Bite-Size Blog Post #62 - Return to Kilchurn Castle
Man vs Bog
Anyone who has photographed Kilchurn Castle will know that the most direct route from the layby down to the loch involves crossing a very boggy stretch of ground. It is a walk that really calls for welly boots, and I have often had a quiet chuckle watching tourists attempt it in bright white trainers.
The waterline on my trousers is how deep my legs went into the bog!
Despite my confidence and sense that I knew exactly what I was doing, I had a nasty surprise on the way down this morning. I knew the ground could feel unsteady in places, but what happened caught me completely off guard. Both legs suddenly sank deep into the bog, past my knees and nearly up to my waist. I stood there for a moment, stuck fast, wondering what on earth to do next.
Channeling my inner Bear Grylls, I resisted the urge to panic and came up with a plan. First, I carefully removed my camera backpack and set it aside. Then I leaned forward, stretched my arms out to find firmer ground, and with a fair bit of effort managed to drag myself free. By the time I escaped I was covered in mud, soaked through, and my boots were full of water. It probably should have been the moment to call it a day, but I still had photographs to take.
Round Two
As I mentioned in last week’s blog, I am staying near Loch Awe for a short while and I’m hoping to make regular visits to Kilchurn Castle. This was my second visit, and although I had not planned on battling a bog, it was good to be back.
With some recent snowfall, I thought there might be a chance to give the scene a slightly wintry feel, even if the calendar says otherwise. It did add something, and I opted for a slightly different composition this time, placing the horizon through the middle of the frame to make the most of the reflections. Even so, I feel like the image is still missing a touch of drama. Then again, perhaps I had already used up my share of that for the day.
While my photograph from the previous visit remains my favourite, I have no doubt there will be a round three.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 43mm, f/11, 1/8th at ISO 64.
