Stoned...

Isle of Lewis was every bit as beautiful and drenched in history as I was imagining and expecting it to be. The Outer Hebrides being so remote and cut off, offers some of the best landscapes as well as the rich history that goes with the place...

 

The Standing Stones of Callanish or Calanais is a lot more beautiful than the touted Stonehenge in England. The entry for Stonehenge the last time I checked was over £10. The entry for the stones of Calanais is, well FREE. The best thing about Scottish Highlands which I really appreciated was the easy access to every place you want to visit. I am sure things would be different in other places in Scotland, but I certainly did not pay a penny as entry fees or for that matter parking.

 

The construction of the standing stones took place between 2900 and 2600 BC, though there were possibly buildings before 3000 BC. A tomb was later built into the site. Debris from the destruction of the tomb suggests the site was out of use between 2000 BC and 1700 BC. Local tradition says that giants who lived on the island refused to be converted to Christianity by Saint Kieran and were turned into stone as a punishment. Another belief says that at sunrise on midsummer morning, the "shining one" walked along the stone avenue, "his arrival heralded by the cuckoo's call." This legend could be a folk memory recalling the astronomical significance of the stones. - Courtesy Wiki

 

I did not have the luxury of sunlight for much of my stay in Lewis and Harris. So I had to make do with any available light and make the photograph interesting as well. Daytime shots become really interesting when shot using Infrared filters. This is something I employed to good effect to keep myself occupied during the day which lasts for about 14 hours in summer!

 

EXIF - 8 sec f/22 ISO 50 16mm

Hoya R72nm

 

Thanks for viewing and have a nice day!

Done