An Appreciation of Clouds
I’m writing this blog post on Friday September 13th, which just happens to be Cloud Appreciation Day.
As far back as I can remember I have been a lover of clouds.
When I was young I clearly remember laying on the grass in my parent’s garden, watching the clouds sail by high above me, seeing shapes, seeing faces and seeing creatures.
We’ve been brought up, and dare I say it, indoctrinated, to believe that a blue sky represents a wonderful day. The amount of times I’ve been told “you should have been here last week, we had beautiful blue skies”
Cloudburst over Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, N.W.Scotland - 2011
Enter Gavin Pretor-Pinney…
Gavin is the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. He is also the author of the excellent book ‘The Cloudspotter’s Guide’
The first paragraph of the book’s introduction reads… “I’ve always loved looking at clouds. Nothing in nature rivals their variety and drama; nothing matches their sublime, ephemeral beauty”
He’s a man after my own heart.
The Bay of Clachtol, Sutherland, N.W. Scotland - October 2007
““If a glorious sunset of Altocumulus clouds were to spread across the heavens only once in a generation, it would surely be amongst the principal legends of our time...”
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Over the years, as I became more interested in landscape photography, and in particular my relationship and attempts at photographing the Scottish landscape, clouds have played an ever more significant and crucial role in that process.
My first photographic attempts in Scotland felt bland. They felt too much like picture post cards. To me they were hugely disappointing and unexciting.
But then, after a ‘penny drop’ moment (which I will write about soon) I started to embrace and seek out the weather, the effect of the clouds, the wind and the rain.
So, clouds have become crucial in my work. They help provide the form and excitement that I seek when out in the landscape making pictures.
Yes, I love the feeling of the sun on my face, but I also love the feeling of the wind and rain on my face.
The feeling of being out and amongst it… being in the weather, being in and under the clouds. Feeling a little vulnerable to the elements is without doubt, exciting.
The photograph below demonstrates this perfectly… what you are seeing is the breaking waves, setting sun, gusting wind and sheeting rain.
It was a huge performance unfolding, and I was the audience, stood right there in the middle of it all.
Elgol, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, N.W. Scotland - October 2011
To me ‘blue sky thinking’ is such a puzzling expression, and while I understand what it is supposed to mean and represent, but surely there is nothing more boring, conventional or repetitive, than a clear blue sky?
The photograph below was made on the Isle of Skye.
I had left my hotel early, as I’d planned a pre dawn start at Elgol. The day however seemed devoid of cloud and I recall the feeling of disappointment as I made the winding drive to the coast.
Thankfully, as the sun rose, I was gifted a cloud or two. They hovered over the Black Cuillin as they so often do, just long enough for me to make a few photographs.
Elgol, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, N.W. Scotland - March 2013
By traveling away from the towns and cities where many of us work and live, we get to experience new sights, sounds and emotions, particularly if our destination is coastal or mountainous.
The following photograph was made on the last day of a trip to the Isle of Harris. It was in fact the very last photograph of that trip.
I was stood there, taking in the view and thinking back on my week. I think I’d only seen five other people on the beaches during my whole time there. It had been very special.
The sun was gone and the winds were picking up. It’s often windy on the Isle of Harris.
The clouds started to move and shape themselves in to this beautiful formation. It happened quite quickly. I was witnessing another performance.
The Sound of Taransay, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, N.W. Scotland - 2012
The Sound of Taransay, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, N.W. Scotland - 2012
Technical Information
The above photographs were made with the following equipment.
Camera / Lens - ALPA 12 MAX / ALPA 12 STC & Schneider / ALPA Apo-Switar 5.6/36mm / HR Alpagon 4.0 / 40mm SB17 with ALPA tilt/swing adapter 0° - 5°, 17 mm.
Filtration - 0.6 / 0.9 / 1.2 Soft edge ND Grads.
MFDB - Sinarback eMotion 75 or a PhaseOne IQ1 80.
