Scotland 2008 Part VIII:Ascending Storr, on the Isle of Skye

Digital original, 7 frame stitch

Almost as soon as one drives out of Portree (the largest town on Skye), the rocky landscape of the Storr becomes visible. Even from a distance, the massive rock outcrop, and the distinct jut of the Old Man of Stoor (the last rock formation on the right) is breathtaking.

Digital original, 8 frame exposure blend, 13 frame stitch

The top of Storr was wet, windy, and bitter, but Ingrid felt that it was worth trying to make a couple of images; lower down we made some images in sheltered rocky areas, but this view, from the edge of a ridge looking across to the Old Man of Stoor, was too spectacular to pass up. We had to wait for some other visitors to move out of the scene, and Ingrid and I worked out the poses with her fully clothed, so when the time came to make the images, it was simply a matter of quickly moving through the poses…which was lucky because just as we started, it began to rain...again.

Digital original, 3 frame exposure blend

I have never felt more alive than after climbing the Storr; Ingrid, Miranda and I ate a quick lunch on the ridge below the very top, and I was just in awe of the beauty that surrounded it. Sitting with the cold hard rock against my back, and looking out on the whole of the eastern side of the island, and the mainland of Scotland stretching before me was just stunning.