The day I became a landscape photographer then changed my mind | Winter 2024 (Episode 3)

The third entry from my winter landscape photography trip to the Scottish Highlands. In this episode, I start in Coigach shooting Stac Pollaidh from a moorland dotted with glacial erratics. After that, I decide to explore north, but I meet some unfinished business at Loch Assynt on route and end up taking some of my favourite images of this trip.
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#landscapephotography #lochassynt #scottishhighlands

[@SeaAngMo23]

strong, strong finish, well done!

[@eallistone]

Thank you sir. One of the most satisfying days I've had of landscape photography. Love it when they come along

[@danieldegennaro5606]

Your concentration on near/far compositions tells a story about your relationship with subject. Struggle with finding images is a journey, your photographic postcards sent to us along the way. Bon voyage!

[@eallistone]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to feed back. That's definitely something I think about a lot; the relationships between different elements in the landscape. I love the challenge of finding images. Sometimes it's hard going, but you always look back on trips with nostalgia. Already planning my next visit north. And a few more postcards from this one in the coming weeks 🖼️

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Edward: Thanks for creating and sharing this video. I really enjoyed hearing your background thoughts. I also liked how your shared your thoughts on editing images over time. The images you have captured are lovely. We are coming to Scotland next May and the Loch Assynt area is in our plans. Cheers, Keith (Canada)

[@eallistone]

Hi Keith, thanks for watching and for your feedback. I think it adds something to talk through the images at the end--taking a photo and considering it over time is a continuous narrative process for me, so it's nice to show that in the videos. Enjoy Scotland. I've never been in May, but many people say it's their favourite time to go.

[@naturehawk1]

Well Ed...as much as I love the videos you post & the documenting of your trips around the spectacular Highlands, as well as seeing your excellent photography on a bigger screen to really appreciate them,,,the thing I find most enjoyable is your near forensic analysis of composition/light/weather...it`s so refreshing to see this instead of the majority of YT photographer`s dross output 👏

[@eallistone]

Thank you. I enjoy dissecting the compositions for the video. Really helps me make the process of editing conscious. I've tried to make these videos something that I would find useful and engaging. I've always recorded videos to myself talking through thought processes, and when I started doing these photo trips, I was sharing them in IG stories. I thought that putting those two things together would make something that would provide value. I also naively assumed I was already doing 90% of work, so making a vlog out of it wouldn't be that hard - turns out that I was only doing 1% of the work. But feedback like this makes the effort worthwhile 👌

[@sambinding5216]

Brilliant video mate. Great editing of it too. Love to hear your composition and edit process

[@eallistone]

Cheers dude. I really like breaking down the images at the end - makes me really think through my process.

[@Badger220455]

One of my favourite locations. Thanks for posting.

[@eallistone]

You are most welcome. It is such a stunning area of the world 🌎

[@IanBarrowPhotography]

Nice one Ed some fantastic images there.

[@eallistone]

Thanks Ian! Always nice to get a good day after making such a long trip 😅

[@wiseoldfool]

13:56 really stands out for me.

[@eallistone]

Thank you. I like that one too. I think the last one is probably my favourite of the day though. I still haven't printed those two out to do a final proof 🖼️

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

Epic intro. Great video and photos 🙂👌

[@eallistone]

Thanks, Stig. I think this is my favourite video I've made to date. I was wondering if the intro was a tad too long, but I'm glad you like it 😁

[@2007zodiac]

stunning photos, has to be subbed!!!..

[@eallistone]

Thank you 🙏 I'm glad you like the video and images

[@andrewtobin3830]

Very nicely done from a video perspective. The time you put into the production must be substantial and it looks great. I think your wider video cam shots of the first location are a nicer composition than the still shots, as the boulder looms a bit. It's a beautiful area, well shown in your shots. The Scots pines are lovely. Try a walk up Sgurr an Fhidhleir for dawn next time you are up there. Keep at it, quality pays off.

[@eallistone]

Thank you. Yes. This one took a while. Learning on the job as well which is time consuming. I like the wider shots too. I still find it hard to compose in landscape, but I'm enjoying thinking about it a bit more - especially when I frame up for the video. I've wanted to do that for a walk for a while. I'll try to fit it in next time I'm there 🥾

[@andycakebread7663]

Again, great video Ed. I do disagree though. I find the images at c7 mins thoroughly absorbing. Like your video, they not only take us somewhere but they convey the place and time. And the second one pulls you (me!) in because of that icy water triangle.

[@eallistone]

Interesting. I like the elements in those images too. I am just never sure about the visual flow of a landscape image. I place subjects in different areas and they feel a little less connected than they do in a vertical or square image. I need to practice grand landscape shots more more to see what works. I've been watching more movies recently and paying attention to the way the cinematographer composes for panoramic shots-hoping that will help :)

[@dmiller9786]

Look at the compositions of the great landscape painters. You are missing most of your opportunities. Clear subject. Leading lines. I would have shot the boulder as an object in a long lens panorama that brought the mountains closer. You are seeing the light, you are not seeing good compositions yet. If you want to shoot wide get much closer to the mountains if possible.

[@eallistone]

I'm sure you're right. I miss a lot of opportunities, some on purpose and some because I don't see them. As for telephoto panoramas, that's not really what I look for. I usually compose vertically or square and I sold my telephoto lenses. Perhaps you can link me to some of your work and I can see how you approach scenes.

[@wiseoldfool]

Was that surface ice @ 1:30?

[@eallistone]

Yes. There was a thin layer on all the standing water ❄️

[@SeaAngMo23]

google maps is sometimes off, in my experience.

[@eallistone]

Tell me about it! Although on this occasion, I think I had ballparked it later on 🏟️

[@Tele-fk4cu]

Nice video, but please- Assynt, stress always on the first syllable!

[@eallistone]

My humble apologies. Don't even want to know what you make of my Quinag and Allt Chranaidh in the next video 😬

[@Tele-fk4cu]

@@eallistone No worries! If you like, I'll record them for you. Our dog was Cuinneag! (Quinag in English)

[@eallistone]

@@Tele-fk4cu Good name! Next time around I might take you up on that. I tried to find some local recordings of the names as I went along, but Google wasn't helpful for some of the less-popular places. I'm afraid I've recorded the voice overs for the last two videos of this series, so you will have to wince a few more times. Back up north in September to have another crack at saying Assynt.

[@andrewsimpson5436]

I'm assuming you shoot raw so editing needs more than colour balance tweaks as you say with your focus stacks. Unless of course you are aiming for flat images that don't resemble what you shot.

[@eallistone]

I do shoot raw so breathing life back into it is important, but even if I shot jpg, I would edit almost as much. Digital sensors favour certain colours which can need subduing. On top of this, I like an edit to help the viewer to be led through the image - so a little bit of interpretative grading helps get across the feeling of the place.