Notes and Images from a Small Island (Practice Period 12 Day 9)

After a couple of random and frankly lacklustre practice days, I rise to the sun shining – a rare occurrence during the winter months.  I grab my photographic bag, journal and walking boots and head for the loch.  The road is full of potholes – the puddles masking the very deep holes that can catch out unsuspecting travellers, so my journey is slow.  It gives me time to assess the weather, light, air turbulence and whether the sun has yet peeped over the hills surrounding the loch.  As always, the sheep form a welcoming party as I park up in the usual place and the shepherdess speeds past in her buggy.   It is warmer today.  This is confirmed by the sight of an early midge buzzing around my face.

I focus on the loch rather than the trees and coppices around its edges where I had spent my previous shoot earlier in the week.  I note immediately the change in the quality of the light – it is sparkling, immediately lifting the colours in the loch, and there is some movement in the water.  A perfect combination.  These conditions are often short-lived as the wind picks up and the sky clouds over.  I work quickly to set up my tripod.  I am immediately swept away by the hypnotic movement, shapes and forms of the reeds and the water.  I soon drift into a creative flow and intuitively decide to use slow shutter speeds to capture the essence of the early spring growth of the reeds that sparkle like jewels on the surface of the loch.  Even though the water is relatively calm there are still breaths of wind that provide a meditative focus to my work.  The blue skies and fluffy white clouds combined with the movement of the water provide captivating and ever-changing reflections and glimpses of the Being of the loch.  As I pack up my bag, I feel more confident about my image-making, feeling at least, that I have been lost in my art, using the camera intuitively and without conscious intervention.  Maybe my mojo has returned and the loch has worked its magic on me again.