Shooting the breeze – Shooting People (Part 2)

Posted on November 20, 2015 by David Lintern

In the second of his 2 part series, David Lintern looks at photographing people in the outdoors. Last time we concentrated on settings, position and lighting to make the composition work. This time is about the more ephemeral end of the photographic equation – trying to illustrate how it feels, tell a story and so on. Let’s look at another style of shot, but one that’s also very familiar. I find I catch alot of this when people are taking a break and looking around. I have hundreds of examples, and I can’t stop taking them. Let’s get the important…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Photography

Scottish avalanche forecasts will start on 17 December

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Helen Webster

Avalanche forecasts for Scottish hillwalkers and climbers will start this year on 17 December. The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides a daily avalanche hazard report for six Scottish areas – Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon. The service usually runs until mid-April but is dependent on the snow conditions. Anyone planning a hillwalk during the winter is advised to check the avalanche service in the same way as they would routinely check the weather forecast and plan their route accordingly. Some snow is already lying on higher, eastern mountains with heavy snowfalls predicted for the…

Posted in News

Repair work starts on Ben Nevis Mountain Path

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Helen Webster

Vital repair work has begun this week on the Ben Nevis mountain path and walkers are being advised to consider alternative routes whilst the work is ongoing. The project will stabilise and improve over half the total length of the track between Achintee and St. John’s Wall as part of a £1m project lead by Nevis Landscape Partnership and funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and Highlands & Islands Enterprise. In total the work will take three years to complete, with this year’s contracts running from now until March 2016 to avoid the mountain’s extremely busy spring/summer period.…

Posted in Nature, News

John Muir Trust congratulates Scottish Government for upholding Wild Land map and refusing Glencassley and Sallachy windfarms

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Helen Webster

The John Muir Trust today congratulated the Scottish Government on making the right decision to refuse consent for wind farm developments at Glencassley and Sallachy in the far north of Scotland, thereby upholding the principles of the Wild Land Areas map. Stuart Brooks, Chief Executive at the John Muir Trust, said: “This is tremendous news for everyone who has worked to highlight that these developments were proposed in the wrong place. “We are particularly delighted that the Scottish Government is following through and using the Wild Land Areas map to provide protection to Scotland’s nationally important wild land areas.” Helen…

Posted in Nature

Fort William Mountain Festival programme announced

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Helen Webster

The line up has been announced for next year’s Fort William Mountain Festival taking place from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 February 2016. Festival organisers say that February is the perfect time of year to experience the stunning landscape of Fort William and Lochaber first hand, with the best winter walking, climbing and snowsport conditions of the year. The Festival offers talks from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, back country skiers and mountain filmmakers, together with exhilarating film screenings from cutting edge outdoor athletes and adventurers; mountain skills workshops and exhibitions. The Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture…

Posted in News

Win one of three 60 litre Mammut Cargon holdalls

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Paul Webster

We have three 60 litre Mammut Cargons to win in this exclusive Walkhighlands competition. Simply answer the following question using the form below: How many sizes is the Mammut Cargon holdall available in? Mammut also have ten Baby Mammuts up for grabs, for a chance to win these go to their Facebook page. Product Details The Mammut Cargon is a heavy duty holdall perfect for expedition and travel use. Available in 5 sizes from a weekend-away 40 litres through to a whopping 140 litres, there is a Cargon for whatever trip you have planned. Anatomically shaped backpack straps make carrying…

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Tree rescue appeal launched for West Affric woodlands

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Helen Webster

Conservation charity Trees for Life has launched an emergency rescue appeal to protect tens of thousands of young trees on West Affric from grazing deer. A new generation of trees, many planted by Trees for Life volunteers, has become established on West Affric over the past 20 years, after Trees for Life and the National Trust for Scotland created a series of 10 fenced areas. These areas keep large grazing animals out and were designed to boost the recovery of native woodland by preventing the pressure of browsing deer. But recent damage to the fences has left many of these…

Posted in Nature

Surprised by a seal pup

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Ben Dolphin

As both a wildlife enthusiast and snap-happy photographer I confess I have an innate desire of wanting to get as close to wildlife as possible. Or more accurately, as close as wildlife will allow me to get. I’m certainly not alone in wanting to do so either. How many of us have tried creeping up on a butterfly or have gone to a pond in search of tadpoles? How many of us have simply tried to edge closer to a hare, ptarmigan, golden plover or some either iconic species out on the hill, only to fail miserably as it scurries…

Posted in Features, Magazine

MCofS Winter Safety evenings announced

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is again offering a series of mountain safety talks this winter and has just announced the dates. In this free lecture, Heather Morning, the Mountain Safety Advisor at the MCofS will share her beautiful photography, videos, personal anecdotes and adventures, while discussing essential skills for winter navigation, avalanche awareness, route choice, equipment, mountain weather and much more. With a lifetime’s experience in the mountains, Heather has been a professional mountaineer for 25 years and for the last 12 years has been an active member of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. Places are free but…

Posted in News

TV series to showcase Loch Lomond National Park

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Helen Webster

A new four-part Channel 5 TV series is set to showcase the landscapes and wildlife of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The first episode of the four week series will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 10 at 8pm. “Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild” will capture the changing seasons in the magnificent landscapes in the Loch Lomond area. The documentary features some of Scotland’s finest wildlife including golden eagles, black grouse, red deer, ospreys and mountain hares. The first episode “Spring – the season of new life”, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of secretive…

Posted in Nature