Island Light
Written by John Macpherson
Loch Don, Mull © John MacPherson
I love islands. I like their light. I was able to get onto 41 Scottish islands one year. Each one was different. And their light played a huge role in defining that difference.
Clouds part, shafts of light spill down reflecting back off the seashimmer to illuminate the clouds from below, draping the land in an ethereal glow. Sometimes it is subtle, other times it is dramatic, but it is always interesting.
Here are a few images that are simply of land and water, with a little bit of light, but all taken around only one island, Mull, just off Scotland’s west coast. If you’ve not visited Mull, you should. It’s the light…it’s…well…you’ll need to see it for yourself to fully understand.
And there’s the taste too, the unmistakeable tang of salty air. But maybe, just maybe these images will do you, for now.
Looking towards the Garvellachs from Carsaig © John MacPherson
Loch Tuath and Ulva © John MacPherson
The road to Dervaig © John MacPherson
Out towards the Atlantic, Firth of Lorne © John MacPherson
Ardalanish, near Fionnphort, Mull © John MacPherson
Mull from Isle of Inchkenneth, Loch na Keal © John MacPherson
Light. cloud, sea © John MacPherson
Water and mountains, Glen More © John MacPherson
Ocean light © John MacPherson
Fishing boat in light patterns, turn of the tide © John MacPherson
Author — John Macpherson
John MacPherson was born and lives in the Scottish Highlands. He trained as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, before completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and then qualified as a Social Worker in Disability Services. Along the way he has cooked on canal barges, trained as an Alpine Ski Leader & worked as an Instructor for Skiers with disabilities, been a canoe instructor, and tutor of night classes in carpentry, stained glass design and manufacture, and archery. He has travelled extensively on various continents, undertaking solo trips by bicycle, or motorcycle. He has had narrow escapes from an ambush by terrorists, been hit by lightning, caught in an erupting volcano, trapped in a mobile home by a tornado, kidnapped by a dog's hairdresser, rammed by a basking shark and was once bitten by a wild otter. He has combined all this with professional photography, which he has practised for over 35 years. He teaches photography and acts as a photography guide & tutor in the UK and abroad. His biggest challenge is keeping his 30 year old Land Rover 110 on the road. He loves telling and hearing stories.
Discussion (2 Comments)
Lovely images, John. I’ve been diving around Mull for over 20 years. It’s a very special environment and a great excuse to be in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Thanks David. Yes it’s a pretty remarkable area. The diversity of landscape is astonishing and each of the sea lochs on the west side has their own unique character. I’ve not dived there but have sea kayaked around a lot of it and agree it’s a pretty special place.