There are few places in Scotland as peaceful as Loch Maree at dawn. This morning at Slattadale, everything aligned perfectly – calm water, soft mist lingering over the distant hills, and a sky that gradually ignited with the first light of day.
I arrived well before sunrise, setting up in the stillness, listening to the occasional ripple of water against the shore. A cluster of trees on a small island caught my eye, their delicate silhouettes standing against the distant mountains. The sky slowly came alive with soft hues of pink, magenta and gold, reflecting perfectly on the glass-like surface of the loch.
Wanting to emphasise the serenity of the moment, I opted for a 5-second exposure to completely smooth the water and enhance the reflection. A lone rock in the foreground added balance to the composition, anchoring the scene while drawing the eye toward the island and beyond to the misty hills.
As the sun crept higher, the colours shifted from gentle pastels to richer tones, and the mist began to lift. It was one of those fleeting moments where everything felt perfectly still, as if time had momentarily paused.
Loch Maree has an almost mythical quality, steeped in history and legend, and mornings like this make it easy to see why. This was one of those rare occasions when nature provided something truly special, and I felt privileged to have witnessed it through my lens.
