Image Details
This image is not what it seems. It appears to be a sunset or early morning scene, but was in fact taken in late afternoon at springtime.
I was on the Scottish island of Skye for a few days and on this day was exploring its west coast. I had reached Boust Hill, not far from Bracadale, and to take this landscape photograph I was looking out at the entrance to Loch Harport, Ardtreck Point (left) and Ullinish Point (right).
The orange coloured sky was not the result of a setting sun which was still high in the sky, but was in fact due to smoke from burning hillsides. In the spring the hillsides in the West Highlands are set alight to burn the heather and encourage new growth for sheep and cattle to graze. In the main it is controlled but occasionally it can get out of hand.
On this occasion extensive areas of hillside were ablaze filling the air beyond the peninsulas with smoke, creating the unusual juxtaposition of an apparent sunset sky with blue water which was reflecting the clear blue sky above me.
Copyright © 1997 Gordon C Harrison All Rights Reserved