3. Barra and Vatersay, a Source of Increasing Frustration.
Barra and Vatersay are 2 islands at the southern end of the Outer Hebrides. They are joined by a causeway, served by a local bus service and reached by a 5 hour ferry journey from Oban or a plane from Glasgow which lands on the beach. Journeying south through the Outer Hebrides, Barra can be reached by ferry from Eriskay. This May was my 3rd visit to these stunning islands and there is still more to explore.
A photographers paradise, with crystal clear seas, moody mountains and white sandy beaches, is to be found on these isles. I used my iPhone 13 and took hundreds of images, some of which are here and also in the gallery on my website. The iPhone captures some excellent images, but I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with the images I couldn’t capture. I needed more control over the depth of field, focus and shutter speed so I could decide how the final image would look myself, instead of the phone camera software deciding for me. There are apps available that allow you to control the phone camera in a way that is similar to a DSLR, but I never really got to grips with how they work. I think that is because I struggle with technology and using apps for photography isn’t intuitive for me. I also find that when using my phone it is more ‘point and shoot’ whilst with my 5D set to manual I slow down and consider the light and composition to build the image I want. That is a process I am familiar with and I am excited to get back to grips with DSLR photography.
Another source of frustration on the most recent trips has been the cancellation of the boat trip to Mingulay. Obviously, safety comes first, and the weather was not on our side, but a wildlife tour to the uninhabited island of Mingulay to see puffins, auks, many other seabirds and marine life was at the top of my wishlist. A good reason for going back again.
It was on this recent trip I decided to invest in a DSLR, which after a bit of investigation resulted in the purchase of a Canon 5Dv4, which I am looking forward to taking on some exciting adventures. I have already taken it to the Howgill’s (more on that next time) and a trip to Orkney is coming up soon. And of course, I will need to go back to Barra and Vatersay to capture their beauty again, take the boat trip to Mingulay to visit the puffins and partake of the wonderful hospitality offered by the islanders.
