Outer Hebrides Trip - Barra

thingsthatihaveseen · 2018-04-30T20:33:03+0100

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