62 DigitalSLRPhotographyDecember 2 019
On location
There’s nosingleclassicshotof Rannoch
Moor– thearea’stoobigforthat– butmore
a seriesofviewsthatareworthseekingout.
There’snoperfecttimeof dayeither,because
differentviewsworkbetteratdifferenttimes
andthe ever-changingweather can
transforma scenein seconds.Yourbestbetis
to planfulldays onthemoorthatbegin an
hourbeforesunrisesoyoucangetinto
positionniceandearlyandendaftersunset.
I prefer thewintermonthstovisitthis
regionasthedays areshort–inJanuarythe
sundoesn’triseuntilafter 8 .3 0 amandsets
again at 4 pm–but the sunstayslowin the
skyalldaysothequalityofthelightis high
andyoucanshootnonstopfromdawnto
dusk.The winterweather canalsobe
magnificent,withdays ofcloudlessblue
skies,sub-zerotemperatures(-10°Cisn’t
uncommon),hoarfrostandheavysnowfall.
Twofulldays, if theweatherplays ball,
wouldgiveyouample timetoshootthe
mainsubjectsandviewsandalsoreturnto
someofthemseveraltimes.Youneverhave
todrivemorethanamileor twobetween
locationssoyoucancovera lotofground
quickly to capitalise on goodlight.A seriouswordofwarningherethough.
TheA 82 is a busyroadandtraffichurtles
alongit at sillyspeeds– HGVsdoing
60 -7 0 mph arecommon.Therearesome
designatedparkingareasat variouspoints
butasusualthey’renotnecessarilyin the
bestspotssoyouneedtoparkandwalk–
rarelymorethan 200 m.Avoidwalkingon
thesideoftheroadandstaybehindthe
crashbarriersifyouarebytheroadside.
Therearesomeunofficialspotswhereyou
canpulltwoorthreecarsofftheroadand
be veryclosetogreatviewpoints,butdo so
withcautionandmake sureyourcaris
completelyofftheroad.
Averypopularlocationonthe mooris
Lochainnah’Achlaise,a shallowlochainby
thesideoftheA 82 withvarioussmallislands
offshoreandtheimposingrangeofthe
BlackMountHillsin thedistance.The classic
viewoverthelochainoncefeatureda small
islandwitha rowantreeonit.Sadlythattree
wastoppledin a storma coupleofyears
ago, butifyouparkandwanderalongthe
shoreyou’ll findplentyofotheroptions.
Earlymorningis agoodtime– oncethe sun
rises,itilluminatesthedistantmountains
thenthelight creepsoverthelochain.
Sunset and evening twilight can also be- Snow-capped Black Mount Hills and Lochain na h'Aclaise
make for a spectacular view. 2) Mist and hoar frost in
mid-January, Loch Bà, Rannoch Moor; it's well worth waking
up early for! 3) A classic winter view over Lochain na h'Aclaise
with the sun setting behind the Black Mount Hills. 4) A fiery
sunset over Rannoch Moor adds colour to the scene.
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