Pastel sunset

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

Striking sunset

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

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

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

Spring at Connel Bridge

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

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

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

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.