A Few Images from the Isle of Mull Workshop

[pathfinder]

I have been working up some of my images from Marc's recent workshop on the Isle of Mull. Posting images following Andy, Emmanuel, BigSky, and Schmoo is a very intimidating task. I have a few that I want to share nonetheless.

Nightingale and I spent a full week travelling in Wales and England before the workshop assembled in Glasgow. Getting to see the Roman Baths, Hadrian's Wall and various castles and cathedrals will be memories that remain with both of us for a lifetime. Kerry was an excellent tour guide and companion on the first week, and we both want to thank her for her helping arrange that portion of the trip.

With that I will open with a scene from the UK, we will all recognize.

Stonehenge -


Hadrian's Wall on the northern English border with Scotland.


We had no sooner gotten off the island ferry to Mull, when we passed the scene designed to inspire visiting photgraphers hosted by the Mull Tourism Board




We could have spent a full day just shooting old wrecked fishing boats.

But we came to see and shoot the landscapes and seashores of Mull

A dark and stormy beach on Mull


And another dark and stormy day


The lighthouse


The seashore





The beaches were overcrowded - such crowds!!



We saw lots of livestock



And highland cattle



The scenery was gorgeous, the locals made us feel right at home, and the weather was beautiful. What more could you possibly want?

Maybe a little Scotch. They had that too at the Tobemory Distillery


And then home over Greenland


I want to thank Marc, Andy, Dave and all who were involved in organizing and carrying out this workshop. It was great!

Comments and criticisms welcomed

[grimace]

WOW!!

Outstanding work. Incredible variety. I love the panos and the B&W on the boats. I'd love to see more!!

[AaronNelson]

we have been waiting and yes it was worth the wait....

the bull is so funny to me....ive got to show harod (our bull) the hair-dos the scots have

[Fred W]

Well done Jim!!!!!!

I would have enjoyed going to see Stonehenge too but there just aren't enough vacation days in a year. Your 1st picture almost makes me feel like I was there.

Seeing more Mull pictures just keeps the good memories coming.

[schmoo]

Originally Posted by Fred W

Seeing more Mull pictures just keeps the good memories coming.

Jim, such great work from you as we'd expect! I think I was asleep over Greenland... that looks gorgeous and I'm sorry I missed it!

I didn't even see these compositions when we were visiting all of these beaches. Ah, if only there was a "next time." I love having my eyes opened to the endelss artistic possibilities of a location, even if there isn't.

[Llywellyn]

Great images, Jim. So glad you and Nightingale enjoyed that first week.

My father told me after I returned home that someone vandalized Stonehenge with a hammer and chisel right after we visited it. I've been wanting to see it for years, and I'm grateful we did before it was defaced by idiots.

[Marc Muench]

Great post Jim

This image stands out especially because I recall how most found this a tough situation to photograph and this proves you have the eye You have the right contrast in the FG and a good balance between it and the cloudy sky.














And then home over Greenland



Looks like a future workshop location I think I see Emanuel on that mountain below

[schmoo]

Originally Posted by Marc Muench

And then home over Greenland

Attachment 23961

Looks like a future workshop location I think I see Emanuel on that mountain below

[gluwater]

Beautiful work Jim, I was starting to wonder where your photos were. Now you have to get Kathy to post some of her excellent photos for us to see. I really like the lighthouse.

[ian408]

Marc, that was funny. I wasn't there and I think I recognize him on that
bump.

Jim, some great stuff. And I agree with the assessment of that rock garden
on the coast. Beautiful.

[coscorrosa]

Fantastic shots! Looks like you guys had way too much fun over there! I like the wall, boats (both of them), and cattle (fantastic light) shots especially.

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by grimace

WOW!!

Outstanding work. Incredible variety. I love the panos and the B&W on the boats. I'd love to see more!!

I was offline due to a power outage ( over 8 hours and still dead voltage), so I have been slow to respond.

Thank you for the kind words Grimace.

Here are two shots you might like....

An old dinghy in B&W



Here is Mark at work near the edge...



And Sarah (Photempt) as well

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by AaronNelson

we have been waiting and yes it was worth the wait....

the bull is so funny to me....ive got to show harod (our bull) the hair-dos the scots have

Hi Aaron,

We drove by so many highland cattle, and didn't stop, I was threatening a rebellion. That was one of the images I really wanted to get on this trip - preferably on a dark and stormy day. Alas, we were doomed to shoot the cattle only briefly in mid-day sunshine

Sarah asked if the cattle were friendly, and Kevin( our guide ) said "sure the cattle are friendly". So everyone crawled over the fence, and Sarah took her tripod with her. Now, you must know that Sarah was the first to start shooting, and the last to leave. She was a relentless photographer and I say that with the greatest respect and affection

So when Kevin said "it is time to leave" because the local bull had loomed into view, Sarah did not want to leave and said " You said they were friendly!"

And Kevin responded "I didn't say the Bull was friendly!!"

I laughed so hard I cried.

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by Fred W

Well done Jim!!!!!!

I would have enjoyed going to see Stonehenge too but there just aren't enough vacation days in a year. Your 1st picture almost makes me feel like I was there.

Seeing more Mull pictures just keeps the good memories coming.

Hi Fred, where are all your pictures, guy??

I am glad you enjoyed the shots of Stonehenge. I was disappointed at the remote vantage point they allow tourists at Stonehenge these days. You are roped back about 50 yards or so, so no closeups at all are possible, and the access is limited to the hours of 9 am to 6 pm or so. So the lighting is less than optimal.

This contributed to my decision to use a sepia style rendering.

I am glad you like it, I do too. It is a 4 or 5 frame pano from a 40D.

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by schmoo

Jim, such great work from you as we'd expect! I think I was asleep over Greenland... that looks gorgeous and I'm sorry I missed it!

I didn't even see these compositions when we were visiting all of these beaches. Ah, if only there was a "next time." I love having my eyes opened to the endelss artistic possibilities of a location, even if there isn't.

Thanks for the kind words, Stephanie. Congratulations on your new position. I expect to see great things from you in the future.

I was in the middle seat flying home and looked out the window and just HAD to have that image of Greenland!! I was probably not real popular with the folks nearer the window seat on that flight.

I agree, that the beach scenes were challenging. SO Large, and immense - Hard to visualize on paper. I made a resolution to try to shoot with the 24mm T&S as Marc taught us, even though I have never really been a good wide angle shooter. I tend to favor teles, and details, rather than broad scenes. Or zooms rather than primes. But primes rock for sharpness.

The rocks just caught my eye, I guess. I have dozens of similar frames - some shot at panos as well.

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by Llywellyn

Great images, Jim. So glad you and Nightingale enjoyed that first week.

My father told me after I returned home that someone vandalized Stonehenge with a hammer and chisel right after we visited it. I've been wanting to see it for years, and I'm grateful we did before it was defaced by idiots.

Thanks Kerry - Kathy and I had a fabulous time!! SO many new things to see and do. We want to return and travel over much of the area again at some time. Even driving was a hoot!

I heard that report about the defacing at Stonehenge - I read they chipped off a piece or rock abut the size of a dollar coin. Some folks just don't seem to get it, do they?

Just think how long it has stood out there on that open plain in the weather, and how many people have marveled at it.

Unfortunately, I have numerous images of rock art out West that have been defaced by tools or firearms also. There will always be those who try to diminish the works of others.

Lets see some of Your pictures!

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by Marc Muench

Great post Jim

This image stands out especially because I recall how most found this a tough situation to photograph and this proves you have the eye You have the right contrast in the FG and a good balance between it and the cloudy sky.




And then home over Greenland

Attachment 23961

Looks like a future workshop location I think I see Emanuel on that mountain below

Thanks for commenting Marc. It means a lot to me.

Somewhere I have a frame of Emmanuel that I mean to post. His enthusiasm was just contagious wasn't it? I think you're right, that was him down there in the ice in Greenland!!

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by gluwater

Beautiful work Jim, I was starting to wonder where your photos were. Now you have to get Kathy to post some of her excellent photos for us to see. I really like the lighthouse.

Hi Nick.

You know I am always late to the party after a workshop!! I have to drive home, sober up, and look at my images on the big screen

I am glad you liked the lighthouse shot. Andy had the killer lighthouse shot of the trip though!

Kathy is always to reluctant to post, and yet, she has some nice work. Maybe I will post edit some of it to encourage her to share her eye. Give me a couple days.

[pathfinder]

Originally Posted by ian408

Jim, some great stuff. And I agree with the assessment of that rock garden
on the coast. Beautiful.

Thanks Ian. Too bad we can't ride to Scotland, isn't it? They have more curvy roads per mile than anywhere I have ever been, and that includes W Virginia and places out West. I wonder if there is a rental place in Scotland?

[ian408]

Originally Posted by pathfinder

Thanks Ian. Too bad we can't ride to Scotland, isn't it? They have more curvy roads per mile than anywhere I have ever been, and that includes W Virginia and places out West. I wonder if there is a rental place in Scotland?

I think there is. A GS would be just the ticket. That and a Bibler tent and
you're good to go