Image Details
Taken in September about 20 minutes before the sun rose over the eastern hills, and only a few minutes walk from my home in Laide, this scene kept me glued to the spot as I watched it slowly develop.
To the right, the ragged southern shore of Gruinard Bay leads one's eye to the rounded top of Sail Mhor, one of An Teallach's peaks. To the left of Sail Mhor is Beinn Ghobhlach, which means the forked mountain.
Part of the joy of photography is just being alone somewhere and enjoying the wonders that nature unfolds before your eyes. However, in my case there is always a certain tension involved as I consider how best to capture these moments.
I did read somewhere that to truly drink in the moment one should leave the camera behind so that there is nothing to distract the mind. I suspect that would not work for me because my mind would be distracted by the frustration of being unable to record the scene.
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.
An Teallach; Gaelic, ‘The Forge’, according to Wikipedia from its colour in certain lighting rather than its shape. From personal experience I can agree with this explanation. In the summer, during a good sunset, and when looking east over Gruinard Bay An Teallach can appear bright red with the reflected light from the sunset in the west. However Professor Watson says that the being called the forge is due either to its smoke like mists or from supposed resemblance to a forge.
Beinn Ghobhlach; Gaelic A’ Bheinn Ghobhlach; the forked hill.
Gruinard Bay; possibly from the Norse grunnfjörðr meaning shallow firth.
Laide; In Gaelic it is An Leathad meaning ‘a slope’.
Sail Mhor; Great heel.
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