More ritualistic nonsense!

December 31 2009

Now don't get me wrong, I want the world to be a better place in 12 months time than it is today. I want society to be healthy and spiritually contented. I want as many people as is ever possible, to be happy...whatever your definition for 'happy' may be. But I fail to see the connection between such aspirations and the senseless ritual of 'the midnight countdown'. We have friends and family around just now and come 11.50pm this evening, I just know what will happen. Yes, you've guessed it, we all stare at the TV, feign excitement (and ten minutes later feign sincerity) and start counting down to a 'new year'. Hugs and kisses will be exchanged and good wishes bestowed on anyone within earshot, most of whom you will not speak to until the same time next year.

I cringe at Hogmany and tonight I'm refusing to play. It's another ritual prescribed for us and one that we feel duty bound to follow. If like me, you have no grasp of the words to Auld Lang Syne and have no desire to hold hands, jumping up and down with complete strangers who look like they might part company with the contents of their stomach any second, take a few minutes out and reflect.

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Don't resolve to lose weight or stop smoking or even learn the words to the dreadful new year anthem; resolve to do something worthwhile to preserve the rich pageant of life on earth. Visit www.biodiversityislife.net and pledge to take just one action to make the world a better place for everyone.

Somewhere around midnight, I'll be standing by the frozen River Feshie next to my house with a dram, inwardly wishing the world a Happy IYB.

It must be me.

December 29 2009

For years I've been pleading with friends and relatives not to buy me any Christmas presents (on the basis that I want for very little and prefer not to contribute to the consumption frenzy). In return, I've not bought a present for anyone for as long as I can remember. It's not that I'm mean spirited, it's just to my mind, society's insatiable appetite for material wealth is short-sighted and ill-founded.

In spite of my pleas, I've received the usual assortment of over-wrapped unwanted 'stuff' this year. So, I took a stand. I respectfully and diplomatically suggested to my sister-in-law that if she really wanted me to value her friendship, she should accept my present back and pledge the planting of several trees instead - logical? Apparently not. So illogical in fact, that I was banished from all communication between the family yesterday...in light of the conditions, something that suited me just fine! It must be me.

Season's greetings...

December 23 2009

...and I genuinely mean that. True, I'm not a fan of the modern consumer Christmas but it looks like being a white one so what more could you ask for? Well actually, quite alot it seems. A number of folk I've spoken to in the south would ask for a more speedy and efficient response to the clearing of the transport system when the weather turns...well, Christmassy! Not that those folk would be complaining when the necessary billions were spent on under utilised snow-clearing equipment of course. Cake and eating spring to mind.

Yesterday was chilly, minus 16c chilly. So chilly that I have minor frostbite on three fingers. I'm sure someone other than me must be to blame for that! It was chilly but it was achingly beautiful. In fact for four days, it's been just splendid.

Have a happy, stress-free Christmas and enjoy the snow - we'll be complaining when there isn't any. Mind you, we can always find someone to blame when that does happen.

You reap what you sow...

December 21 2009

Last Christmas a friend asked me if I'd do a one-one photo-tutorial for her friend as a Christmas present. I'm always nervous about taking these commitments on, as just a few hours allow little time to connect with the client, never mind produce some credible pictures. Anyway, almost a year on, the date was arranged and together we explored a few local haunts. The weather was ostensibly less than inspiring but a little local knowledge and a splash of imagination, yielded a number of interesting images. Knowing where to go and how to make the most of it, is an asset. Not an asset that any book or magazine can offer but one born from spending many hours in your local area, watching the light, watching the weather, perceiving, preconceiving.

Thanks for an enjoyable day Jane.

A sense of dis-order.

December 19 2009

The British countryside is carefully controlled, managed, manipulated, manicured. It's compartmentalised so we can easily measure who owns what and evaluate the suitability of specific land use objectives. Even nature conservation is governed by that euphemism for control: management.
Against this background, I'm always encouraged to see 'unmanaged habitat': areas of land that have escaped our intervention. They are rarely large tracts but have that something about them, something wild.
The image below is ostensibly bereft of the order that landscape photography ordinarily demands, yet this small patch of wet birch and alder woodland is anything but chaotic.
I've driven past this site hundreds of times but this afternoon, with a blanket of snow draining the scene of colour, I stopped and enjoyed a neatly packaged parcel of wildness.

(Un)like father, like son!

December 18 2009

Congratulations to my son Sam for his 2nd prize in this year's Focus Environment Photography competition. His capercaillie close-up was runner-up in the 11-14 years age group.

The presentation evening was once again held at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh and was superbly organised by the sponsors Chevron. Star of the show was a fine young photographer (and jolly pleasant young man), Fergus Gill, who won 5 prizes - or thereabouts, I lost count!

View all winners at:http://www.focusenvironment.com/

Scotland Outdoors

December 15 2009

The latest edition of Scotland Outdoors Magazine (www.scotoutdoors.com) features my 'ECOVIEW' on the potential restoration of lynx to Scotland. This is a topic I've covered several times before for different publications, but it does seem to raise eyebrows -and a few hackles - judging from e-mail requests for the full article. Good job it's not controversial then!!

If you'd like a pdf of the full article, please mail me. Better still, buy the magazine!

Glen Affric - an uneasy friend.

December 13 2009

With a few days of high pressure in the bank, yesterday offered the conditions I've been waiting for to visit Glen Affric. Although undoubtedly one of my favourite locations anywhere, Affric is a bit of a photographic tease, offering much but regularly delivering little.
With an uncomfortable number of holes to fill for the upcoming Caledonia book, I was anxious to bag something that did the glen justice. Not sure I did that but at a more or less constant minus 5c and with not a breath of wind, it was nevertheless a day to savour.

Getting colder!

December 11 2009

With temperatures predicted to drop to minus 15c in the next few days, yesterday was balmy by comparison. These intricate ice patterns formed on our office window.

Don't miss this!

December 10 2009

If you didn't see David Attenborough's HORIZON programme last night, it's a must see.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pdjmk/Horizon_20092010_How_Many_People_Can_Live_on_Planet_Earth/