Village Bay, St Kilda Photo

Photographer’s Note

This shot is of Village Bay on St Kilda. St Kilda is an archepelago of islands about 40 miles west of the Western Isles, Scotland. They were continuously inhabited for many hundreds of years until the 1930's when the inhabitants chose to be relocated to the mainland. The islands have very poor agricutural land and seabirds provided the main stay of the inhabitants diet. Disease and famine were common, with the islands being cut off from the mainland due to stormy weather for months at a time. Now the islands belong to the state and the only inhabitants are volunteers who monitor the wildlife and maintain what is left of the village.

The shot was taken on a less than perfect day (it is not easy to get there!) and I think the location is more important than the quality of the photograph.

james-r, dougie has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

james-r (672) 2006-07-28 9:55

You know, I agree - the location and the note, if they give you a good idea of a place, are far more relevant than a lot of the high-scoring 'arty' nonsense that gets posted here. Good on you for showing this image, I think it's great!

This is typical of the weather off the West Coast - dreich! The composition is good - clear focus in the foreground with the shoreline leading you round to the buildings and small harbour in the distance.

Nice image.

dougie (2920) 2006-07-28 14:52

Hi,
Good to see a photo of St. Kilda here since, as you say, it's difficult to get to (easier these days but expensive I hear). The picture maybe reflects the mood of the place when it was deserted and all the empty houses gazed out to the sea.
Dougie.