I am a proud Scot, but I do tend to be dismissive of the potential of my own back yard - which is an error. A prophet is never recognised in his own town and familiarity can lead to a slight disconnect when considering filming locations. The Highlands of Scotland are spectacular and in particular the area of Glencoe and Glen Etive - host some of the most geologically raw visuals on the planet. This is Brigadoon and Monarch of the Glen rolled into one. There may not be alpha predators in the hood, but the stags in the autumn can be magnificent and the Highland cattle are amongst the most decorative in the world. The wild scenery is complemented perfectly by the wild look of the Highland cattle and for centuries the double act has attracted the painters’ brush - most notably George Turner's student Louis B Hurt. He was from Derbyshire, but his romanticist brush was manifestly focused on the North and he was known as Derbyshire's John Constable. No one more than Hurt glorified the magnificence of nature in the Highlands. Photography is all about access and thanks to the Fleming Family, I had that access to work just down the glen from the famous closing scene in the Bond Film Skyfall. A glorious spring evening offered me every chance to work the two variables together and make them one. The local estate managers and stalkers suggested that this was probably the first time that someone had the chance to photograph the most decorative of cows on the shores of the stunning Lochan Urr, just to the west of Dalness.
The 35mm lens was always going to be my choice for visual clarity, depth and therefore a layered narrative. The light gave me so much to work with.
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