Glenuig: Evening View

I’ll end this 30-day saga of sharing Photos of the Day with a very personal image: the view from my beloved cottage outside Dornoch. Every morning as I parted the curtains, the morning version of this view thrilled me. And every evening, I waited and watched anxiously to see how the skies and the light would enhance that view. A simple pasture, pines, a rock wall, but such drama! Read more about Dornoch and her grand skies from a favorite book of mine by Lorne Ruberstein: A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands. (See direct link to Amazon below to read more or order!) Stay tuned for what’s coming next on this blog, including direct purchase of prints via PayPal! Thanks!

Signed, limited edition giclee prints of this image are available from Sally Ross Photography: 14″ x 9.4″ ($65.00); 20″ x 16″ ($175); 30″ x 20″ ($290.00).

Glen Coe

The most stunning view I saw across miles and miles of stunning Scottish scenery! Glencoe is renowned for its history as well.  From Celtic heroes of old through clan battles and the Clearances, Glencoe represents the grandeur and the agonies that are Scotland.  Read more at GLEN COE.

Fine art limited edition signed prints available at Sally Ross Photography: 14″ x 9.4″ ($65.00); 24″ x 16″ ($175.00); 30″ x 20″ ($290.00).

Highland Loch II: Blustery Day

The lochs, hills, grasses, and skies of the Northern Highlands change constantly under shifting light and clouds.  One minute the scene is dark and eerie, and the next moment sunlight dances across hills and fields as in this shot.  No wonder the Highlands are known for their drama, both natural and human.  This view is of Loch Hope, known as one of Scotland’s best sea trout fishing lochs.  I see this Loch II image as a partner to yesterday’s post: Highland Loch I: Cold Day.  I’d like to go back and shoot all day from any one spot in the Highlands.  And even more I’d love to walk the Highlands slowly…  Click on WALK to read more about walking Scotland.

This limited edition (/50), signed fine art giclee print is available from Sally Ross Photography: 16″ x 10.7″ ($85.00); 24″ x 16″ ($175.00); 30″ X 20″ ($290.00).

Highalnd Loch I: Cold Day

Deep July cold followed us as we drove the northern Highlands.  The dark, flat waters near Loch Loyal, the wind in the grasses, and the gray, foreboding clouds suggest both the vastness the land and the intensity of the weather.  Everything here in Caithness and Sutherland, along the A836. is open to the caprice of the weather.  Click on HIGHLANDS to dream more about my favorite place in the world.

This limited edition (/50), signed fine art giclee print is available from Sally Ross Photography: 16″ x 10.7″ ($85.00); 24″ x 16″ ($175.00); 30″ X 20″ ($290.00).

Glen Cassley View, near Dornoch, Scotland

Even the single track roads are on the map in Scotland, allowing adventurers like us to find undiscovered secrets such as this view of Glen Cassley at the end of the 11 mile road off the A839.  The road ends here, but we don’t mind retracing our trip through such glorious scenery.  Maps  to every Scottish corner are are available for those who adventure on foot!  See the Explorer Map for Glen Cassley and Glen Oykel.

This fine art print is available from Sally Ross Photography: 14″ x 11″ ($70.00); 20″ x 16″ ($160.00); 25″ x 20″ ($230.00).

Croft House: Above Spinningdale, Scotland

As we explored along another single track road outside Dornoch and above Spinningdale, we dead-ended at a farm where a farmer, older woman, and helper were shearing. So we waved, backed around and down the hill, stopping to capture this charming croft house in the fields below.  One of my favorite shots, I believe this image captures the Highlands, the lonliness of life there, and the grandeur of the setting.  I wonder what history these places have known?  Perhaps we can discover it through poetry.

This print is available from Sally Ross Photography: 16″ x 10.7″ ($85.00); 24″ x 16″ ($175.00); 30″ x 20″ ($290.00).

Highland Soldier

In honor of our shared Veterans Day (also known as Remembrance Day, Armistice Day or Poppy Day), I publish this image of a Highland Soldier, one of our WWII colleagues, the Highlanders of Scotland.  While Rex was in the hospital in Inverness, we met a dear old gent of 92 who told us of his WWII experience with American troops.

Our old gentleman was a Highlander who was captured by the Nazis.  He escaped and was found by the American Army.  We gave him a uniform and put him to work.  As the war came to a close, the U.S. gave our Highlander a jeep and $1000 (American–more than he’d ever had) and told him to go find his troops!  He met his countrymen wearing that American uniform!  As he put it, “I went in a Highlander and came out a Yank!”

Good on ya’ laddy!  Proud to have met ya’!  Learn more about Highlanders in WWII (click)

This particular fine gent, a drum major, was happy to pose for photos at the 2008 Inverness Highland Games, one of the largest in the country.

This print is available from Sally Ross Photography: 8×13.5″ ($50.00); 12×20.5″ ($120.00); 20×34″ ($320.00).

Scottish lochs may be salt or freshwater.  This one is tucked away in the Northern Highlands, one of dozens we passed on each day trip to the north and west of Scotland.  The Scottish skies enhance any view and the stillness of this shore and lonely boat invite calm and meditation.  How I could spend days here just being in the space!   Learn more about Scottish lochs by clicking on LOCHS.

Castle Approach

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The Scots have built over 2000 castles beginning in the 11^th century.  Many Scottish castles are grand and glorious, well-documented and open for tourists.  But remnants such as these have little except local lore to hold up their remaining walls.  I worked on this image to enhance the haunted, historical nature of the scene.  Click here for official information on Scottish castles and history.

This fine are photographic image is available from Sally Ross Photography: 14×11″ ($70.00); 21×16.5″ ($150.00); 28×22″ ($290.00).  This one looks particularly good on canvas as well.  Feel free to email me through the blog for special orders.