For our 24-page special on the Hebrides in the second print edition of Ernest Journal we sent photographer Colin Nicholls and his trusty Fuji X-E2 up north to brave gale force winds and gargantuan seafood platters
Sligachan on the Isle of Skye; one of the days where the weather wasn't terrible. X-E2/ 18mm
When Ernest Journal contacted me with a request to head up to the west coast of Scotland, take on a few assignments and see some incredible sights, all for their Hebridean special and cover of their second print issue, I of course said yes.
I had four goals on my trip and a few places to visit – in short these were:
- Meet a prawn fisherman at Dunstaffnage Marina near Oban, head out on his boat and get some shots of him fishing. This was a great job but also rather difficult balancing on a small boat on choppy waters while taking photos.
- Visit an oyster farm. It was fascinating seeing how oysters are farmed, I met some ace people and was given a seafood platter fit for a party of four.
- Travel to the Isle of Skye and meet photograph weavers who use a bicycle powered loom to make all sorts of awesome things. Such a welcoming couple living in a beautiful corner of the island.
- Cover shot. During my whole time in western Scotland I was conscious I had to shoot a good selection of images for Ernest's cover – in the end they went for a shot of Sligachan on the Isle of Skye.
I took with me the Fuji X-E2 and various lenses – this was the first major outing of the 56mm lens and I was really pleased with the results. The one body got a bit of a battering on the fisherman's boat but lasted through – these cameras can resist a bit of water.
The trip wasn't without its setbacks – high winds forced me to stay on the mainland for a few hours while Skye was in sight but frustratingly out of reach, which meant I had less time to explore the island overall. But it wasn't all bad – I got to the bridge at about the only time of day there was any good light and bagged the cover shot.
The 2nd print issue is out now so go grab yourself a copy for an epic Hebridean adventure.
