Scotland Holiday day 6 Neist point , Dornie and Eilean Donan castle

It is early morning at Neist Point where we have stayed the night, with a fabulous view from the van.    We are going to walk to the lighthouse this morning for a look around before heading back off the island back to Dornie , the weather forecast isn't looking good for tomorrow so may stay there all day.

                           The towering cliffs of this peninsular on the way to the lighthouse.

                                                         Moll isn't impressed, no beach!

        Up over the top now, its really warm already, don't think we need these fleeces on!    but it was fairly breezy up on the headland when we left the van.

                                                                      Almost there.

                                           a close up of the light , using 100-400 mm lens

                                                                   Jan's image    lol

                           Early morning light on the cliff side as we make our way back .

Now its time for the long drive back down the single track road and over the Skye bridge back to Dornie , and the same campsite we stayed at on the way couple of days ago.
                                All set up and off for a short walk up to the castle viewpoint.

Along the shore line, passed a sign warning of chickens,  which we thought Mollster would go for, when in fact she appears to be actually scared of them and has kept well away from!  
                                         Afraid of Chickens!   I'm ashamed of my dog !

                                        The village of Dornie viewed from the road bridge.

Crossing the bridge we have turned left to walk up to the viewpoint , the sun is almost directly in front of the view so taking any images will be pointless, but I have shot this one.

A quick shot of this cottage on the way back to the van.  after dinner I will go out for sunset, firstly to see if I can get some nice light on the castle from over the bay before going round to the castle car park like the previous visit earlier in the week.

Sunset time,   I am set up opposite the castle with the sun setting behind me, using the 100=400mm L lens on 5dsr.    This is the best image I have taken, it didn't really light up as I had hoped.

Walking over the bridge heading for the castle there are some great looking clouds heading in this direction , very unusual shape .    I hope they will still be there as the sun setts and will colour up.

I have got the drone up as soon as I reached the castle, the clouds have already turned colour with the low sun and even though its fairly windy high up its no problem for the phantom.

          This is a 5 frame Vertorama , good reflections in the water and the clouds are spectacular.

The sky to my left down over the Loch has coloured up nicely, so flying around the castle and behind it to take this 5 frame Vertorama,  its quite windy up there so I have brought it down lower on this side of the castle where its more sheltered.

Another two images as the clouds slowly move towards me, unfortunately behind them its completely clear so there will be no more colour.

The castle lights are on now as its dusk,   the sun has set and I will make my way back now but will try and get a couple of shots as it gets darker and all lit up.

                                  5dsr and 100=400mmL shot from just before the bridge.

As I am walking over the bridge, the blue hour is living up to its name, the sky is looking great with the moon shining through breaks in the cloud,  time to stop off near the bridge opposite to get a few images.
                                                                      20 seconds  f11

                   This is one , if not my favourite image I have taken this week in Scotland.

The end of another great day in Scotland...………………..

Scotland Holiday Neist Point Sunset

We are at Neist Point lighthouse on the isle of Skye ,  its a couple of hours before sunset and I am going to get the drone up now as the Crepuscular rays are looking really good out over the sea.  The cloud is looking a bit too heavy for a decent sunset at the moment but that can change quickly.
Jan is staying in the van while I go out for now.

Flying straight out over the water to the left side of the point , level with the lighthouse and the rays behind , looks a good image.

Moving further out and away to get a Panorama , there is some colour developing now.

How lucky am I ,   a tall ship has sailed into view heading towards the lighthouse , And I have the drone out at precisely the right time .

                                                                  9 frame panorama

                         Taking the drone down lower so I can get the rays in the background.

The sky colour is getting stronger , and the Crepuscular rays are still in the same place, they have not moved in over half an hour.  Going even lower to fill the frame with the best colour to get this image just before I need to bring the drone back as the battery is getting low.

Time to get the dslr out now and walk around the right side to look at the lighthouse,   Jan has followed and taken this image of me setting the camera up.    Look at the sky now, but its just that small narrow band of colour.

         My finished image,  8 vertical frames stitched together with 5dsr and 100=400mm L lens

                                                 this is about the correct colour as seen.

                 Jan has been at it again,   this is a cracking image of me on the cliff edge .

The wind is getting up but as there is a bit of colour in the sky I need to get the drone up again for a couple of quick images.


                                                        A couple of 5 frame Vertoramas

               A side on shot of the lighthouse , the colour hasn't really developed in the clouds unfortunately.   it is however in position to get a couple of long exposure dslr images .

                                                    5dsr  17-40L   6 stop nd    33 seconds f14

                         My final image, perfect finish to a great evening at Neist Point .

Scotish Holiday day 5 Old man of Storr

OMG!   its before 5am and I am up and on my way to the Old Man of Storr, I don't do mornings Arghhhh      The weather is not looking good, thick cloud on the horizon even though its blue above me but that is moving in the wrong direction.
  I can see the Storr in the distance,  its about 40 minutes fast walk.   Jan declined to come with me, Cant imagine why  lol

                                        Getting closer , and so is the cloud behind me.

Looking back to the rising sun, creating rays through small breaks in the cloud. Doesn't look like I'm going to get any nice warm light on the Storr.   5dsr  17-40 L  5 vertical frames merged in lightroom .

   I am now passing the Pinnacles and heading up to the higher ground to the right , constantly keeping an eye on the sun and cloud.    Half way up towards the high ledge, I have already set up the camera and tripod and the sun breaks through,  having no time to put filters I just compose and shoot three frames, and that's it, the light has gone.

                                            So three images shot  , this is the second one.
                                                Bathed is soft warm light momentarily .

Climbing up to the top, and the light is flat again , its quite windy but I'm going to get the drone up for a few shots.   A 9 frame panorama selfi.

   The sun has moved round and producing a few rays , but the light is rubbish where I need it to be .
                                                                9 frame panorama

One more dslr image,that is enough, the light is not going to change and the sun is too high now to get the images I wanted.

              Time to head back down to the van for breakfast now , taking a couple of phone shots on the way down . Passing load of people on the way up , it was lovely and quiet up top with just a couple of other photographers and campers to be seen.

I have stopped to shoot this image of the rays , its 8.15 now and doesn't look like the cloud is going to clear any time soon.

After breakfast we are heading up the coast road a855, stopping to take this 9 frame panorama of Loch Langaig. We are heading to Duntulm to see the castle ruins.

Arriving at Duntulm to find the cloud has increased , it was blue sky just down the road.  Walking along to the ruins, it is quite busy,fortunatly most people are heading back to the car park luckily.   time to get the drone up for a few quick images , the light is not good again but will try a few shots.

I think this is the best view of  the castle perched on top of the high cliff , a bit of brightness in the background.

Now we are heading around to Uig , to fill up with Lpg.  one of only 2 filling stations on Skye to stock it.
Passing small villages , very pretty.

This is the Skye Museum of island life ,  a quick stop for a look ………..

Now to carry on to Uig.    and when we get to the station the pump wont fill our tank!    no matter what we tried and the station assistant.   Anyhow, we have enough to last a couple of days so we have decided to head to Neist Point lighthouse and park there overnight, the weather is looking very good and a possible sunset.
                                                         Mollster in front of  Niest Point

Tonight I'm hoping for a decent sunset...………………………..