Looking Back on 2010

I had originally begun writing this blog post in the afternoon of Hogmanay whilst sitting at my desk in the Islandscape studio and occasionally glancing out of the window watching two local hotelliers and assorted helpers prepare for the fireworks display over Tobermory Bay which would commence as soon as the clock tower struck midnight to ring in 2011. Needless to say, for various reasons (not all of them associated with the festivities - we've had some great light too) the blog post was not completed and so I am now sitting here several weeks later writing my first entry for 2011. I can confirm that it was yet another great fireworks display and I really can't think of anywhere else in the world I would rather be at Hogmanay than amongst friends at the clock tower.

My original draft post stated that I was finding it hard to believe that it was exactly a year and a day since I had begun this blog. A month or so later, this still holds true. 2010 was a significant year for me both professionally and personally, not least leaving the security of a well paid job at the Scottish Parliament to run Islandscape on a full time basis. Many new friends have been made from around the UK and beyond these shores. And whilst I might not have always got the light I desired for my personal photography, every now and then it all came together. On that theme, I am reverting to my original intention that Hogmanay afternoon and posting three of my favourite images from 2010. One is of the sunset on Hallowe'en at Gribun. This was probably one of the best sunsets I have had the privilege to photograph in some time. And it was all the more wonderful because it was so unexpected (the conditions half an hour before had been most unpromising) and I shared it in the great company of two guests on a Tobermory Hotel three day workshop. The other two photographs were taken using lenses which were acquired during 2010. My Canon L series f2.8 70-200mm has become a favourite lens for people and sports photography and back in July it was put to very good use at the Mull Highland Games (one of my favourite days in the island calendar). I have also enjoyed experimenting with a Canon 15mm fisheye lens and the image above of the Tobermory RNLI lifeboat on exercise with Rescue 177, a Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick is probably my favourite image of 2010: partly because it was a rare consequence of previsualisation paying off and partly because I was accepted as a crew member of the Tobermory lifeboat in 2010. Being winched into the helicopter and then back onto the deck of the lifeboat shortly before taking this image was certainly a personal highlight of the year.