Expect The Unexpected
I used to set out for a photo shoot with one goal in mind: capturing a perfect sunrise or sunset. That was my priority; everything else was secondary. However, over time, I learned to let go of that narrow focus. The turning point for this shift was Scotland’s famously unpredictable weather. What some might describe as miserable or poor weather proved to be a gift; it taught me that landscape photographs do not require dramatic golden light to be captivating. Images can be created in almost any weather and under almost any kind of light.
The result now is that I head out with a simple aim: to create images. I embrace whatever light nature provides and strive to interpret it both faithfully and creatively. This willingness to adapt has transformed not only my work but also the way I experience the landscape.
On this particular occasion, Ardvreck Castle was my next subject. I arrived on location in the middle of the afternoon to find the weather in a notably dramatic mood. A thick layer of cloud covered the sky above, and it appeared set to linger for the rest of the day. I spent nearly an hour exploring the area, seeking different viewpoints and taking time to understand the subject from various angles. I found a few compositions that might work under different light conditions. However, with the sky so heavy, I decided to keep things simple: a clean composition featuring the castle and its reflection, with Quinag Mountain filling the upper right of the frame.
The light offered no definition in the clouds, and the surface of the loch felt dull. To add a sense of calm and abstraction to the image, I opted for a long exposure. This technique smoothed the water and revealed the quieter, more imaginative side of the landscape: the one that emerges not only from what we see but from what we feel. Once all the technical details were sorted, I waited. There was a small gap in the clouds to the west that hinted something unexpected might happen.
I made an initial exposure and was content with it, but instinct urged me to wait. After about thirty minutes, the gap widened, and the sun seemed poised to make a brief appearance. My exposure was set for two minutes, but I knew that two minutes in direct sunlight would overpower the scene and ruin its atmosphere. I decided to start the exposure before the sun emerged. Ninety seconds in, the light broke through. The castle lit up with the most extraordinary glow I have ever seen. The camera kept recording that fleeting, golden illumination for the final thirty seconds.
Luck might have played a part, but as always in photography, preparation, patience, and instinct are key to achieving the desired result.
