Lone Tree on Coigach

“Alone by the Shore”

A return a year on to this tree on Loch Bad a’ Gaill. Last time I visited, the tree had lost all but one of its leaves. Autumn was quite late this year (2023) and the leaves had only just started changing colour. The rain coming through made managing my gear challenging, but as the squall began to clear, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Beag and Sgorr Tuath started to emerge and I took the shot.

This image is quite technically challenging. I would have liked to smooth the water more, but any stir of wind and the leaves shook and looked messy. I would have also liked to bring down the highlights in the sky in some shots, but because the tree spanned the whole composition, a graduated neutral density filter makes the shadows too messy. The only option left is to drag the shutter for as long as you dare during moments with less wind. As it was, this frame came out very well.