Benderloch, Argyll, Scotland

Red Squirrel

2011-11-05T17:14:00.000Z

I took this photo in the Ben Lora forest
near the half-way viewpoint.
The squirrel eventually scurried up the
tree trunk, crossed over the track in the
canopy and disappeared into the pines.

River Coupall

2011-10-22T01:24:00.000+01:00

The river Coupall below Buchaille Etive Mhor.
Photo taken below the bridge where the road
down Glen Etive crosses the river.
(f8 1/3sec ISO100 ND4+ND2 grad filters)

By Loch Creran

2011-10-22T01:01:00.000+01:00

Barcaldine Castle above Loch Creran.
Late afternoon sun and a shower created
the wee rainbow, to left of the castle.

Low autumn sunlight on Loch Creran

Glencoe area

2011-10-21T00:39:00.000+01:00

Drove up Glencoe on Oct 19th to get some photos after the first autumnal snowfall on the mountains.

Here's a selection.

The snow above Glencoe

Roe deer with Buchaille Etive Mhor
in the background

Nice antlers on this roe deer

Slow exposure of the river Coupall
below Buchaille Etive Mhor

Sunset Loch Etive

2011-09-29T00:48:00.000+01:00

I have previously posted a photo of Ardchattan Kirk taken through the trees but I wanted to return when the sunset would be behind the church.

The best shot with a sunset sky

As I photographed the church
these mute swans took a look at me

Highland Games

2011-07-16T18:52:00.002+01:00

Dancing competition

accompanied by bagpipes

I was helping out on a stall at Taynuilt Highland Games today (about 10 mile south-east of Benderloch on the opposite side of Loch Etive). These are a few of the snaps I took with a small compact camera.

The games field during the
throwing the hammer competition

Awards presentation

2011-07-13T00:37:00.000+01:00

The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary at Barcaldine has a new feature for 2011 - a collection of turtles. The centre is found on the shore of Loch Creran on the A828 when going north from Benderloch towards Fort William.

The entrance - look for the large carved seals on the roadside!

The turtles

Turtles in close-up

View over Loch creran from the centre

Dramatic black-and-white shot looking into the Glencoe mountains from the centre

Fishing boat at mooring on the loch

More information about the centre - opening times, attractions, otter, seal and shark feeding times - human feeding at the cafe - the shop - here

If you book your tickets online during July 2011 you'll get a discount.

There is now a cycling/walking track from the centre running north to the Creagan Bridge over Loch Creran and beyond towards Appin. Other parts of this track are now open from Oban to Dunbeg, at Benderloch, and from Kentallen through Ballachulish to Glencoe. In time all these sections will be connected to make the Red Fox Trail between Oban and Fort William.

Orchids

2011-07-13T00:06:00.000+01:00

Its been another good year for the orchids growing in the old gravel pit area above the beach at Benderloch. Perhaps not quite as numerous as last year but individual plants seem to have had taller flower stems.

Around Oban Piers

2011-07-12T23:58:00.000+01:00

Some photos taken during a shopping trip into Oban

Setting off to see the seals

Fishing boats

Three-masted ship at the North Pier
with St. Columba's Cathedral in the distance

Ardchattan Kirk 175th Anniversary

2011-07-12T23:44:00.000+01:00

2011 is the 175th anniversary of the opening of Ardchattan Kirk, the Church of Scotland building on the north shore of Loch Etive. Throughout the summer there is a photographic exhibition showing people, events and documents about the building and the parish history.

There is more information about the Parish and the Exhibition here.

These are a couple of pictures I took recently. I spotted the potential for framing the building shot last winter and have been waiting for leaves to come out and the right light to get this photo from low down on the road. To get a nice balance of lighting more like the eye sees it this is built from a series of exposures of the scene.

Ardchattan Kirk

I have already produced a set of postcards of the church which includes a vertical shot of the interior. Now that I have a "wider" wide-angle lens I was able to stand in the gallery and take this view of the interior showing the Minister's pulpit (with the cross on the white drape or pulpit-fall as it is known); the inverted conical canopy (sounding board) above it and the Precentor's box below (for leading the singing of psalms).

Inside the Kirk

Midsummer 2011 sunset, Benderloch

2011-07-12T22:59:00.000+01:00

Tralee bay, Midsummer 2011

It turned out to be a wet evenig on June 21st so I was glad that I'd taken this shot the night before. Midsummer sunset is around 22:15hr here and stays close to that time for quite a while. I'm posting this on July 12th at 22:50hr. Tonight's official sunset time was 22:05hr and I'm still watching the fading remains through my study window.

Glencoe & Ballachulish

2011-07-05T17:49:00.001+01:00

Some photos taken walking near Ballachulish and Glencoe villages. If you are staying around Benderloch allow yourself about 40 minutes for the drive north up the coastline of Loch Linnhe.

Loch Leven and the Pap of Glencoe from Ballachulish

Loch Leven and Pap of Glencoe from north side of the loch

Glencoe Lochan behind the old hospital
- a lovely disability-friendly walk from the village

The old slate quarry port at Ballachulish - midsummer sunset

Ballachulish - midsummer sunset

Better still - make it a full day trip and have time to stop at the viewpoints and eateries en-route!

Beech wood

2011-06-17T18:33:00.000+01:00

Inside the forest on Ben Lora in the area dominated by beech trees. This view, straight into the sun, was taken late in the day coming down the hill as the sun was getting low. Its an HDR of three exposures.

Beech wood, Ben Lora

Loch Creran

2011-06-17T15:28:00.001+01:00

Loch Creran seen from the summit of Ben Lora, Benderloch.

I haven't been out and about much recently due to ill-health but have now managed to get up some hills again. So here's an HDR shot I took from Ben Lora looking north over Loch Creran to the Appin and Ballachulish hills.

Early April pictures

2011-04-15T14:27:00.001+01:00

With the arrival of spring, and Easter not far off Benderloch is ready to welcome trippers and holidaymakers. For a wide selection of places to stay in the Benderloch area see the listings on our main Benderloch site.

The Ben Lora Cafe, Benderloch
now open for the season.

Cyclists take a picnic in Benderloch by the
Red Fox cycle track.

Light shines through the daffodil petals
at Seaview Caravan & Camping park, Benderloch.

Oban at night

2011-04-02T16:18:00.001+01:00

View from the north pier, Oban with illuminated McCaig's tower.

Achnaba, Loch Etive

2011-03-22T16:27:00.000Z

Spring sunset 21 March 2011
at Achnaba on Loch Etive

Ardchattan Kirk at Achnaba.
This is a kind of practice shot for
a future view when the trees are in leaf.

More March snow

2011-03-20T22:50:00.000Z

Various locations around Benderloch. Taken from the road to the Isle of Eriska hotel and from inside the bus to Oban.

Telephoto shot of the hills above Kingairloch

From Loch Linnhe shore looking east to Ben Sgulaird at the head of Loch Creran

Ben Lora above Benderloch from the Oban service bus

East up Loch Creran
(compare with Feb 18 photo)

Loch Creran from the car park at the Scottish
Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve

High tide at the junction of Lochs Creran and Linnhe

March snow

2011-03-13T13:53:00.000Z

As often happens March has it's share of snow. As it melted these colourful crocus flowers stood out against the snowy, grassy background.

Misty Loch

2011-03-08T17:43:00.001Z

Fishing boat moored on Loch Creran.
It was a showery day with low misty cloud but dry when I shot this. Its made from layering 2 images of 3exposures HDR. The camera was doing too good a job of clearing the mist in a normal single shot. The HDR method enabled me to reproduce the scene much as I saw it.

Loch Creran

2011-02-18T00:01:00.000Z

High tide today on Loch Creran. There was a lot of snow on the hills yesterday but much has now melted.

No winter blues here!

2011-02-11T16:32:00.001Z

Sign outside the village cafe (click to enlarge).

20,000

2011-01-30T17:55:00.000Z

Today this blog had it's 20,000th hit. Thanks to all of you. Steve.

Daylight snow pictures

2011-01-07T00:05:00.000Z

Sheep eager for food on a croft in Benderloch. This image was used by
The Daily Telegraph.

Taken a few minutes after the photo above this shows sunset at the midwinter solstice looking over Tralee bay, Benderloch.

moonlit snow

2011-01-07T00:00:00.000Z

The full moon shines over Loch Creran and lights up the snow in this 5 second exposure.

Another long exposure as a car crosses the Creagan bridge over Loch Creran.

The temperature was about -8C when I took these shots.

Dramatic sunset beams

2010-12-02T21:34:00.003Z

Down on Tralee beach just before sunset today. I had been hoping to photo the sun's orb as it dropped below the horizon but distant cloud blocked it. Luckily, before that happened I got these shots with dramatic dark shadow beams. The CalMac ferry is heading out of Oban towards Mull on its way to the outer isles. There's also a wee fishing boat to the right. The "mirage" effect on this one is quite jolly and the seagull just happened to pass at the right moment in the second picture.

We seem to be one of the few parts of the UK without snow so far this week, but it was a chilly -5C when I took these at about 3:30pm.

First of December

2010-12-01T20:47:00.000Z

We are having daytime temperatures of -3C and the east od the UK has had up to 25cm of snow. But the Grampian moutains are keeping the snow away from the west coast and the crisp, cold air is producing terrific lighting in mid-afternoon as seen in this view of Ben Cruachan and Loch Etive from the Connel Bridge.

I used my 30x telephoto lens to take this shot of Cruachan from the same spot.

November freeze

2010-11-28T18:27:00.000Z

Frozen floodwater at the top of Tralee beach, Benderloch.

Loch Etive mid-November 2010

2010-11-14T18:09:00.001Z

Photos taken from the north shore of Loch Etive, late afternoon. Still some autumn colour present and the first winter snow on Ben Cruachan.

In the Forest

2010-10-25T23:34:00.000+01:00

It was a lovely sunny but cold weekend after the first hill snow of the winter. I took a walk up Ben Lora through the forest and got this image of the mid-afternoon sun through the conifers. Its an HDR shot using six differently exposed photographs.

Steve now has a shop

2010-09-26T19:12:00.002+01:00

Photographs and Artwork by Steve Eccles of Benderloch in the Scottish West Highlands.

I now have a sales area where you can purchase prints of my photos. On offer are a range of services including greetings cards, mounted prints, posters, and for that special occasion, framed prints with a choice of frames to suit you and the mood of the picture.

Prices range from £1.60 for cards up to around £80 for large framed prints (P&P extra). Some volume discounts available.

Click here.

Loch Etive

2010-09-26T19:01:00.000+01:00

A lovely weekend in the West Highlands Temperature just warm enough not to need a coat during the afternoon but it been getting down to one degree above freezing at night with some white frost visible at dawn.

This was a shirt sleeve walk along the north shore of Loch Etive at low tide.

Loch Etive and Ben Cruachan

Heron ready to pounce

Ardchattan Kirk on the left

Ardchattan Kirk Cross

2010-08-13T18:52:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: ardchattan church-of-scotland etive benderloch hdr

One of the Celtic crosses on a memorial in the graveyard at Ardchattan Kirk on the shore of Loch Etive. I felt the sun through the clouds and behind the cross made for a dramatic #hdr picture.

Cloud and Shore

2010-07-29T22:25:00.001+01:00

The weather has been poor for a few days so it was nice to see the sun again today. This evening a mackerel sky started to break and produced these dramatic clouds.

Earlier in the day I at an art exhibition in Appin and afterwards wandered onto the shore of Loch Linnhe where I shot this view looking south down the loch.

Noticed this rusty nautical chain in the shingle which made a nice HDR photo composition with the contrast of the Sea Mayweed flowers. (I think that's what they are - there are more in the picture above.)

Another cloud study view

2010-07-22T19:06:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: benderloch cloud

Following last night’s sunset view from my study (see below) today the clouds were a little different.

Sunset from my study

2010-07-22T11:41:00.001+01:00

A quickly taken photo of the brief sunset we had last night. Ten minutes later it was raining.

Technorati Tags: benderloch sunset

Sun and skies

2010-07-15T22:41:00.001+01:00

My usual walk to the beach the other evening provided a chance for some interesting sunset-time photos including this pastel like effect:

We’re looking at Ben na Cille on the west side of Loch Linnhe and here ir is again some moments later:

Once down on the beach I had a play with some stones keeping the camera just inches away

and produced this scene of pseudo standing stones against the sunset.

By the side of the beach track flag iris are now in bloom:

On the way home the sky was being reflected in the windows of St Modan’s church.

Woolfest Benderloch 2010

2010-07-12T07:31:00.000+01:00

A short film I made at Woolfest, the 2010 Festival of Wool held at the local market in Benderloch,
We see wool spinning and "waulking" - the ancient process of shrinking the newly woven tweed as practised in the Scottish Highlands and Islands accompanied by traditional Gaelic songs.

Summer gales

2010-07-05T22:54:00.000+01:00

Scottish schools broke up for the summer holidays last week so inevitably the hot, sunny weather has disappeared to be replaced by a day of gales and heavy showers.

This was Sunday afternoon, July 4th on the beach at Benderloch. Stone throwing into the breakers was one way of keeping warm.

June orchids

2010-06-30T22:51:00.001+01:00

This year's weather seems to have been good for the wild orchids growing by the old gravel pits. This shot was taken from ground level using multiple exposures to capture the range of tones in the flowerheads.

A close-up - perhape I should call it a bee's-eye view.

Midsummer sunset panorama

2010-06-21T23:50:00.002+01:00

Panorama taken from Ben Lora, Benderloch about 10:15pm on midsummer's day. The view to the Morvern hills looks over the village to Loch Linnhe and the island of Lismore with Loch Creran and the Port Appin peninsula on the right.

2010-06-19T16:01:00.003+01:00

Walking to the beach the low sun was streaming through the wood and catching the flowerheads of this cow parsley.

In the old gravel pits area above the beach are numerous marsh orchids this year. There's been very little rain recently and the usually flooded areas have dried out. Maybe this has helped the orchids growing on the margins as they do seem taller and more plentiful than usual.

Looking south over Tralee Bay about 10pm. The sun was setting to my right and the moon shone over the sea.

My final view of the evening looking back to the beach from the gateway.

Pastel sunset

2010-05-30T19:54:00.001+01:00

I liked the way the colours mixed in this shot of the sunset from the beach last night.

Striking sunset

2010-05-25T00:26:00.002+01:00

I've been taking a walk to the beach shortly before sunset on three out of the last four evenings. I was mainly doing video of the sunsets but took a few static shots as well. Here are some of the photos I obtained.

Through the conifers on the way to the beach.

Just above the shingle east end of the beach was this group of late flowering narcissi, dramatic against the changing sky colours.

Still in the shingle area, a low-level HDR shot where the green of the seaweed adds a nice counter to the oranges and yellows.

The sun disappears over the hills of Morvern.

The previous night the colours were different and the main interest was in the sky shadows cast by the clouds after the sun had set.

I liked this scene enough to make a pencil sketch and took the photo as an afterthought when the effect was fading.

The pencil sketch of the view.

Around Connel bridge

2010-05-18T22:46:00.002+01:00

Stopped of at Connel bridge viewpoint to do some sketching today and couldn't resist taking a few photos too.

Above the rock pool (hdr)

The bridge

Thrift flowers by the rock pool (hdr)

Looking over the entrance to Loch Etive to the hill of Ben Lora above Benderloch

Finally, more thrift on lichen covered rocks.

Lambs

2010-05-13T00:44:00.000+01:00

These lambs very obligingly posed for me against the sunset. a couple of evenings ago.

Spring at Connel Bridge

2010-05-12T19:44:00.000+01:00

The tree coming in to leaf nicely sets off this afternoon's view of Connel bridge. (HDR image)

The view from the seat by the bridge today.

May 11 rocks and sea sunset

2010-05-12T13:33:00.000+01:00

The sunset came and went very quickly last night but I managed a few shots from the beach.

Promontory looking across the bay.

Pebbles and rock outcrop.

I liked the shape of the raincloud as I looked towards Mull.

Cycle track

2010-05-12T12:41:00.011+01:00

Until 1966 there used to be a railway line linking Ballachulish to our north with the Oban to Glasgow line at Connel. Its principal purpose was the transport of slate from the Ballachulish quarries, but naturally it was a much used passenger line too. Today the old track is gradually being converted into a walking/cycling path as part of a longer route through the Great Glen to Inverness. A (very) short section is open in Benderloch village and to the north there's a decent stretch from the Sealife Sanctuary through the woods to Creagan Bridge on Loch Creran.
The picture shows the recently resurfaced track by the car park in the centre of Benderloch. Its hard to imagine that there used to be a railway station here.
There's an article about development of the cycle track here and about the railway line here.

This is just about all that can be seen of the station platform today.

Rocky sunset

2010-05-09T22:49:00.000+01:00

The setting sun over Tralee Bay 8 May 2010. As the tide was low I was able to walk round to the next small bay which is notable for the rock formations which resemble static waves. I took this triple-exposure shot about 9:15pm.

Nice view to the Isle of Mull

2010-04-26T18:08:00.003+01:00

Standing by the coastline of Loch Linnhe, Benderloch looking across to the Isle of Mull.

Dusk, Loch creran

2010-04-18T00:11:00.002+01:00

On the side of Loch Creran near Rhugarbh this evening. this is a favourite spot of mine for sunsets and while there wasn't a red sky tonight I was pleased that my wide-angle lens was able to include the fence and the tree in the one shot. I shall hope to return here again for some good sunsets.

Tralee bay sunset

2010-04-16T00:34:00.003+01:00

Today was the day an ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano came our way and all flights were cancelled. A predicted side effect of the ash should be some dramatic sunsets. I took this image at about 8:30 this evening. Nice enough, but not exceptional. I was able to include some yellow flowering gorse in the foreground.

Maybe tomorrow evening will be better, if it's not too cloudy.

Views from Connel Bridge

2010-04-10T16:59:00.003+01:00

On the first warm day of the year (April 9th) this was the view looking east over the flowering gorse onto Loch Etive.

Its only a week since the last blizzard but already most of the snow has melted from Ben Cruachan.

Rocky coast photoshoot

2010-04-10T16:02:00.005+01:00

At spring tides you can walk around the rocky promontory at the east end of Tralee beach, Benderloch. This is a series of HDR images I took in the late afternoon a few days ago. (HDR is where you combine several photos at different exposures to increase the tonal/colour range.)

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The view towards Oban and Mull.

Using HDR has emphasised the restless sea by combining the incoming wave images and has added depth to the darker areas of the rocks to show the vegetation which spends part of every day under water.

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The Hairy rock.

I'm always fascinated by these rock forms and the ways they look different from year to year.

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Rock pool.

Towards the top of the beach where the rocks start to be climbable. Its difficult to see the scale in this image but its about 2 metres from top of rock to bottom of the pool.

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Looking west along the bay. Same image in colour and black-and-white. Take your pick!

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Riding to the beach

2010-04-10T15:58:00.003+01:00

Riding down the track to the beach at Benderloch.

Daffodils

2010-04-10T15:50:00.001+01:00

Daffodils by the track leading to the bech at Benderloch

Easter Loch Etive

2010-04-04T14:54:00.002+01:00

Taken from Ardchattan Kirk (church) on Easter Sunday morning. The view looks west along the northern shore of Loch Etive. Above the trees we can see the mountains on the island of Mull with a fresh snow covering.

Benderloch on Google Maps Streetview

2010-03-12T20:55:00.002Z

St Modan's Church from the main road.

(If you are seeing a map below instead of a photo, click on the little man and drag/drop him over the road.)

When viewing the photo you can move the image round by holding left click and dragging.

View Larger Map

Crocus blooms

2010-03-09T23:22:00.001Z

As the ground has thawed out the crocuses have bloomed in the garden.

Around Connel viewpoint

2010-03-02T00:17:00.004Z

I liked the way these grasses stood out in the foreground of this view of Connel bridge.

Looking in the opposite direction over the entrance to Loch Etive with the snow covered hills on the Isle of Mull in the distance.

The bare branches of this rowan help frame another view of the bridge.

All photos taken from by the car park opposite The Oyster Inn Connel.

Viewpoint, Connel Bridge

2010-03-01T22:51:00.003Z

Connel bridge with snow on the hills beyond. I was taking some pictures here when a local lady kindly agreed to pose for me on the seat. Its a neat artistic idea to have something or someone in red in the foreground to add extra depth to a scene. (Thanks to A. for her help.)

I turned the camera to face west to catch this shot of a light plane taking off from Oban airport at North Connel. The hills of Mull are in the distance.

Clear skies over snowy Ben Cruachan

2010-03-01T21:26:00.003Z

The view looking east from Connel bridge today was very clear. As a friend commented "its the kind of day they take the calendar photos". The view looks over Loch Etive to Ben Cruachan. Can you see the seagull?

(Tech stuff six images in portrait format taken with Panasonic Lumix TZ7 and stitched together before being tidied in Photoshop. This image 121kb; uncompressed file size 130Mb)

Nice stream, Loch Creran

2010-02-28T14:52:00.005Z

About half a mile north of Barcaldine on the shore of lower Loch Creran is a lay-by where I was able to walk onto the beach and take this shot looking north west towards the hills above Kingairloch on the far side of Loch Linnhe.

Mountain panorama

2010-02-28T14:43:00.005Z

Near the head of Loch Creran looking southeast to Beinn Sgulaird then the Creach to Bhreac plateau. This panorama was stitched from five originals then filtered using a trial version of Mediachance ReDynamizer HDR.

Ben Sgulaird & Loch Creran snow

2010-02-28T14:28:00.004Z

There had been heavy snow this week but it didn't lie for long at sea level. On Saturday I had a drive up tidal Loch Creran a few miles north of Benderloch to get these shots. There was a bitterly cold strong wind blowing from the east so taking multiple exposures with a metal tripod was fiddly with frozen fingers. Each of these images was HDR processed from three originals.

Upper Loch Creran looking towards Ben Sgulaird

At the head of the loch

Ben Sgulaird

Connel bridge

2010-02-24T18:16:00.001Z

Connel bridge from the Old Shore road Connel.

Snowy Ben Cruachan

2010-02-24T18:13:00.000Z

Ben Cruachan seen from Connel bridge.

Over the waters

2010-02-24T18:09:00.001Z

Looking north over the entrance to Loch Etive towards Ben Lora and Benderloch from Connel.

Sutherland's Grove video

2010-02-22T09:23:00.003Z

After a series of nights with the temperature down around -7C I thought I'd take a look at the lower waterfalls in the forest at Sutherland's Grove, Barcaldine (10 mins north of Benderloch). The water level was quite low - understandable in view of how little precipitation we've had recently - but the trees, a small covering of snow and the ice were pretty.

The movie starts in the picnic area (where the tallest Douglas Firs are found) then crosses the bridge to view the falls just upstream. This is an easy walk - it only gets tougher when you head up the the hill. If you want to read about the trees I suggest you pause the video when the green description sign appears.

Winter Windsurfing

2010-02-19T13:16:00.004Z

I was on the beach this morning looking for interesting photo opportunities when along came a windsurfer. It had been -7C overnight but it had warmed up a few degrees - and with the right gear, well why not?

The surfer with his board trailer

Surfing off Tralee beach with the snowy hills of Morvern in the background

The video

Connel bridge- unusual view

2010-01-24T17:48:00.003Z

Taken from the norh side of the bridge. This view (and others from nearby) virtually disappear in spring once the trees come into leaf. Its a few years now since the trees and bushes hereabouts were pruned and its about time to do it again as it must disappoint many visitors who want to photo the views.

It was late afternoon when i took made image and the sun had set so lighting was poor. I used three bracketed exposures and combined them using the HDR function provided in Corel PaintShop Pro.

Loch Linnhe

2010-01-18T22:25:00.001Z

Looking over Loch Linnhe from Ben Lora forest, Benderloch during the recent wintry weather.

Light snowfall

2009-12-20T17:36:00.004Z

Several snow showers here overnight This was the track to the beach mid-afternoon. Not a lot of snow here on the coast, but I saw a car passing through the village with several inches on it's roof so there must have been heavier falls in the hills.

Sunset

2009-12-18T20:23:00.004Z

Friday Dec 18th. A day of low cloud and snow showers then at 3:30pm a break appeared just in time for a short-lived, but spectacular sunset over Tralee Bay.

Winter moorings

2009-12-15T20:13:00.003Z

This slightly surreal image of boats moored at Connel is the result of combining three images of different exposure.

Connel Bridge

2009-12-14T18:33:00.004Z

Cloud cleared this afternoon and the sun shone on the hills just in time for me to capture this high-tide view of Connel Bridge, two miles south of Benderloch. For most of the day this is a wild stretch of water as the tide flows rapidly over the underwater cliff. This causes waves and whirlpools called the "Falls of Lora" which make for hazardous navigation but which are popular with canoeists. (See pictures on earlier post.)

Buildings

2009-12-13T17:52:00.003Z

Benderloch buildings on a frosty day, December 13, 2009

Cottages at Port Selma

The old barn at Port Selma

Frosty morning Benderloch

2009-12-13T15:58:00.004Z

Temperature stayed around freezing all day. I went down to the beach this morning and took some pictures. The sun appeared over the slopes of Ben Lora about 11am and the colours were interesting.

From behind the beach looking over the frozen ponds.

From the top of the beach as a lone boat exits Loch Etive and heads towards Mull.

Clouds over Ben Lora, Benderloch

2009-12-04T21:55:00.003Z

(Click picture to enlarge)

The view from my front door this afternoon as cloud from a weather front started to pass overhead.

Standard photography didn't show this dramatic sky very well so I took three bracketed shots and put them through Corel PSP X2 using the HDR function - image below should show this.

So from three "interesting" pix I created the "dramatic" one which was much more as I saw it. Photos taken with Panasonic TZ7 which has a max +/- EV of 1.0. I could maybe have used RAW with my Nikon but the Panasonic was handy and time was of the essence!

December sunset

2009-12-04T21:41:00.001Z

Sunset taken from the car park in the centre of Benderloch.
About 3:30pm December 3rd.

November snow

2009-11-08T20:41:00.001Z

Driving round Loch Creran today we spotted snow on the Glencoe hills. Not quite the first of the winter as there was a light covering a few weeks ago.

Looking back along the loch we had this view of the sunset over the isle of Mull hills.

Sunset from Loch Creran

2009-11-05T23:35:00.001Z

Took these from the road bridge across Loch Creran, near Benderloch at about half past four today. We are looking down the loch and the distant mountains are on the Isle of Mull.

Loch Creran area

2009-11-05T23:27:00.001Z

Went up Loch Creran today and got some nice pictures.

At Glasdrum car park. The tide is out.

Looking up the glen.

View from picnic area at the start of Glasdrum walk. The dip between the hills opposite was the route of the old cattle drovers’ track heading into Glen Etive.

Rainbows and otters

2009-11-01T22:04:00.001Z

Photos taken around the Sealife Sanctuary near Benderloch on 31 Oct.

A showery day with good rainbows.

Invermoriston

2009-10-28T16:46:00.001Z

Had another trip along Loch Ness while driving to Inverness.
It was raining but the autumn colours still looked good.
These were taken by the bridge on the A82 at Invermoriston.

Looking upstream from the road bridge to the disused Thomas Telford bridge

Standing on the Telford bridge looking at the falls where I photographed a leaping salmon a few days ago (see entry below)

The dramatic autumn colours in the wood, taken from the road bridge

Waterfall, Barcaldine

2009-10-20T15:10:00.001+01:00

Sutherland’s Grove is a particular group of trees by the car park at the bottom of the forest walk in Barcaldine. When you start to walk up the track you pass these small falls on your right. Best seen after a good downpour I took this as the low October sun shone through a short rain shower.

Views from Ben Lora

2009-10-19T23:19:00.004+01:00

Took a walk up through Ben Lora Forest to the Eagles' Eyrie viewpoint on Sun Oct 18.

Benderloch and Tralee bay from the Eagles' Eyrie viewpoint on Ben Lora.

Late afternoon looking towards the Isle of Mull

Looking north from the Eagles' Eyrie.

Loch Creran in the centre and Loch Linnhe on the left.

The Beech grove in Ben Lora Forest, Benderloch.

This part of the forest is currently closed to walkers but I was able to take this view from the closest point you are allowed to get.

Autumn Colour, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

2009-10-18T00:05:00.002+01:00

Taken yesterday afternoon on the way home from Inerness to Benderloch.

More info about the castle http://bit.ly/2ijLRa

Invermoriston Autumn & Salmon leaping

2009-10-17T23:54:00.001+01:00

The main road from Inverness to Fort William passes through the village of Invermoriston. Looking upstream from the bridge over the river you can see old old bridge built by Thomas Telford.

Walked onto the old bridge and shot a video which included a leaping salmon. I grabbed this image from the video. In over 50 years of trying, this is the first time I’ve ever successfully photographed a leaping salmon. It made my day. Once I get Adobe Premiere figured out for HD I’ll post a video of the river and the salmon.

The leaping salmon

and for comparison the same view without he salmon
(just in case you missed it!)

By Loch Ness

2009-10-17T23:32:00.001+01:00

Travelling home in the late afternoon the autumn colours were impressive. Here we are at the side of Loch Ness iwth a couple of views over the water.

Kessock Bridge, Inverness

2009-10-17T23:25:00.002+01:00

I was at the opposite end of the Great Glen yesterday, in Inverness. Weather was great. Missed seeing the dolphins though the locals said they’d been seen as the tide came in. Contented myself trying to be creative with pix by the road bridge.

This from directly underneath the bridge supports remind me of the graphics used for aliens’ legs in space invader movies.

I used a wide angle lens for this as I wanted to include the word ”Lifeboats”.
The building is the RNLI station adjacent to the Kessock Bridge at North Kessock village.

Victory Hall – whats on soon

2009-09-19T23:21:00.001+01:00

What:	Theatre - On The Black Hill On The Black Hill A play by Charles Way based on the novel by Bruce Chatwwin brings its distinctive style to a new adaptation of Bruce Chatwin's award winning, and much loved novel.
When:	Saturday, September 26, 2009 7:30 PM
Where:	Victory Hall Benderloch Argyll Benderloch Oban, Argyll PA37 1QP UK

September sun and beach

2009-09-15T02:07:00.001+01:00

A lovely warm day so couldn’t resist the temptation to go down to the beach. Naturally the camera went too and here are three shots taken there.

I liked the reflections on the wet sand here.

After running comes study – is it a pebble or a shell?
(Actually it was a collection of small marble pebbles.)

Meanwhile I relaxed on the seat at the east end of the beach.

Open-topped bus tour & Notepaper

2009-09-03T20:11:00.001+01:00

The bus company in Oban operates an open-topped bus tour. It goes on the road under Connel Bridge on its trip and I took this shot as I came out of the village store in Connel and spotted the bus was passing.

Why was I in Connel Store? I had just delivered some packs of “Connel Bridge” Notepaper to Rosie, so if you are looking for some special writing paper and envelopes Connel Store is the place to go!

Red pin = Connel Store Location

Autumn approaches

2009-09-03T19:48:00.001+01:00

Weather has been more autumnal than summery up here. Its a bit deceptive though – I look out of the window and put a coat on to go out only to find that while its windy and damp its still quite warm.

I’m testing out Live Writer as an alternative means of posting blog entries.

Waves breaking on the beach, Benderloch.

Plums

2009-09-01T18:36:00.002+01:00

Victoria Plums growing against a south facing wall. The crop this year is large and the fruit nice and sweet.

Butterflies

2009-08-29T18:30:00.000+01:00

In the greenhouse. Peacock and red Admiral butterflies resting on the large leaves of a courgette plant. (Click on image to enlarge)

Peacock butterfly

Red Admiral butterfly

Horticultural Show video

2009-08-23T23:58:00.000+01:00

The 50th annual North Connel and District Horticultural Show was held in Benderloch on August 22, 2009. This is a ten minute video of some of the exhibits and awards.

Butterflies

2009-08-11T01:36:00.002+01:00

I believe this to be a Green Veined white butterfly. It landed conveniently on a sack of compost in the garden and I saw the ditinctive markings on its open wings. Of course, by the time I'd fetched the camera it had folded its wings but the markings are still just about visible.

This one only comes out when the warm sun is shining. Its a Scotch Argus which have a fairly limited territory in Britain, being mainly seen in the Scottish West Highlands around August. So its spot on cue. This was one of several flying around the bushes at the top of the beach today. I was rather pleased as it's some years since I last saw one. It was just on the point of taking off when I got the shot - hence the opened wings. You'll notice the base of the nearer wing is damaged, as though something has taken a bite at it.