A Few Old Trees

A weathered old hawthorn tree at Applecross (Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens at 12mm, 1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld)

The good weather last weekend allowed me to get out a couple of times with my camera, firstly to Dundreggan on Saturday to visit the new Rewilding Visitor Centre, and then on Sunday for a drive around Strome and Applecross to recce a few sites I had not photographed previously.

Despite the decent weather I did not capture many good shots, more planning required in terms of tide times and light, but useful for recconnaisance purposes none-the-less.  That being said, I did capture these three images of old trees.  I never tire of photographing the old specimen trees that we find, often quite isolated in a generally over-grazed environment, but struggling to survive the combined forces of weather and deer and sheep.

The above shot is of an old hawthron tree at the shore in Applecross village.  It appears to be standing free on its roots, clinging to the gravelly soil of the shore.  No doubt this tree has survived through many a storm and its footing must be a bit precarious with shifting gravel.

The next two are old ash trees near North Strome above the shores of Loch Carron.  As a result of ash dieback disease these old trees are disappearing from our countryside at an alarming rate.  The nearby Rassal Ashwood, which was once a National Nature Reserve has the disease and many of the old trees there are suffering badly.  All very sad, but hopefully some will survive with natural resistance, and regeneration might be possible in the future - let's hope so.

Veteran Ash Tree, North Strome (Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens at 17mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 200, handheld)

Another veteran ash tree, North Strome (Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens at 17mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 200, handheld)

The last few images are macro shots of some spring flowers captured at Dundreggan on Saturday.

Wood Anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa) (Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens, 1/80sec at f/8, ISO 200, handheld)

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) (Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens, 1/80sec at f/8, ISO 200, handheld)

Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana)(Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens, 1/80sec at f/8, ISO 200, handheld)