Torridon 2019

Part 1: Morrison’s Gully

We wanted to explore a new bit of Scotland for our fifth winter hiking trip. Skye is on our list, but also rather daunting. Instead we headed for Torridon - an altogether different landscape than our previous trips.

The winter season mostly collapsed the week before our arrival, so we were disappointed to find precious little snow on the mountains. With limited options we decided on Morrison’s Gully - with the thinking being this was the most likely place to find some snow.

A photo of a valley in Torridon, just before sunrise. The sky is bright, but the land very dark still. — 2019/02/15
1/1500s at f/2.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Setting off before dawn, we had a long and beautiful approach around the back of Beinn Eighe.

Ed walking towards the camera, approaching a small stream. It’s just after dawn and the sun is directly in front. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― 2019/02/15
1/4000s at f/3.5, 20mm, ISO 250, Nikon D800

Chris walking away from the camera and towards Beinn Eighe, just at sunrise. — Chris Natt ― 2019/02/15
1/180s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Panorama from side of Beinn Eighe. The landscape is brown with patches of green in a partially sunny day. — 2019/02/15
1/1400s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

A panorama from the base of Beinn Eighe, looking north. In the right of the frame a small waterfall flows left. Chris is stood at the top of the waterfall in a bright red jacket. — Chris Natt ― 2019/02/15
1/2700s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

The landscape behind Beinn Eighe was spectacular - I think we’d both like to come again in the summer and just camp around here and explore. For this day though, we needed to press on and up the gully.

Looking up at Morrison’s gully in Beinn Eighe from below. — 2019/02/15
1/500s at f/4.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Looking up a snowy gully. Chris is mid way up the frame, crouched in the snow, looking at the camera. — Chris Natt ― 2019/02/15
1/750s at f/2.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Looking down a steep gully from up high. The base of the gully is filled with snow. — 2019/02/15
1/350s at f/2.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Chris and Ed pose for a photo on top of Beinn Eighe. They both have heavy jackets and helmets on. — Chris Natt, Ed Horsford ― 2019/02/15
1/750s at f/2.4, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A photo taken from mid-way up Beinn Eighe, pointing down. Chris is ahead, descending the mountain. — Chris Natt ― 2019/02/15
1/60s at f/2.4, 28mm, ISO 140, Nikon D800

Part 2: Wandering the West Highlands

With no snow on the horizon and wet weather aplenty, we spent the next two days wandering the west highlands on short hikes. First to Applecross via the Bealach na ba pass, and then Slattadale.

A cream coloured highland cow with large horns faces the camera. There’s long shaggy hair covering it’s eyes. — 2019/02/16
1/180s at f/2.8, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A detail photo of some fishing nets and lobster pots. There’s a bright orange buoy in the foreground. — 2019/02/16
1/180s at f/2.4, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A detail photo of some fishing nets and lobster pots. — 2019/02/16
1/180s at f/2.4, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Ed stands facing the camera in a blue jacket and yellow hat. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― 2019/02/16
1/160s at f/4, 20mm, ISO 125, Nikon D800

Chris stands facing the camera in a bright red jacket. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― 2019/02/16
1/160s at f/4, 20mm, ISO 125, Nikon D800

Ed and Chris jumping in the air. The photo is an animation between two frames taken inches apart, giving the pair a 3d quality. — Experimenting with stereoscopic photography. Plus jumping is fun!
Chris Natt, Ed Horsford

I’d recently been scanning some old stereoscopic photos photos of my grandfather’s - and so Chris and I had a go by manually setting off both our SLR’s as close together as we could get them.