PRACTICALPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 29
I
’VEWRITTENABOUTSCOTLANDBEFORE,BUT
thistimeI wantto honein on oneof my favouriteplaces
in the entire world, the Isle of Harris and Lewis. It’s where
I chose to get married, and I want to explain what is so
special about the place and why I made my loved ones
travel via plane, train, automobile (and ferry) to get here.
Although it’s slightly confusing to anyone who has yet to visit,
the Isles of Lewis and Harris are the same island essentially
separated by a land border. However, in terms of terrain, they
couldn’t be more different.
If you arrive into Stornowayon
Lewis, the drive down to Harris
st arkly contrasts the difference
between the two islands. Lewis
has swathes of lush, flat greenery
whereas Harris can be best
described as a ‘moonscape’. The
la ndscape gives way to the Harris
hills, standing stalwart, definingwhereoneislandendsand
the other begins. The landscapeis hometo an abundanceof
Lewisian gneiss, the oldest rockformationsin Britain.Then,as
you drive down towards the west coast, suddenly the turquoise
colours of Luskentyre become visible over the horizon, and it’s
enough to steal your breath.
The west coast of Harris is dotted with beaches, each with
its own character, but all of them photogenic. Whenever the
light changes, or disappears completely, the colour of the sea
takes on another shade of blue. Although it’s hard to choose a
favourite beach, Luskentyre is high on the list. Isolated at the
end of a road, once you’ve scrambled over the dunes you’re met
with a glorious expanse of white sands backing onto the North
Atlantic Ocean and framed by the Harris hills in the distance.
It ’s the kind of place that makes its own weather. On the right,
wavescrashofftherockformations,andto theleft,the beach
stretchesall thewayto Seilebost.
Harris is perfect for coastal long exposures. There are ample
opportunities to find some lead-in lines on the rocky shoreline,
or up in the blanched dunes. It’s all about the contrast between
the sea and the shore, the gentle colour of the beach and the
vibrancy of the water, or the relative serenity of the coast
against the majesty of the imposing hills, and the contrast in
weather and light from one minute to another. Creatively, I’m
always thinking about how these
elements fit together. Occasionally
I’ll indulge in a long exposure to give
the sea a milky texture – the passing
of time in one frame. However, I’m
more enamoured by exposures of
around half a second when the tide
is advancing, capturing the motion
of the waves against the shore.
There’ssomethingaboutthis length of exposure that provides
a dynamismto an image.To achieve this effect, I often use a
circularpolariserto reducereflections on the rocks and water,
adding a 1-stop neutral density filter to reduce the light.
I’m somewhat reluctant to shout about the beaches of Harris
(and Lewis for that matter), but they’ve captured my heart and
part of me cannot resist sharing with you their drama and
beauty. Although it’s rather a long trek to the Outer Hebrides,
it is completely worth it.
WHENEVER THE LIGHT
CHANGES, THE SEA
TAKES ON ANOTHER
SHADE OF BLUE
VERITY MILLIGAN
ADVENTURES OF A LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER FROM HARRIS WITH LOVE
Verity Milligan is an award-winning landscape, architectural
and commercial photographer based in Birmingham. She
runs workshops and her clients include American Express,
Yorkshire Tea & Visit Britain. veritymilliganphotography.com
