Uist in Early July

Croft at Paiblesgarry, North Uist (Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 lens at 100mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

This post is long overdue having taken these shots while on Uist visiting friends for a few days in the first week of July.  The weather was pretty good but the light could have been better for photography.  That being said I did get a few decent shots, like the above taken from the shore of Loch Sandary near Paible, looking to a croft in Paiblesgarry.  The bright yellow is from flowers in the grasslands, yet to be cut.  I used a 100-300mm zoom lens at 100mm on my mirrorless Panasonic Lumix G3 camera.  This combination provides the equivalent of a 200mm zoom on my full frame DSLR, so the image is pretty fore-shortened.  I also darkened the grey sky behind a little to add contrast and drama to the scene.

On returning from the break I decided to try something I have never attempted before, to try paiinting in Photoshop using the above image as the background layer, aiming for a watercolour effect.  I did a fair bit of online research and it is obvious that this kind of post-processing can result in some awful tacky images, but it was also clear that with practice and avoidance of the simple use of filters, that some very creative and attractive results can be achieved.  So, based on some of the online examples, I set about converting this image to a digital 'watercolour'.  The result is not bad (see below), although I need to experiment more and practice the brush strokes on the sky.  Not bad for a first attempt I think.

Croft at Paiblesgarry, North Uist (Digital Watercolour conversion using Adobe Photoshop CC from the image above)

The following couple of shots were taken at Griminish pier.  This is a pretty active little harbour with lots of fishing gear stored around the pier.  The first shot is a close-up shot of a beautifully coiled rope which attracted our attention.

Coiled Rope, Griminish Pier, North Uist (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 24-105mm f/4 L lens at 67mm, 1/1,000 sec at f/4, ISO 100, handheld)

Adjacent to this were numerous creels and buoys, which I am always attracted to as subjects for photography.  In this case I was spoilt for choice, but I like this next image best.  Overall, I was a little disappointed by the results, mainly due to the very bright sunshine causing a lot of highlights and blown out parts of the images.

Buoys in Creel (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, 1/2,000 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100, handheld)

On another day we had the pleasure of visiting the island of Vallay which lies to the north of Solas in Norht Uist.  The island can be reached on foot , or 4x4, when the tide is out and there is an old derelict mansion house and farm buildings.  The following shots are a selection of my favourites.

The Crossing to Traigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 15mm, 1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 42mm, 1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Window & Crow-stepped Gable, Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 42mm, 1/200 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Decorative Circular Window, Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 42mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Circular Turret Detail, Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 42mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Looking West from Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 14mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Old Farm Buildings, Vallay ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 22mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Remains of an Old Tractor at Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 14mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 800, handheld)

Lookiing South-east from Taigh Bhalaigh ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 lens at 114mm, 1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 160, handheld)

Machair on Vallay ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 lens at 100mm, 1/160 sec at f/16, ISO 160, handheld)

Camas na Criche, Vallay ((Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 14mm, 1/160 sec at f/16, ISO 160, handheld panorama of 8 images)

The following day the weather was not so lovely, but we took a quick trip south to Benbecula and South Uist.  There were not many good opportunities for decent photos, with poor, flat, grey light.  However, while we were at the cemetry at Rubh Aird-mhicheil near Stoneybridge there was a small rainy squall out to sea and I got this dramatic shot.

Squall at Sea from Stoneybridge, South Uist (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Sigma DG 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens, 1/320 sec at f/8.0, ISO 100, handheld)