I decide to walk beside the loch, along a single-track road in the direction of the lone silver birch tree. The wind is strong and is whipping up the surface of the loch below the sparse and fragile stems of the reeds. I take a few shots but am half-hearted in my practice with the weather playing its part in a lack of engagement. The skies are dark and I am unable to get a reasonable shutter speed except with a wide aperture. This limits my work to a shallow depth of field leaving much of the photograph out of sharp focus. I feel constrained and wander on, occasionally wading through boggy land to the prolific reeds. As I walk the skies darken, and I pull my hood up to protect my ears from the cold. The shepherdess passes on her feeding rounds and gives an enthusiastic wave, doubtless wondering why anyone would be out in this weather without sheep to feed.
As I climb the rocky outcrop I notice that the Black Cuillin that provides the backdrop for many of my images of the silver birch are not visible and the sky is almost as black as the basalt rock. I decided to try multiple exposures and focus on the bark of the tree before taking a second image of the tree canopy and combined in the camera. I am not hopeful for the outcome but take a few experimental shots so that I can return and perfect the technique when the weather is more favourable.
It is not often that I return from a shoot without a few images I am prepared to share but today is that day. However, I will show a couple of the multiple exposure images, not because I think they are worthy of note but more because the idea has potential in better light.
Practice Period 12.30 – Alison Price, February 2023
Practice Period 12.31 – Alison Price, February 2023
