Glenfinnan

The more conventional view of this dramatic monument, constructed in 1812 to commemorate the Jacobite uprising of “Bonny Prince Charlie”, sets it against the spectacular Loch Shiel and surrounding peaks. On this occasion there seemed to be a more promising (and less contrasty) perspective in the opposite direction. Dark cloud passed over the distant hills while light moved across the hillsides and the monument itself. Fallen autumn leaves occupied the foreground.

Shortly before this image was captured, we watched as two coaches released their tourist occupants into the NTS car park. The tourists hurried across to the edge of the car park, snapped frantically away at the viaduct (just visible in this image), and then ran back to their coaches…which then drove away. The monument and loch may just as well not have been there. A matter of history and natural beauty becoming obscured by the power and popularity of Harry Potter!

Canon EOS 5D and EF 16-35mm lens.

Exposure of 1/20 second at f/16.