I spent a few days on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. I was fortunate with the weather – I had two full days with clear skies and frosty mornings, cold but exceptionally good for landscape photography.
I visited the Pirate’s Cove location near the village of Corrie one morning. I had beautiful colours in the sky and superb direct low light on the erratic boulders that can be found in the area.
As the first hint of dawn touched the sky, a delicate blush of colour was creeping over the horizon. These erratic boulders scattered across the shore weren’t just geological features; they were the opening scene in a story, a silent testament to the island’s ancient beginnings. I wanted to capture that dawn of time.
Each boulder held its own character. The largest, its surface a mosaic of lichen and weathered stone, stood like a wise elder, watching the new day break. The smaller ones, nestled around it, seemed like children awakening, bathed in the soft, nascent light.
The rising sun, casting long shadows and painting the rocks in warm, early morning hues, was the narrator’s first light. It revealed the textures, hidden crevices, and subtle details that spoke of centuries of weathering. I wanted to show the viewer not just what these boulders looked like but what they represented: the beginning, the untouched, the enduring spirit of the island.
The distant horizon, a thin line of pale blue against the brightening sky, was the backdrop to this timeless narrative. It hinted at the vastness of the sea, the mysteries these boulders might have witnessed, the forces that brought them there. The wet rocks in the foreground, reflecting the soft light, added a sense of immediacy, a feeling of being present at the dawn of a new day.
I framed the scene to emphasise the quiet solitude of these boulders, their silent strength against the awakening sea and sky. It wasn’t just about capturing a mere picture; it was about weaving a narrative, about giving these ancient stones a voice as the world began anew. I wanted the viewer to look at this image and wonder, to imagine the stories these boulders could tell. It was about capturing a moment, a feeling, a memory to share with others.
