In twilight, things become vague. There is a glimmer of something on the horizon, but it may well be just fog in the dusk. Stories we tell each about the Highlands become tales, and through the dusk of the valleys, they become myths. (The Bloodshed of Glen Coe)
Beyond a mighty wall built by the Roman emperor, Hadrian used to be a country called Caledonia with brave inhabitants who liked to color their faces and didn’t fancy their southern neighbors very much. In the end, nothing changed in a dramatic way, and the country is called Scotland today. The blue face paint became the color of the flag, and you still don’t want to argue with a Scotsman.
Sure, the easy way to discover a country is to use the road network and make photo stops. If you want to get to know a place, though, you need to make some detours without a vehicle and start to wander. Ensure you have a map, but also be prepared to get lost. Only if you discover on your own will you see true beauty and make the journey yours.
The colors of the city are changing as the cold season approaches.
The eternal cycle of life and death continues, and nature is shutting down to awake anew in a couple of months, allowing for some quiet time of reflection and gratitude.
The sun is scarce in the far north. Even when traveling in summer, there are many days filled with fog and rain clouds. Weather conditions can change fast and drastically. But the dramatic skies seen so often in the highlands make for an exciting atmosphere fitting the remarkable and somewhat crass landscapes and rich histories filled with bloody clan feuds and brave, yet failed national rebellions against the English. Bad weather just seems to underscore the beauty of the country, other places on Earth need the sun to shine, Scotland though doesn’t need any endorsement from above and looks fine even in heavy rain.
Photographed in Vienna, Austria in October 2019.
Michael Hoffman Photography 