SCOTTISH WINTER
Ellis Wood
The Scottish winter is rife with unpredictability. Westerly winds drag mild, wet and windy fronts across the Atlantic, but every now and again the North wins and when it does, the Highlands become a majestic winter wonderland. I am based in North Wales, so with Eryri on my doorstep, I am never too far away from dramatic mountainous landscapes. However, where Scotland is rife with unpredictability, anything below Gretna, is usually a story of mild, stormy winters, which are unfortunately becoming more frequent. My most recent getaway to the North was certainly the best. Whilst I normally gravitate to the epic mountain vistas, this trip in early January also had me marvelling in the cold, frosty Glens.
The first four days followed a miserable and damp pattern, but the following five were perfect! My constant question to myself was: should I go high or should I stay low? High meant the use of crampons and an ice axe, which is a must for any photographer wanting to photograph in the winter hills. Low was more about slowing down and finding little gems in the bigger scenes. I wanted to capture every essence of the Scottish Winter, whether that was deep in Glen Affric, or aloft an icy Sgùrr a' Mhàim. Both subgenres of landscape photography were strongly pulling at me. Obviously I wanted both, but more importantly than that, I wanted to immerse myself in the mountains, in the Glens, in the ancient Caledonian forests, and cherish every second. I hope these images are a reflection of the story I have just told, but in truth, nothing can beat being there in the moment and experiencing a true Scottish Winter.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 14.