Did I really sneak a colour photo in? (Days 21 - 30)

Another 10 days has passed and the weather is still dominating the news nationally as well as locally.  Ferries have been erratic and on one day the timetable was completely reversed causing confusion if nothing else. But remembering to take a photo is becoming easier, although colour opportunities seem to tease when I'm staying strictly to monochrome! As the days are still short and the weather abysmal the majority of images are captured during my normal working day or routine such as dog walking.  Fortunately, being on Arran does mean that we don't have to pound the pavements as we easily reach forest tracks and paths.

Day 21 - Kings Caves

I do try to vary my dog walks although I have a few set favourites which I know how long they take, how muddy the path is and how messed up the dogs will be when I get them back to the car.  The Kings Cave circuit is one of my regulars and I often go 'camera less' but not when I need my daily piccie.

Day 22 - David looking dry - it didn't last for long!

Friday 31st January brought another bout of terrible weather; I had a teaching class booked for the morning and it required some outdoor photography.  The students were split and took turns between braving the elements and sitting in a hide with blankets.   Fortunately the location provided some shelter and after suffering mild hypothermia we all returned to a warm studio.  The conditions are not reflected in the photo.

Day 23 - These trees are still standing

Now into February, Saturdays effort was fairly woeful and lacked inspiration as conditions remained the same and I got stuck into some decorating, with just a short dog walk for fresh air.

Day 24 - The water is blown back over the top of the waterfall

On Sunday a friend had asked for some help with his PC so a trip over to Kildonan and a walk on the beach in high winds blew any cobwebs away and nearly everything else.  The small Auchenhew waterfall was also fighting the wind with the water being pushed back up the flow.

Day 25 - Sea at Lamlash

More storms on Monday, with high tide around 2.30pm I readjusted my college students timetable a little so we could go out on a field trip to see the waves.  Lamlash was under a flood alert warning, but it is perfectly safe place to see how high the tide would come in.  Roads were closed between Sannox and Corrie (parts having been washed away) but Lamlash stayed dry.

Day 26 - Brighter skies and fresh sea spray

Day 27 - A pair of Shelduck in flight

Tuesday and Wednesday saw more beach opportunities with seaspray and a pair of Shelduck in flight. I am often on the look out for birds and keep up to date with the Arran Bird website.

Did I really sneak in a colour photo?

Day 28 - a snapped tree trunk

Thursday brought another day where the colour of something attracted me to an old broken log stump.  The wetness was reflecting a fabulous blue colour, which was rapidly disappearing as I moved my camera into place as the light changed with the clouds. But it still provided an image for the day.

Day 29 - Diana focuses for a long exposure

Friday again and amazing the students arrived for another session on how to survive hypothermia (this time they had been fully warned that standing in water may form part of the day)!  But I managed to find dry bank sides for their first lesson on long exposures.  Some of their pictures I posted on facebook as I think they did really well.

Day 30 - Simple photo demonstrates multiple composition 'rules'

And yesterday I was actually looking for a photo to demonstrate some of the composition guidelines I plan to teach my college students next week and although I won't be using this one, it reminded me that spring and summer are not far away.

Kings Cave Isle of Arran

Kings cave is part of a group of caves that sit north of Drumadoon on the Isle of Arran.  The caves are formed from sandstone and are steeped in history. One of the most famous associations and the origin of the title Kings Cave comes from the belief that Robert the Bruce had  his spider encounter within the cave.  In the 17^th century the cave was associated with the mythical Irish hero Fionn and his warriors and some texts of this era refer to the cave as Fingal’s Cave. What is certain is that throughout time the cave has been used for shelter, worship and teaching and whereas modern day graffiti is done with a spray can, historical markings were made with the tools available at the time.

Carvings date back many centuries, possibly even to bronze age (Machrie Moor stones are about 1 mile away) and have been worn away or overlaid by both more recent carvings and mineral deposits. The caves are now an easy circular walk (from the kings cave carpark).

On entering the cave serpents can be found about 4 meters in just above head height on the left.  

Once these are found it is quite easy to pick out Ogham inscriptions slightly to the left of the serpents and a meter or so to the right – all at the same height.  Oghan inscriptions are a medieval type of alphabet or cypher, sometimes known as the ‘Celtic Tree Alphabet.

At the rear of the cave the tunnel forks.  The left hand side has many 19^th century engravings and a modern Christian symbol.  

The central buttress has a large Latin cross inscribed on it with other concentric lines near the base.  This has been reworked many times and has had various interpretations, from a two handed sword (associated with Bruce and Fionn),  Christian cross and  ‘tree of life’ a common motif in early Christian art.

Immediately to the right of the ‘cross’ is a human figure, with hands raised.  This hands raised position is believed to represent the prayer position.  Above the head is two curved lines (upside down w).  Various interpretations have been made of this, from it being hands joined, hair or a bow.

Moving down the right hand fork to where the tunnel narrows significantly (a torch will be needed), older animal carvings can be found.  The furthest is believed to be a horse  (head height) and below that (near the floor) a horse and rider.  

These appear quite different styles and are probably from very different dates but iron age is suggested.

Moving back towards the entrance but still within the right fork of the tunnel, at shoulder / head height, a very clear square carving can be seen that appears to represent a house. 

A little more to the right and two animals can be seen together.  These could be a deer and calf, or deer and hound.

To the right again, just above head height, moving out of the tunnel another animal, most likely a horse

and very faintly to the right of this and now being slowly covered with algae and mineral deposits is another human figure.

Another two meters right and at floor level a circles with a centre dot can be found.

Much nearer the entrance and on the overhanging ledge are two shields / masks / animal faces.  I prefer the suggestion of animal faces when a torch is played over the carvings.

There are more to be found than those listed here, although some do require a good dollop of imagination!