Cold, clear morning

[David Paterson]

We are having a long spell of very cold dry weather, but with lots of sunshine - these shots were taken at my favourite location beside Loch Tay quite early yesterday morning, in a bitter north wind.

The first one shows a large area of red weed. This area is normally covered by up to a metre of water, but the loch is exceptionally low. As the weed dries out and is exposed to sun and air, it turns bright red. I haven't been able to identify what it is - perhaps if nfoto takes a look here, he might be able to help?

[Jakov Minić]

Ten more days to go. I can hardly wait to follow you around  these lovely landscapes David!

[chris dees]

I have no problem if the weather stays like that.
I'll have my termo clothing packed.

[David Paterson]

Ten more days to go. I can hardly wait to follow you around  these lovely landscapes David!

Guided tours cost extra!   

Chris - in Scotland it is definitely wise to never be far away from a set of thermals.    But the sun does shine.

[elsa hoffmann]

I like the first image especially. Well done

[Frank Fremerey]

no snow. good. cold and wind and rain ok, but I have very very low experience with snow and ice, so please, weather goddesses....

[David Paterson]

no snow. good. cold and wind and rain ok, but I have very very low experience with snow and ice, so please, weather goddesses....

Frank - we are quite unlikely to get snow, at least not below 1000m, but it is quite probable that we will experience cold, wind and rain; also sunshine.

[simsurace]

The third shot with the trees (oak?) coming out of the bog is nice. I would love to shoot there, I have a few ideas on what to do.

[David Paterson]

The third shot with the trees (oak?) coming out of the bog is nice. I would love to shoot there, I have a few ideas on what to do.

It is going to be really fascinating for me, to see what you and the others do with locations which are completely new to you, but utterly familiar to me.

[simato73]

Wonderful, I can't wait to be there - and hope it stays like this.
Are you getting any new snow these days? There has been hail and snow here at the edge of the Peak District but it has not lasted.
(thinking about the Lawers group).

[David Paterson]

Wonderful, I can't wait to be there - and hope it stays like this.
Are you getting any new snow these days? There has been hail and snow here at the edge of the Peak District but it has not lasted.
(thinking about the Lawers group).

There is fresh snow every morning above about 850m though most of it does not last. It *will* be building up, however, on all the seams of much older snow and possibly creating avalanche danger due to layers of new soft snow on top of older, much harder snow. (You may think I am over-cautious about this, but I have been avalanched and it was a frightening experience; more to the point, three friends of mine were killed by an avalanche in the Japanese Alps.)

[Mongo]

you are having quite the life David travelling to all manner of places and good luck to you !  Just keep us linked in so we make also make the journey.

Mongo likes your images. Cold air is usually very clear air and the colour and crispness of your images demonstrate that.

[Akira]

The ripples on the water in the first image conveys the cold wind very well.  The slight underexposure enrich the color.  I love the scenery.

[Erik Lund]

Fantastic colours! See you soon

[David Paterson]

Thank you, Mongo, Akira and Erik and everyone else who has posted.

Mongo - you are very kind. I was very fortunate to have the life of a photographer, and at a time when the world was much more open and the threat of random violence and terrorism had not emerged. But now, more and more, I love the pleasures of home, and the enjoyment that comes from knowing a landscape deeply and intimately.