dear all,

Last February I visited Scotland for a week and made some (actually quite a lot) photographs. You´ll find them here!

This was my first real experience with a digital back instead of working with slides.

Wim

Beautiful, moody work. Thanks for sharing them.

It looks as if you get up early to photograph a lot, and then take a siesta until late afternoon. With those clouds I would expect even mid-day light to be photogranic.

Nice work, Willem. Thanks for sharing!!

Mike.

Stunningly beautiful, as your work always is. Thank you for sharing your new photos with us.

It looks like you managed the digital transition without losing anything from your photography.

Lisa

Thank you all for the kind words!

I did do quite a lot of photography between 10am and 4 pm, like the Lismore, the Lochaber and most of the Moidart portfolio.
But even in Winter the light is best early and late.

Thanks, stunning shots. I especially liked the Altnafeadh 5 photo for its muted colors and dark, brooding atmosphere: http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl/sco/rannoch21.htm

I'm thinking of visiting Scotland this fall, and I'll definitely be checking some of the locations you shot. Did you need a rented car to get to the locations? Heh, "no more squares." I miss 6x6 although getting slides scanned is a hassle. I think I'll bring my film MF back with me.

Hi Feppe (sounds Frisian?),

I always take the Amsterdam (IJmuiden) - Newcastle ferry. I like to take a lot of things with my, and we the family we always camp with a tent.

I have been working with the square for years, but to my own surprise I didn´t miss it all that much.

Feppe is not my real name: I'm a Finn living in Netherlands. I think I'll just take the plane to Glasgow or Edinburgh directly, as that's less of a hassle for me.

Ah, I see.

Having a car is for a photographer almost a must, as public transport in the Highlands is meagre at best, especially around the times that are worthwhile (i.e. early and late).

There are a lot of B&B and hotels, but some booking can be smart during the busy weekends. When are planning to go?

Yeah, I'm planning to rent a car. October or November is my plan. I'm hoping to catch some fall colors, but I'm not sure when that season is in Scotland.

At the end of October will be fine, November too. It depends on the previous weather: the amount of storms, nightly frost etc.

For fall colours I would recommend Argyll (more decidious forests) or the Sunart/Ardnamurchan region.

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I have some googling to do

I added an article, a back to the future, about my experiences with using a digital back (Imacon 132c) on my Rollei 6008i.

I hope you enjoy it.

Wim

Looks like we got very different weather for our February trips to Scotland and Rannoch - I got bright sunshine for a whole week! You got the better photos (and the better skills!) though...

http://www.adriantaylor.co.uk/Gallery/Scotland%202007/

it depends on whether you want to photograph woodlands or open hill ground. for good colours in the woods, october is generally the best time, but it depends on how dry the summer's been as to how intense the colours are. the hills in the north-west highlands are alive with colour from the different grasses (mainly deer-grass and purple moor-grass); this again varies a bit from year to year, but mid-October has been good the last few years. I know, because I usually miss it on holiday in Europe! november is more often than not too late (apart from the beginning, unless it's been a wet summer and the wind hasn't blown all the leaves off the trees. hope that helps a little.