story

Can you explain a little bit about where you were?

I fell in love with the Grampian Highlands about five years ago, when I first stayed at Inshriach for my birthday. So, there was a sense of homecoming to retreat by myself for a long weekend in the Bothy, and roam on foot around the forest, the river Spey, and Glen Einich. This place is very familiar to me – it’s the only place other than home that I return to endlessly.

What makes the Scottish landscape so interesting to photograph?

I’ve no interest in photography for photography’s sake. Instead, it’s all about shooting what I love, in a place with a story that means something to me. Scotland is rich in narrative quality, and I love capturing the detail of that story.

How did the weather impact your photography?

The weather was a challenge, as it so often is in Scotland. It went from hot to stormy in the space of minutes. But this filled the air with a charge that invigorated the trees and the water. It’s difficult to capture that, but I felt it as the person who was there. I was in and out of the Bothy constantly, oscillating between long walks, wild swims and fire-building. When the rain was too heavy to shoot, I was inside capturing the light and mood of my stay. Recording the slower moments brought outside, in.

Is there a reason you do many of your trips solo?

I am married to someone who loves adventure and we do a lot together, but I enjoy my solitude, and so time alone is important to me. The two ways of exploring meet different needs. Solo trips allow me to find and set my own rhythm. I can move and think in peace. I like making time to walk by myself, when professionally my greatest joy is walking with others.

Discover more from Ruth at whitepeakwellbeing.com