Zoom Meeting (Paul Kidd) 4th February

Paul Kidd (Skye)

Tonight for our ‘Zoom’ meeting our own CCC member Paul Kidd showed us the beauty of the Isle of Skye.

Paul made two trips to Skye. One in November 2019 and one in March 2020. Both were photographic trips lasting 7 days and both were lead by Alan Hewitt.

For the trips Paul and the other photographers with him, numbering some 8 in total took just about every piece of camera equipment they owned. Not exactly traveling light. Well! As they say. Just in case! The van they travelled in on the 335 mile 10 hour journey was ‘full to the gunnels’ with gear.

Arrival for both trips was in the evening where they checked into their accommodation, a lonely cottage near Sligachan on Skye.

The beautiful Black Cullin’s were visible from the cottage. The weather on Skye Paul explained is very changeable and at times severe  and Paul stressed he soon realised the importance of microfibre lens cloths.

‘Heeland Coo’s’ can been seen around Skye and Paul had some great shots of these beautiful animals which apparently are very friendly.

Some shots of the rarely seen, on Skye anyway, Red Dear around the Elgol area.

Trips to the famous Fairy Pools produced some excellent images.  The walk to the pools from the car park  is an arduous one of some 1.75 miles, especially difficult in the freezing temperatures and biting winds experienced on the trips.  Paul told how many of the waterfalls at the Fairy Pools are much smaller than they appear in photographs.  Many of the iconic shots we see  are taken at a very low angle.

Images of Neist Point with its lighthouse and a fast approaching storm whilst trying to capture sunset.

On a boat trip from Portree Paul showed images he shot of the White Tailed Eagles, more commonly known as Sea Eagles. Fish were thrown from the boat by the crew allowing those on board to photograph these majestic birds as they dived to retrieve the fish from the water.

Images from Isleornsay, looking at the lighthouse and Lochfada from which the Old Man of Storr is visible.

Paul and his fellow photographers had to be up early for the trip to catch the sunrise at the Old Man of Storr as it was a 1.5 hour drive followed by a tough walk of the same to reach it. The images from the top were stunning in the quick and ever changing weather conditions, ranging from snow blizzards to sunshine.

It is obvious that looking at Paul’s images that a trip to Skye would be on most photographers list of places to visit. It’s certainly on mine.

Many thanks to Paul for providing a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

​Bob Finlay (President)