Being able to photograph the landscape without the usual rigmarole of unfolding, and setting up my large format camera seemed a somewhat odd affair at first. Not to make that sound like a chore or a drag! I’m so used to setting up, composing carefully, focusing and finally putting some filters into the equation, then waiting for something to happen. Most often though, mother nature has her way, mocks my plans and I’ll get wet! The weather was up to its usual tricks then in this particular instant.
It had been a pretty damp, windy and generally dull morning. Not the sort of weather or light that brings on an abundance of inspiration, but, common place up in the Scottish Highlands. It seemed like the ideal time to sit and play my favorite game again. Waiting for that inspiring light.
After a long, hard climb up the slopes of Sgurr a’ Mhàim, weighed down by a 40lb pack and following no particular footpath, I reached the rocky outcrop that had caught my eye from down on the road. Trees growing precariously near the edge, upon mountain backdrops. Scots Pines to be exact. Upon my arrival at the top, my first instincts were to dump the bag and go and explore. I grabbed the WB500 and went for a good look around. I used the WB500 as a new pair of eyes, or a notebook, composing potential shots for when the light became a little more attractive. After assesing the area and deciding upon a few places which I thought were worthy of photographs, it was time to get out the big guns. I took time and care to set up my large format camera, composing and recomposing, making slight ajustments until I felt I had finally found something that worked. Solving the problem if you will. Time now, for mother nature to take over. I could only wait.
Lone Pine, Glen Nevis
As the sun continued on its daily cycle, lowering with the light warming, the open expanse of blue sky began to rapidly change. The all too familiar sight of heavy, grey clouds! I knew that the wait might only be met by a soggy ending now. Again! Though I sat in hope, the sun got lower and the cloud drew closer. I made a few exposures, only as a record and continued to wait. No rain came.
That was until the cloud was almost upon me, opening up and lashing down heavy driving rain. The large format camera was soon retreating into the waterproof safety of my camera bag. It was dull and wet. Until a cloud passing infront of the sun, drifted out of the way. Now things would get interesting. I was granted with inspiring light. It would have been hopeless with my large format camera trying to keep it steady in the wind and the rain off my filters. After all, this was heavy, wind driven rain. I called upon the WB500 now. I composed almost exactly the same as I had with my other camera. The sun was now shining strongly through the rain in the valley. Warm tones painted the slopes around me. This was light that I had been wanting to photograph in for sometime now. Almost transient.
Rainbows reached from high above mountain peaks, extending to the ground below. There was not pot of gold as far as I could see. But I had managed to stumble upon my own gold. The light and rainbows lasted only a few minutes. Undoubtably the WB500 ensured that I didn’t leave empty handed and saved the day! For my large format camera would have been to slow and cumbersome to have recorded both viewpoints, the gold here vanishing prehaps without a trace.
Rainbows, Glen Nevis
Wet and slightly cold, I left the mountain side in good company knowing that I had managed to spoil mother natures plans this time, instead of her spoiling mine!
