gaelic language are intimately connected. Other languages have contributed to the richness of our place names, notably Norse, but the North-west Highlands have for centuries been a Gaelic landscape. In listing the meanings of place names I have relied on authoritative sources wherever possible. For further information about sources please refer to North-west Highland Place Names in the main menu.
Gairloch; Gaelic, village named after the loch of the same name, Loch Gairloch, An Gearr-loch, the short loch.
Loch Maree; Gaelic Loch-Ma-rui(bh), Loch of St Maelrubha, an Irish monk who came to Scotland in 671A.D founding a church in Applecross before coming to Loch Maree where he founded another church on the island now known as Isle Maree. Professor Watson writes in his ‘Place names of Ross & Cromarty’ on page 230 “That Loch Maree was formerly called Loch Ewe is clear from the fact that the River Ewe issues from it, that Kinlochewe (meaning ‘Head of Loch Ewe’) stands at its upper end, and Letterewe on its north side”.
Tollie; Gaelic is Tollaidh, ‘place of the holes’, there are also Tollie Farm, Tollie Bay, Tollie Rock, Tollie Burn and Loch Tollaidh
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