Creative Light Festival 2025 in Harris

 Another enjoyable and inspiring festival.  This time I didn't have to travel too far.  Unfortunately others were not so fortunate as Storm Amy mucked up a lot of travel plans.  I arrived a couple of days earlier as I was booked on a workshop on Sunday.  Picked up Val and Cath from the airport and we had an easy drive down to Tarbet.  Hebrides Hotel was very comfortable and I am glad I decided to have a bit of luxury this time instead of the campervan.  

On Saturday I drove back to Lewis and picked up Fiona as the buses were cancelled because of Storm Amy.  It wasn't as bad on the island so the drive was fine.  Met Ger, Elisabeth, Anya and Felicity and they kindly offered me a seat in their car.  We drove down to Northton, stopping off and Sheilibost and then Luskentyre.  I saw Toby in the dunes for the first time in all the time I have been coming to the island.  Very windy so hardly needed a slow shutter speed.  We saw James's workshop on the way and I snapped a couple of the participants.

Shelibost

From Northton to Scarista

Giles

Marj

Toby

I enjoyed an art journalling workshop with Margaret and Carien.   We were given a journal which I have christened but not sure I will be keeping it up.  A meal at the Harris Hotel started the festival off.

Monday I was on a workshop at Luskentyre.  Probably my least favourite of the beaches but I went with an open mind.  Realised I had 3 hours of wandering so it was an excellent opportunity to explore the dunes as I rarely have time to do that when I bring visitors.  Managed to see some beautiful light at the end which couldn't be seen from the beach so it was worth while.

young gannet with three separate dives blended together

Tuesday was a day on Scarista  and I concentrated on waves and the dogs running on the beach.

Met the sheep being moved on the walk down to Scarista

On Wednesday I was inside for most of the workshop which was on the worst day for weather.  Making images with the phone and then turning them into a book.  Lots of learning and another enjoyable day ending in a buffet supper and the ceilidh with The Cavemen.

A couple of images taken on the half hour walk to obtain our book images

The Cavemen

Fiona, Susan, Shasi, Tim

Karen, Lesley, Nikki, Giles, Jeremy

and Ger

Having fun

Next festival is forecast for 2027.  Tomorrow I am off in the campervan for Norwich and the Visual Art photo weekend. 

Cappadocia with David Clapp

A few days before I set off for Turkey, I spotted a male hen harrier hovering over the croft next door.  I managed to snap an image through the window before he flew over my garden and disappeared.

male hen harrier

I was on the afternoon flight to Heathrow on Friday 20th June and then flew to Turkey the next day.  I met up with the rest of the group on our change over in Istanbul.  David Clapp, Charlotte, Mary-Lou, Mike, Ian and Barry.  We arrived at our hotel, The Stone Palace, in Cappadocia late.  The next day was my birthday and I celebrated by opening my cards and displaying them in my room.  This photo trip was my treat to myself.  Had a lazy morning and met up later for a presentation by David, lunch, then out in the afternoon for our first session of image making.  Dinner then another session in the evening. 

First snap of the wedding/social media productions

Our shadows on the rock

David

I made several multiple exposures using this image.  This was my favourite

Spot the butterfly

swifts

Another multiple exposure

Monday was the start of the early morning starts.  We now had an opportunity to see the balloons over the sky then went on to see the chaos of people having their images taken for weddings and social media.  Then back for breakfast and a rest before we had a debrief from David and showing of images before lunch.  More images made in the afternoon and evening session.

2 images blended in photoshop

Not sure how anyone gets to this cave

rock patterns

Images from Tuesday.

birdlife

David

Ian

Quad bikes being one of the many pursuits in Cappadocia

Charlotte posing for us.

A quick icm while waiting for Charlotte to change position

Model Charlotte 

Images from Wednesday.  This time we were in the balloon for the ride.  We went with the Turquoise Balloon company

Our balloon.  The shadows were lit by a car headlights and are the people including me waiting to get into the basket

Horse and camel riding are two other pursuits

yellow dress dance

shepherd

A cave church

Pattern in the rocks

Images from Thursday.

camel riding

the cat appeared and wanted to be a model

Charlotte

David and Barry

Oops missed putting this one above.  He reminded me of Soda, a cat I used to have.

A multiple exposure of the henge on the hill.  This received first prize in the abstract section at the Point show

Images from Friday.  Our second ride in the balloon.

Captured in the mirror of the balloon (see above) were David, Barry and Ian from left to right

Celebrating after the ride

Our balloon flat on the floor waiting to be folded

Then the final morning arrived when we had time to snap images of the balloons from our hotel before we left for the airport.  I left the group in Istanbul and took a flight to Heathrow.  The next day my flight was delayed and I stayed a night at Glasgow at BA's expense before arriving back home on the early flight.  Another excellent photo trip organised by David.