NOT Macleod's Maidens Photo

Photographer’s Note

I took this shot on a tiring and frustrating walk on a beautiful spring day on the Isle of Skye. We set off to see & photograph Macleod’s Maidens sea stacks visible off the cliffs. We had full walk instructions printed off the internet with the relevant section of the OS map attached. From Orbost on Duirinish, the most westerly peninsula of the island, it is 5 miles to Idrigil Point. Somewhere up to that point the instructions & map fell out of my pocket. I remembered the instructions said it wasn’t far from there to the viewpoint we were looking for and also that the total walk distance there & back was 10.5 miles. After walking for another hour we arrived at this overlook - obviously NOT Macleod’s Maidens, as there is only one stack. At this point we estimated we had walked about 7 miles and we still had to walk back. After walking to the next headland we decided we had probably missed them and set off to walk back, disappointed.

Walking back we didn’t see them either!! Can anyone out there tell me where we went wrong! Also if this stack has a name!

ISO200, FL34mm

UlfE, sleon, stego, jwmunro, dareco, shevchenko, Emile, cbrman, ruisc_pt, snunney, asajernigan, danos, Kielia, Cricri, Sistercosmo, ktanska, JCG, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

coco (27560) 2009-07-05 11:50

Hi Kath.

Well, I think I am the first who writes here.
The place is impressice, espectacular... and also your photo... but do you know how I would have done this very photo? I would have carry on my tripod and I would have used the longer exposure.

Regards.

darek1978 (11097) 2009-07-05 12:04

Hi Kath,
A fascinating view and a great presentation of it. Breatchtaking height and excellent POV. A simple composition which keeps all the charm of the place. Well done!
Best regards,
Darek

rodgerg (22953) 2009-07-05 12:04

Hello Kath,

I visited Isle of Skye, a superb place and here a superb view with an excellent fralming, beautiful contrast and sueprb colors very well collected. I like especially the colors of the sea.
Have a nice evening,
Roger

UlfE (8835) 2009-07-05 12:21

Hi Kath,

After having checked in the internet what Macleod’s Maidens sea looks like I do not think you should be too disappointed, this is a stunning view as well. I love your photo. This really wonderful place. Great and funny note. TFS and have nice Sunday evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

gilou530 (34657) 2009-07-05 12:36

hello kath
a place which points out to me cliffs of the creeks of Marseilles by their similarity, a water with major blue, the POV gives a superb sight, good job
friendships
gilbert

sleon (9350) 2009-07-05 12:53

Hi Kath
Looks like you had fine weather and good light for your long walk and for getting lost. You must have been too engrossed in your camera to notice losing the map! The lighting shows off well the relief and the warm colours of these beautiful coastal landscape.
Regards, Susanna

chawax (5725) 2009-07-05 13:19

Hi Kath,
Excellent POV on these impressive cliffs. I love the natural colours.
Regards,
Olivier

stego (22318) 2009-07-05 14:20

Hi Kath,

I find the photo great and I am not telling this to comfort you. It's very well composed and the light management is admirable. I wonder if the sun is so less intense up there than it is here as just yesterday I went to a place not so unlike this one and I had much trouble with the glowing sea.

Regards,
José

leonorkuhn (13385) 2009-07-05 14:39

Hi Kath,

Nice view from the top of the cliffs. Maybe this was dangerous... Be careful!
Great scenery, excellent POV, beautiful colors and good sharpness.

Well done!
Have a nice week
Leonor

jwmunro (6859) 2009-07-05 15:07

Hello Kath -

Well, if this isn't the maidens it is still a darn fine image. It always pays to have that OS map and not an internet copy in hand when walking in unfamiliar territory. Rob should have brought whispering Wendy on the walk to help you find your way. I am glad you both got back safely.

Thank you for sharing.

John

npecanhuk (12947) 2009-07-05 16:21

Hello Kath!
Awesome landscape by the sea!
Privileged pov and superb composition!
Sharpness, exposure and colors are excellent!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

gneufeld (14989) 2009-07-05 18:20

Hi Kath,
I like the very high point of vies here to accentuate the tall spires of rock and the elevation of the rocks. Good view of the sea in nice colors and excellent clarity. TFS. Gerald

dareco (17024) 2009-07-05 20:00

I really like the composition, colors, detail ... great pov. Another very lovely place. TFS

shevchenko (9724) 2009-07-05 21:09

Hello Kath,
Not easy to find out a selected part on the wide land seem every where are similar, I can understand your dissapointed mood. Very nice this colorful corner, clear to show geographical features, good shoot.
Ally

Emile (19775) 2009-07-05 21:35

Hola Kath.
Long time no see, welcome back to TE after a time away, we lost several good friends as Henk, he retired permanently.
I'm glad to see your wonderful shots again.
Magnificent photo from a high POV, impressive high cliffs, very good colors and frame. Your note sound disappointed after walking more than 7 miles to reach a wrong place but it was worthwhile because the place is very beautiful.
Very well captured.
TFS.
Best wishes.

cbrman (18677) 2009-07-05 22:27

Hello Kath,

Splendides falaises. Des décors que j'aimerais vraiment redécouvrir. Tu as eu une bonne idée de cacher le ciel car cela attire encore plus le regard sur les falaises.
Bien vu !

A+

Dominique

ruisc_pt (6206) 2009-07-06 0:32

Hi Kath
It's hard to walk and to felt that our effort was in vain.
This is not the case, in my opinion, cause the view is superb. Although this is not the point you would reach you got a fantastic shot.
If there's no name for this stack may I propose one:
..
Kath's stack
Best regards
Rui

snunney (33988) 2009-07-06 1:14

Hello Kath,
Mistakes happen and if they didn't you wouldn't have come across a wonderful spot like this. A lovely well composed image with superb natural colours under a good light. Excellent sharpness. There's always the next time!

asajernigan (13865) 2009-07-06 5:01

Kath,
It seems that your hike was worth it! This is a great shot of this beautiful yet rugged place. The downward angle of the shot gives us a nice overview of the rugged shoreline. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

danos (31562) 2009-07-06 6:54

Hi Kath,
breathtaking shot from above of this rocky golf is a gift for us, after your tiring and frustrating walk on the Isle of Skye.Excellent the sharpness and the clarity as the wild beauty of the scene.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

Dyerco (8842) 2009-07-06 6:56

Hi Kath
A nicely composed image especially the shape of the white water which echoes the pointed shape of the stack. Sorry can't help with the directions.
Phil

Kielia (8159) 2009-07-06 8:33

Hi Kath,
this is a very fine capture of the rugged coast! Very well working POV on the sea, very nice colors and an amazing light that creates wonderful contrasts. Excellently composed impression. I also enjoyed reading your note! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

amaryllis (17011) 2009-07-06 9:06

bonjour
une vue plongeante sur cette crique ou calanque avec une couleur de l'eau supere, bleue et turquoise, les rochers sont grandioses comme la photo
juliette

Cricri (42735) 2009-07-06 10:41

Hi Kath
Merveilleux ce paysage, sauvage et d'une grande beauté, j'aime le POV, les détails et l'ensemble des couleurs, très belle image
Friendship
cricri

guillaumejm (9022) 2009-07-06 13:50

Hello kath
Anyway, I'm sure you did enjoy your walking around there. I'd also the opportunity long years ago to travel in Scotland and of course (?) to go around of Sky island. I would have enjoyed having time to go to Jura island but no time for that at this time (I still have map at home :)!).
Nice top to bottom cliff view with pleasant colours.
Warm regards
JMarc

Sistercosmo (2481) 2009-07-06 14:23

Hi my dear,

well, being an American, I can't help you with the geography! Maidens are hard to find these days anyway... :-)

I can certainly feel for you in this situation! Frustration taking hold!

But this shot is wonderful. You did well! Great pov and superb landscape.

Take good care!
Linda

John_F_Kennedy (30545) 2009-07-06 21:55

Superb rocky landscape and seaside. Excellent clarity and good view like a bird. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

ktanska (16375) 2009-07-07 2:50

Hi Kath,
Great high viewpoint showing rough shore on good light. That irregular line on the edge pleases my eyes.
Missing the target due the dropped map must annoy even more than getting lost with a map.
And I trust Macleod's Maides would look awesome being a main destination of such a long hike.
Kari

JCG (24783) 2009-07-07 5:54

Hi Kath,

It is necessary to avoid approaching too much close, the cliffs are very abrupt !!! Marvellous wild landscapes as I like them and who point out certain places of Brittany to me, as in Finistere. I like much your framing without the sky which makes it possible to focus us on the architecture of these rock faces. Well done Kath and thank you for this good bowl for air.

With all my friendships and a very good afternoon,

Jean-Charles

Angshu (33215) 2009-07-09 22:50

Hello Kath
So it seems you've not got much help about this location! I know this island because the Scotch brand 'Talisker ' comes from here & is possibly the only distillery in this island.
The location is amazing & the POV seems to be on the precipice of a precarious drop! I saw & thought about what Carlos (coco) wrote in his critique & would have been tempted to look at taking this picture with a slooow shutter speed, which would have the waters swirling like silken ropes around the 'maiden'. But when I read about your long haul trek & all that you carried...well, under those circumstances I think you've done very well here.
Best Regards
Angshu

Didi (35668) 2009-07-11 8:15

Hi Kath
Nice view, similar to a place of Belle Ile en Mer in Britany.
Witthout the sky it's more interesting.
It's also a good place to take with a rough sea.
Best regards

gunbud (27515) 2009-07-11 19:50

Hi Kath,
You provide us with a splendid view of the rugged island cliffs and blue and green sea below.
Love the rough texture to the rocks and how the green moss contrast with the bue sea.
Regards, Tom

jmcl (13721) 2009-07-12 9:32

Hi Kath,

I think it should be known forever as Kath's stack .. or maybe Featherstone Stone .. the image is beautiful .. the sea seams gentle against the massive and harsh stone .. the image has a sense of peace .. in contrast to your disappointment. take care, John