Behind the Lens: A Summer Recap, Stac Pollaidh Hike, & Gallery Updates
As another summer has come to a close, I find myself reflecting on an incredible season. This summer has been full of connections, some new, some old, and the gallery has been busier than ever. With COVID restrictions lifted, we’ve been able to enjoy so many things we’d missed over the last couple of years, including plenty of Highland Games!
Our Pop-Up Gallery
For the first time in three years, the gallery has been able to head further afield and set up shop at various Highland Games. The events this year saw incredible turnouts; seemingly everyone was excited to enjoy this Scottish tradition once more, and it was great to see so many new faces alongside familiar ones.
Over the summer, we took our pop-up gallery to Gairloch, Lochcarron, and Shieldaig.
We’re looking forward to taking our pop-up gallery to more games, fetes, and events next year, so be sure to be on the lookout for announcements! And you never know...we might even enjoy an Applecross Games once more in ‘23 or ‘24!
Stac Pollaidh
As mentioned in my previous blog entry, having an incredibly dedicated and capable team allowed me to head out and take new images over the summer, and I’ve got plenty of stories to tell you from my trips (make sure you check your inbox for these!). Back in June, I headed up Stac Pollaidh, about half an hour north of Ullapool.
I’d been waiting for my lab, Toivo, to be old enough to join me for this hike, and I’m so glad I did. Faced with blue skies, warm temperatures, and a complimentary breeze, it was honestly a joy hiking up to the top of the ridge, with its rocky crest of Torridonian sandstone. Interestingly, the sandstone pinnacles all carry different names such as “The Sphinx”, “Madonna and Child”, and “Tam o’ Shanter.” However, due to the harsh Highland climate, some of these pinnacles have eroded as time passes, making it more important than ever to capture them.
At the top of the ridge, you gain incredible views in every direction. Suilven and Assynt to the north, Cùl Mòr and Cùl Beag to the east as well as the Summer Isles and Achiltibuie to the southwest.
In the above image, you can make out the path curving around the main ridge. Once you reach the end of this path, you can scramble to the true summit of the ridge. However, Toivo wasn’t too sure of the heights and steep drops, so we made do with selfies together and a well-earned rest.
I’m sure we’ll be back here for a camp at some point in the future too. I’m eager to capture more shots at sunset and rise from this truly impressive ridge.
The aim of this hike was to get new images for the gallery, but we ended up with one that’ll most likely be used for our future calendars too, which leads me on to an especially important announcement...
2023 Panoramic Calendars are LIVE!
We are now taking pre-orders for our 2023 panoramic calendars. They’ve been a labour of love and feature some spectacular exclusive images of the Scottish Highlands, alongside gallery bestsellers and favourites, all featuring a panoramic landscape theme.
BONUS: I'll be personally signing all pre-orders!
The deadline for pre-orders is midnight on Sunday 6th November. If you or someone near and dear loves being able to see the Scottish Highlands from the comfort of your own home, this is a great opportunity to gain 12 glimpses into our dramatically rugged yet beautiful landscape.
You can pre-order your calendars with the link below. They’re available in both a larger wall and smaller desk format.
I’ll be sharing more adventures with Toivo alongside gallery news far more regularly from here on out, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more updates. In the meantime, make sure you’re following us on Instagram and Facebook for everything else!
Jack
