Orkney on a photo workshop with Margaret Soraya and Lesley Lintott

 An amazing week of photography on my visit to Orkney.  I started out early on the ferry from from Stornoway - work was still ongoing at Uig so the ferry was still leaving at 6 am.  I drove to Gills Bay and stayed overnight at the Ferry view campsite.  I was made very welcome and took advantage of having a meal cooked for me.  Another ferry in the morning to St Margaret's Hope and a drive to Kirkwall stopping at the Italian chapel on the way.  I had a wander around Kirkwall and met Gill from the group at my lunch stop.  We had an explore in the afternoon as I couldn't check in to the Storehouse restaurant and rooms until 4pm.

Italian chapel

Part of my fence project

A wander along the beach at Houton

Another explore on Sunday morning then to the airport to pick up Karen who had flown in from Heathrow via Aberdeen.  She tried on Saturday and nearly made it but for the fog at Aberdeen and the plane returned to Heathrow.  We visited Scara Brae.  Met the rest of the group at dinner in the Storehouse - Margaret, Lesley, Phil, Jo and Andrew.

replica of the inside of the house marked 7 on the map

On Monday we were off to Yesnaby, photographing the stack.  Then to the Fisherman's huts at Marwick Head.  Finally we stopped of at the Ring of Brodgar.

icm of the Yesnaby stack

Multiple exposure of the stack then white balance to tungsten, inverted and added a luminosity filter

Lesley and Margaret photographing the stack

Old ship's boiler at Marwich head

Icm image of the boiler

redshank

clear water

At the Rings of Brodgar

Starlings

Tuesday we visited the Churchill barriers and my second visit to the Italian chapel.  The sun was out and we had a picnic lunch on the beach with a few of us sunbathing.   Followed on by a visit to Dingieshowe beach and Inganess beach.

icm of Churchill barriers

More clear water

Wait for me, mum

Lesley and Jo

At Dingieshowe beach

At Inganess beach with bathers

Limpet patterns

Wednesday was our only really wet day.  The plan was to meet up late morning for presentations then go out but the weather changed to dry in the morning.  Suddenly we were dashing off, thank goodness I checked What's app!  We went to Happy Valley and spent a happy couple of hours photographing in this secluded woodland glade.  The rain was starting in earnest when we left but we had a brief stop at the Stones of Stenness.  Then lunch in Kirkwall, a second visit to St Magnus Cathedral for me and a rest before the presentations at 4pm.  We ate at Neuk again.  We went there on Tuesday and decided it was worth a second visit.  Food good and a good atmosphere.

Happy Valley

A blend of tree with waterfall with extract filter

Thursday saw us at Stromness, with a wander around the streets.  Visited an excellent art gallery www.pierartscentre.com which is worth a visit.  Then to Birsay where the waves meant lots of images.  To the Kitcheners memorial at Marwich head for more scenic shots.  We ate at Helgies in the evening but were unable to book in again as it is very popular.

Stromness

Birsay waves

Eider

growth on a replica monument stone on the tidal island

An attempt to blend a fulmar and waves in camera

Photographing rock pools

At Marwich head

Lots of rabbits here

On Friday it was an early start to catch the ferry over to Hoy.  I felt I was back home as this island is similar to Lewis.  Another excellent day photographing waves.  A stop at the Scapa flow museum with great coffee.  I didn't have to worry about coffee on this trip as the virus I caught after Paris meant I went into withdrawal without any pain and I have yet to need a coffee every day.

Bo-Ghaidhealach (Highland Cow)

Oyster catchers

The bothy

Shooting through the grasses

Disused bothy

I love the textures in this image

We said our goodbyes on Friday evening and Saturday morning.  I drove back to the ferry and down to Ullapool.  Good to be back in Lewis after a great week.  

Off to Northumberland in a couple of weeks for the RPS Visual Art spring weekend.