To Two Bonny Scots, a photo from Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Photographer's Note

I dedicate this photo to the bonniest Scot on TE John Tyro and to his beautiful wife Yvonne. I was very fortunate to meet John initially in Ardnamurchan, in the magnificent and magical Scottish Highlands. This photo was taken in the village of Strontian, which is near where my maternal grandmother's people, the Clan Cameron, are from. John very patiently accompanied me on a bit of a wild good chase as I tried to chase up some of the family who remained here after the Highland Clearances of the early to mid 1800s.

I later met John and Yvonne again in Glasgow and they were kind enough to allow me to stay with them in Lanark, where we enjoyed a good meal, a good blether, some vino and lots of laughs.

So thank you Giovanni and Yvonne, from the bottom of my heart.

This is a view of Loch Sunart taken on a very misty Highland morning.

snunney, abmdsudi, ktanska, Royaldevon, tyro, cornejo, ChrisJ, macjake, danos, ourania has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139914) 2016-06-06 15:26

Ciao Lisa,bella dedica per queste persone che non ho mai avuto il piacere di incontrare ma che sono sicuramente deliziose.Ed anche una grande foto,il bianco e nero è perfetto per atmosfere e luoghi mistici come queste,manca solo la cornamusa..ehehe...buona giornata,Luciano

batalay (41261) 2016-06-06 15:30

Hello dear Lisa,

What an ethereal shot, layer upon layer of hills cascading into the distance. I am addicted to a BBC television series, "Monarch of the Glen," filmed in Scotland, and this the way I've imagined the highlands.

Warmest regards (we are neighbors today).

Bulent

daddo (28748) 2016-06-06 17:20

Ciao cara. I visited the southern part of Scotland recently and had my first taste of haggis. Had two helpings actually. I also saw similar rugged hills and vast spaces. I would like to see more of this land of the Picts. Mysterious and poetic shot. Ciao. Klaudio. You are the only person to have noticed my thousandth milestone.

Tue (93328) 2016-06-06 23:07

Hello Lisa,
What a beautiful view over this Scottish loch. The layered mountains look fantastic in this light and they are very nicely reflected too in the motionless water. I like your choice for B&W.
Lars

emka (158680) 2016-06-07 0:08

Ciao Lisa,

When I saw the title I was sure that the bonny Scot would be John. But he is only half Scot and doesn't wear kilt, so even less. I am joking. I imagine how a great time you had , to be together after so many years of the virtual friendship. And there must have been a lot of laughs (and vino). Beautiful dedication. And of course beautiful composition of the Highlands. I hope to see some Workshops from this important meeting.

WArm regrad s MAlgo

snunney (130967) 2016-06-07 1:56

Ciao Lisa,
A fine dedication and a beautiful image. Full of atmosphere and with a strange ethereal quality about it engendered by the soft misty lighting. Perfectly framed to enhance the natural symmetry.

Silvio1953 (222779) 2016-06-07 2:07

Ciao cara Lisa, panorama onirico con fantastico riflesso, grande sensazione di pace e di struggente nostalgia, bravissima, un caro abbraccio Silvio

Sergiom (117241) 2016-06-07 5:42

Ciao Lisa,

What a great place. Like in a dream.Perfect control of the strong light.I never get to Scotland and this composition give me a great taste of it.

Have a nice day,

Serge

Cricri (176) 2016-06-07 7:18

Hi dear Lisa
Très jolie , l'on dirait une peinture, bel effet de miroir et de couleurs, magnifique
une très belle dédicace pour la rencontre des amis
bisous
cricri

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-06-07 9:39

Hi Lisa
Excellent atmospheric moody shot and a real show-stopper!

I just love the mist, lighting and the panoramic composition works really well here and for me that inviting mirror still reflection area makes this really work, as it holds the attention drawing the eye through the composition and landscape. There is great feel of depth and you have indeed caught the feeling of recession in the landscape very well. I can see why you like this so bonny at this time of year that makes me want to sit down in an armchair & look at it! Certainly worth stopping off for and an excellent job you made of it. All the very best Scotty !
Warm wishes

dta (98848) 2016-06-07 10:34

Ciao Lisa ,
You've uses the poor light conditions to create a subtile a wonderful atmosphere , in this beautiful view of the lake with splendid reflections .
Regards

No_One (4) 2016-06-07 10:51

Hey Lisa,
This photo really is the embodiment of magical mystical Scotland, as the landscape fades into the mist, I can hear a distant howl. I guess the sun would struggle to break through this mist. The water has that special calmness that only seems to come early in the morning and it offers a magical reflection. This really has the qualities of a painting. Very cool shot
Cheers, and greetings from Ahakista ☺
Slainte
Noel

ktanska (45030) 2016-06-07 11:57

Hi Lisa,
Quite special light, makes this landscape almost entirely B&W. Symmetry made by the reflection looks great, and it is intersting to look at those almost countless contours on the hillside.
Kari

carlo62 (81265) 2016-06-07 15:07

Ciao Lisuccia
dalla miniatura non riuscivo a capire di cosa si trattava.
Ora l'ho capito, di una bellissima foto!!!!
Mi fa piacere che tu abbia incontrato John, sono stato a Lanark, ma non conoscevo ancora il nostro amico.
Bella dedica e bella foto.
Saluti
Carlo

Royaldevon (86364) 2016-06-07 15:19

Ciao cara Lisa,

You will have John blushing!
I'm sure he was the perfect host!

This is a most unusual photograph.
It has an almost ethereal quality, with its wispy clouds and buffering between b&w and colour.
I love the symmetry.
If you were to rotate it 90° you would see an old fashioned egg timer.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

tyro (30513) 2016-06-07 15:44

Ciao carissima Lisa,

Oh dear, I'm a bit late in seeing this but, having now seen it I must write a critique as it is both a beautiful photograph and a most kind and generous mention of both Yvonne and myself! Thank you so much! And, of course, we had such a wonderful time together too!

But what a glorious photograph showing the early morning mist over the Ardnamurchan hills and mountains while the reflections on the glassy calm surface of Loch Sunart are quite stunning. Of course, although this is a colour photograph it is for the most part virtually monochrome with the exception of tiny touches of soft colour where the early morning sunlight has struggled valiantly through the mist.

A beautiful and well composed image with glorious light, gentle soft colours, perfect exposure and exquisite details and sharpness.

Beautiful!

Thank you so much, Lisa!

Un abbraccio,

Giovanni. xx

cornejo (61504) 2016-06-08 11:48

Hi Lisa, very good picture of this beautiful and interesting scenery, very well captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly realized, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good morning and happy rest of the week.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

willperrett (14215) 2016-06-08 12:49

Hello Lisa

Stunning. And almost monochrome! I think you've deliberately desaturated the sky, and the effect is unusual, effective and eye-catching. You're partly right: John's a lovely man, but bonny he ain't, and Scottish he ain't either. Liverpudlian I believe. But we'd better stick to the photograph. Gorgeous. I could stick to it all day...

Regards

Will

ChrisJ (172378) 2016-06-09 1:57

Ciao Lisa

I hope your court case went well. I always like to see the good guys and gals win and real justice to prevail and not get sidetracked on legal loopholes. Good reflections and I like the minimalist color and superb sharpness here. Tfs!

mkamionka (75015) 2016-06-09 8:55

Ciao Lisa,
wow, this is quite a spectacular view! The reflection is perfect making the picture so much more attractive. The natural curves produced by the hills and valley contribute to an amazing geometry.
Interesting effect with desaturation I suppose the subtly burned sky fragments are less pronounced in B&W, that was a great idea! The mood is incredible.
A real master piece!
It is nice to hear that you had a TrekEarth meeting with John.
I had a pleasure to meet him as well.
I am sure sooner or later our paths will cross as well.

Excellent work!!
M

kasianowak (17676) 2016-06-12 5:06

Hi again Lisa
This is an amazing landscape photo with the mirror reflection creating perfect symmetry. Almost hard to believe it's not black and white.
Best regards
Kasia

macjake (98544) 2016-06-12 9:54

Hi Lisa
ok...i need another history lesson or education here, this is me showing my ignorance once again.

You say 'bonniest' and 'two bonny scots'
what the HELL are you talking about? lol
I could take some guesses, but i'll leave it up to you to let me know.

your scene here reminds me so much of scenes we encountered in Lofoten with the early morning fog and mist.

Tosca will love these types of places, as i'm sure you did.
cool reflections, and there seems to be a repeating pattern with the hills in the bg like a funny mirror in the circus or something. cool shot and experience too.

We will be meeting up with John and Bev on June 18th, at Edinburgh Castle :)
cheers
Craig

danos (110407) 2016-06-22 6:54

Geia sou Lisa,
great the view as the presentation of the place with the created reflections to make it even more effective.The cloudy and grey sky creates this unique atmosphere that one can see on these North places.

Regards,Danos

ourania (51103) 2016-06-23 14:10

Hello dear Lisa,
I like very much how you associate this timeless scene with your tracing back your family story and distant relatives that remained in this area. I like the plasticity and the mystery of the natural patterns, the symmetry and the wide range of fading tones create a fascinating kaleidoscopic effect. The scenery is described in an almost abstract way. The story of your ancestors (that I learned from John's note a little while ago) is fascinating, too bad that stories like that are being shaped in our days too. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania