Iolair-Bhara
Stob Ghabhar
It had struck me recently that, of my numerous photos of Stob Ghabhar collected over the years, I had conspired to overlook almost certainly the best vantage point in order to appreciate the hill's best features; wild haunts which are hidden to all but the most determined.
You can just make out little Coirein Lochain, tucked well away in the tightest of natural amphitheatres. Later on, I made my way along to this remote corner, carrying out a promise I'd made to myself long ago. The tangible atmosphere of this place left such an indelible mark as to have me resolving to return soon with my sleeping bag & spending the night there.
Some weeks ago, I witnessed a miraculous vision from the crest of Buachaille Etive Mòr's snaking ridge. The pyramid of Stob Doire, set aflame, rose out of the cold depths. Beyond similarly lit backdrop hills hung a perfectly placed three-quarter moon. The scene was as close to perfect as I've yet to witness.
Having earlier predicted something special at that location, I had returned well in advance to set things up. Switching my camera on revealed a fault in my SD card which no amount of pointless dabbling could rectify. I wasn't carrying a spare.
Despite initial & understandable horror, I realised the folly of distraught behaviour in the midst of such a glorious sequence of events. I would temporarily banish my self-loathing & almost grief-like state for the duration. A moment like that should be absorbed with concentrated reverence & wonder, untainted by frivolous matters like photography.
Yesterday morning's long, cold vigil atop Stob a' Choire Odhair saw a return of the utterly sublime. The usual numb extremities were mentally cast aside as this vision of Stob Ghabhar materialised in front of my disbelieving eyes; its ridges fleetingly side-lit by an emergent sun bestowing its most coveted & rarest of gifts.
No glitches or histrionics this time, just a conveniently placed photographer with working equipment pinching himself at what he's witnessing - & managing to capture it.
Stob Ghabhar
It had struck me recently that, of my numerous photos of Stob Ghabhar collected over the years, I had conspired to overlook almost certainly the best vantage point in order to appreciate the hill's best features; wild haunts which are hidden to all but the most determined.
You can just make out little Coirein Lochain, tucked well away in the tightest of natural amphitheatres. Later on, I made my way along to this remote corner, carrying out a promise I'd made to myself long ago. The tangible atmosphere of this place left such an indelible mark as to have me resolving to return soon with my sleeping bag & spending the night there.
Some weeks ago, I witnessed a miraculous vision from the crest of Buachaille Etive Mòr's snaking ridge. The pyramid of Stob Doire, set aflame, rose out of the cold depths. Beyond similarly lit backdrop hills hung a perfectly placed three-quarter moon. The scene was as close to perfect as I've yet to witness.
Having earlier predicted something special at that location, I had returned well in advance to set things up. Switching my camera on revealed a fault in my SD card which no amount of pointless dabbling could rectify. I wasn't carrying a spare.
Despite initial & understandable horror, I realised the folly of distraught behaviour in the midst of such a glorious sequence of events. I would temporarily banish my self-loathing & almost grief-like state for the duration. A moment like that should be absorbed with concentrated reverence & wonder, untainted by frivolous matters like photography.
Yesterday morning's long, cold vigil atop Stob a' Choire Odhair saw a return of the utterly sublime. The usual numb extremities were mentally cast aside as this vision of Stob Ghabhar materialised in front of my disbelieving eyes; its ridges fleetingly side-lit by an emergent sun bestowing its most coveted & rarest of gifts.
No glitches or histrionics this time, just a conveniently placed photographer with working equipment pinching himself at what he's witnessing - & managing to capture it.