Outer Hebrides Trip - Barra

Hi all... back in February, I managed to get away to the Outer Hebrides for a six day long photographic trip. The Outer Hebrides form the North West Frontier of the British Isles, stretching over 135 miles from the Butt of Lewis in the North, to Berneray in the South. I have long been fascinated with them, and over the last few years have made a number of visits with my family, covering almost the entire length of the (inhabited) chain of islands. It's been a major objective of mine to get back there with a camera in my hand, and time to roam.

This February, I got my chance. I was specifically interested in finding some genuine solitude: having spent much of the last year touring flat out to various towns and cities round the country with the day job, I've found myself craving wide open spaces, and the sea in particular. I decided to use the 6 day window I had to head in my van to the southernmost inhabited point: to Barra, and neighbouring Vatersay. I chose them for a number of reasons: partly because having already spent some time there, I knew they had some truly wild and beautiful beaches. Partly because geographically they're quite compact, so I knew I would be able to spend as much of my limited time as possible out taking photographs. And partly because of all the Outer Hebrides, they've probably had some of the least attention photographically, so I'd have a nice blank slate to work with.

Over the next few weeks, I'll post a number of different subject areas/themes that I covered in my time there. First up is one rather special day I spent on and around the mile long beach of Traigh Eais in the North of Barra. Needless to say I'm extremely grateful indeed to Pentax Ricoh for helping me to make the trip. All Pentax K1 and various lenses including DFA 24-70, A 20 2.8, PLM 55-300.

1. Traigh Cille Bharra, Barra. Dawn.




2. Traigh Mhor, Barra, Dawn. High Tide. This East facing beach is unusually flat, and at low tide is used as the runway for Barra's beach airport.




3. Dunes, Traigh Eais, Barra. Sunrise.




4. Looking South, Traigh Eais, Barra. Sunrise.




5. Looking West, Traigh Eais, Barra. Sunrise.




6. Traigh Eais, Barra. Sunrise.




7. Detail, Traigh Eais, Barra. Sunrise.




8. Detail, Traigh Eais, Barra, Sunrise.




9. Traigh Eais, Barra, looking North. The first rays of sun catch the machair.




10. Traigh Eais, Barra, looking South. The first rays of sun catch the machair.




11. Traigh Eais, as seen from the summit of Beinn Eolaighearraidh Mhor, Barra.




12. Silhouettes, Traigh Eais, Barra.




13. Seaweed in the sand, Traigh Eais, Barra.




14. Detail, seaweed in the sand, Traigh Eais, Barra.




15. Tide patterns, sunset, Traigh Eais, Barra.




16. Sunset, Traigh Eais, Barra. Looking south.




17. Sunset, Traigh Eais, Barra. Looking north.




18. Starscape, Borve, Barra. 4 shot vertical panorama, my first using the K1 astrotracer function.




All thoughts, observations, comments etc gratefully received as ever...

Best

Beautiful set of images. I very much like the gentleness you have drawn from these shores, which I imagine as not necessarily being of the gentle kind.

Some lovely shots Bill. You certainly seem to have found solitude...hardly any sign of life at all.

Having said that, my favourite is No.12 with the couple of figures in the distance. Your astro shot (no.1 is superb...not often you see such a density of stars in the UK with the Milky Way being so prominent.

I like no.10 as well for the vibrant colours and deep contrast and No.7 for the abstract feel...so, to summarise faves in order 12,18,10,7.

Looking forward to your next set.

Regards

Karlo

Edit: Not quite sure why my keyboard gives me an emoji rather than an 'eight' ...just started doing it a few days ago.

Beautiful set of pictures.

1; 2; 9; and 10 have a classic dramatic appeal due to the light, but I am also very much drawn to 3; 4; 5; and 6 where the subtle pastel shades are superb.

Can't wait to see more.

Brilliant as always Bill.... Though Its a long way up there...

A great set - they are all terrrific - difficult to pick a favourite, although the silhouettes (no 12) caught my eye straight away!

Wonderful images and wonderful solitude. After six days were you ready to return to civilisation?

Stunning, provocative, evocative, dramatically peaceful and just as good a set of images I've seen for a very very long time. You are to be applauded for your work, processing and presentation. Image 13 is simply pure class.

Best regards

Some absolutely stunning shots there, especially the first few and the star-scape. They take me back to a school "character-building" trip to the Hebrides when I was 14 years old - I loved the place but have never been back. I look forward to seeing more of this work.

Simpy superb set - some of those shots have a gorgeous soft, natural colour palette and your eye for composition is excellent as ever. No point me trying to single out favourites - they are all so strong!

Always a pleasure to view your photography Bill

A lovely set that really give the sense of place.

Thank you for sharing this superb set of images!

Thanks Serge, Karlo, Peter, Stuart, Andy, John R, Gary, Jonathan, John L, Nigel, Bjorn for your kind words, comments and observations re these... it really was a pretty special day this... particularly because, whilst I had earmarked a visit to Traigh Eais at some point on this particular day, I started off on a couple of other beaches looking due East for the sunrise, and had no idea what Traigh Eais was doing until I took a bit of a punt, headed away from the sunrise and over a steep set of dunes on the offchance... one of those days you shake your head at the wonder of it all really... John R, it's quite a time consuming place to get to, so of the 6 days I had for the trip, 3 were taken up with flat out travelling... but worth every minute... will post some more over the next few weeks...

Thanks again and best...

Seems like you have really worked hard to get this amazing set of images.
Each image captured is differently amazing with an astonishing set of color combinations.
Great work! It inspires me as well to do the same

Spectacular set!