Treshnish Isles Puffins and more

This trip to the Treshnish Isles via Staffa started at Ulva Ferry on the west coast of Isle of Mull. It was a clear sunny day with a keen northerly wind as we left Ulva Ferry at about 1145 to head round the south side of Ulva and out toward Staffa.

On the trip to Staffa we had really good views of a group of 4 Bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as they accompanied us for a while, occasionally leaping out of the water in spectacular fashion.

Otters on the Isle of Mull – Photography

Otters on the Isle of Mull can be elusive and shy though there are plenty of opportunities if you know where to look.

The habitat of the Otter is mainly coastal, though they also like sheltered woodland inlets and fresh water streams, and the majority of the Isle of Mull’s 350 mile of indented coastline provides the ideal habitat for them.

This series of images of otters on the Isle of Mull were all taken during the past year and result from a combination of an understanding of their habits, keen observation and an abundance of patience.

Red deer on the Isle of Mull

Red deer on the Isle of Mull are probably the easiest of the “Big Five” for visitors to see. The others they are often hoping to see are White tailed eagle, Golden eagle, Otter and Seals. Although Red deer on the Isle of Mull are probably the easiest to see, there are times throughout the summer when it may be a little harder as they tend to stay higher up the hills and in remote glens at this time.

The Red Deer migrated to Britain from Europe approximately 11,000 years ago and is the largest land mammal in the UK. It was the Neolithic man who developed agriculture and cleared many forests to make way for fields. As a result there was a decline in the population of Red deer as many became confined to higher ground, particularly in the Highlands.

The adult Red Deer can weigh anything between 90 to 190kg and hinds between 63 and 120kg, their life span is approximately 18 years. Their coats during the summer months are a rich red-brown turning to a brown-grey colour during the darker months of winter.

My priority as an outdoor photographer

My priority as an outdoor photographer is to convey my own vision of the world and to uphold care and respect for the subject and the environment.

It is really a question of ethics and morals, and my approach is to ensure that the well being of the subject is always more important than getting the photograph. There is no shame in walking away from a potential image if it prevents causing distress to an animal or damage to a sensitive environment.

Through my photography I hope to raise awareness, stir the soul and encourage in others a greater appreciation of the splendour of the natural world. Photography has made me more aware of my surroundings. It has helped me to develop a personal vision and is now a way of life that allows me to document the natural world as I see it, without judgment or preconception.

As an outdoor photographer I have over the years developed an empathy with natural detail and pattern believing these to be the building blocks of the natural world. This, combined with attention to colour, shape and texture can bring wonderment from the most mundane of subjects.

So capturing a photograph needs to be more than just producing a record shot; it needs to be a combination of seeing, imagination, vision, patience, light, technical competence and a little luck. You are the creator of your image and your choice of subject matter and composition will become your personal vision of the world. For example if you choose to select a small element within a grand scene you have already made a conscious decision, indeed it is often as much about what to leave out as it is about what to place within the frame.

With this in mind it is clear that personal vision should be seen as more important than photographic technique. We can learn good photographic technique from books or tutorials but developing a personal vision has to be worked at and nurtured over time, it requires a thoughtful, inquisitive approach to identify those photographic opportunities that often lie just beyond the norm.

However, once you start to develop your personal vision you can be assured that it will provide fresh impetus to your photography. It will become a continual source of opportunity, inspiration and provide a great deal of personal satisfaction.

Otter (Lutra lutra) Isle of Mull

Otters are a personal favourite of mine and there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from photographing them in the wild. However, in order to capture the best images it is vital, as in all genres of nature photography, be it mammals, birds, plants or insects etc to ensure that absolute priority is giving to the welfare of the subject. Knowing how to photograph any particular specie relies just as much on good field craft as it does on having suitable photography skill and equipment. Knowledge of your intended subject will always be beneficial, and knowing when to walk away at the fist sign of distress in the subject is paramount.

Autumn colour, a photographers view

The beauty of autumn colour is something to behold, rich vibrant colours all competing with each yet forming such a harmonious blend, but it is also tinged with sadness as another year ebbs away. Autumn photography can be spectacular, dominated by oranges, reds and yellows combining to produce a beautiful tapestry of colour, none more so than when we combine the rich autumn colour with water. Water and autumn colours combined together have the potential for brilliant images.

Thoughts on close up photography

Close up photography in nature is a very important part of my photographic life. It helps concentrate the mind, gives a greater appreciation of natural beauty and a clearer understanding of the world. During the winter Scotland can experience clear cold winter days with breathtaking crispness, nature close ups in these conditions can be magical, creating Close up photography patterns in snow, frosted leaves and shimmering icicles.

White tailed Eagle on the Isle of Mull

The White tailed Eagle is also known as the Erne or more commonly the Sea Eagle. It is the largest bird of prey in northern Europe and more of a coast hunting species than the Golden Eagle.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to the White tailed eagle viewing hide has changed – please see the latest information on the White tailed eagle viewing hide.

During 1975 a full scale re-introduction programme into Rhum in the Inner Hebrides brought the White tailed Eagle into Scotland from Norway. By 1985 Scotland had successfully hatched its first White tailed Eagle chick. Since then, numerous pairs of White-tailed Eagle have bred successfully including a healthy population on the Isle of Mull.

The White tailed Eagle has all of the characteristics of the Golden Eagle, large size, heavy build, it is particularly impressive in flight with shallow wing flaps, majestic glide and pronounced short wedge shaped white tail.

Get up close – Nature Photography

Get up close. In class we would rather unkindly mimic our school physics teacher who was constantly reminding us all to “Always remember the importance of detail, study and get up close to the facts.”, it was his mantra and I don’t think a lesson went by without it.

Whilst his words seemed insignificant and irrelevant to me at the time they have over the years taken on a greater significance and become ingrained in my philosophical approach to life and close up photography.

Applying this “importance of detail … get up close” to even the most commonplace of nature subjects can reveal extraordinary beauty. Looking closely we can see that shape, texture and colour combine to create patterns that require only an observant and discerning eye to enjoy.

Isle of Mull Birds – Part 2

One of my most enjoyable and memorable encounters photographing Isle of Mull Birds was with a group of about 30 Eider (Somateria mollissima) on Loch Scridain, there were both males and females in the group and I was able to position myself low enough to ensure a nice diffused background.

Following on from Sundays post Isle of Mull Birds – Part 1 here is a further selection of bird images from the Isle of Mull taken during last year.

Eider (Somateria mollissima)