embracing the monochrome

These endless weeks of grey and no sunshine can get a bit... well,...depressing. Apparently yesterday, the 21st of January was statistically "the most depressing day of the year". So I decided to embrace the grey, and see what I could find out there by going for a walk down to the loch.

The Aber walk runs from the village and gets it's name from the river that runs through here. It takes you out through the fields, where I disturbed this flock of wintering geese. Oops. They all flew off very noisily - you can just about make them out (need to get a better lens for that sort of thing).

Over bridges, through gates and stiles, down lanes, through woodlands...

passing bunches of snowdrops and wintery lichens...

to Loch Lomond, as it was how I remember it as a child, mossy roots and no man-made shoreline - just shingle beaches into the water...

I met only one other person, who lives in one of the cottages down there. We walked along together for a while and she told me about the name of her cottage, which had intrigued me. It derives from the name of Saint Kessog, and she told me they had discovered a 6th century font inside the building, possibly moved from another site. The Loch has a few Saintly, monastic and Christian missionary connections, including

this island... Inchcailloch

The name associates with "the island of the old woman or the nun" according to a local guide.

It struck me one day, looking out across the loch in better weather, when the form was reflected in the water to make a whole - that the island looked like a body. Perhaps more of a jellybaby. The Cailleach is the old woman, or Crone from Celtic myth who was often seen in the land masses such as at Callanish.

...more geese sliding across the silver...

At the end of this walk is a nature reserve. It's very beautiful and still down there, the occasional cry of a bird or 'honk' of a goose. I saw this ice pattern frozen in the marshes...

...and thought it looked again a bit like a woman's body (do you see it? -like one of those psychologist's tests!), a little like Olive Oyl from 'Popeye', looking out to the right?? - right? Maybe I've been looking at Inchcailloch for too long...

Comments

[Fiona D]

thanks for sharing this beauty. The trees reflected in the water are wonderful.

[Diana]

Grey it may be (more than Cornwall?!)....but these images are ethereal and haunting, and beautifully observed. Dx

[snapdragon]

These are very beautiful photos - I particularly like the roots of the tree covered with moss.
I have been feeling very monochrome too - all the designs I am making are black and white - very bizarre. Here we are largely mud though
J
x

[Hannah]

Wow, those pics are just beautiful. Makes me want to visit Scotland more than ever.

[suzanne]

Great photos C! Particularly like what I like to call the 'gnarly root' trees -your pictures and descriptive writing are so atmospheric I feel like I am walking along with you. I am feeling the need for some country air and a walk - spending too much time in the city - must come out and see youxxSoon!

[ambika]

This post's title is a really great way of dealing with the light in my region, too. I generally struggle with how terrible my photos look given that there's no shadow and no light but these are just lovely and make me realize I need to alter my thinking a bit.

[Victoria]

Wow you live in the most beautiful place.

[melissa]

feeling spellbound by these, c. you are a wonderful photographer. you've really brought out the magic and beauty in this time of year!

[Suzan]

Lovely photos. And you really must explore that "seeing old women" thing that you do!