The view from Sconser Lodge Hotel
AI, duh; make it personal (and analog)
When Artificial Intelligence-generated images win photo contests, should we oppose that?
I just think the developments of AI are telling us to do things differently, to stand out. AI has become the competition (and maybe just a tool), just like all other photographers are. So, we have to treat AI as competition, too. You can try to deny this reality, but you can also look at how you, as a photographer or artist, can differentiate yourself from this new collegue/competition.
Ideas:
- Stories instead of single images. Combine with text.
- An analog version of your work: a print, a book, wallpaper, toilet paper, t-shirts, quilt covers, printed bags, whatever.
- Combine your photos into a video.
- Handmade books.
- Collages.
Personal and analog distinguish you from the aggregated, statistically generated products of AI.
To Ullapool via Eilean Donan castle and Midge Bite
First, we drive to Eilean Donan Castle, originally a thirteenth-century castle that was restored and opened in the 20th century. This famous castle turns out to be a huge tourist trap. We are not the only ones who refrain from visiting, and from the other side of the river, we take some pictures of this castle and the stream of people entering it. There are two rooms in the castle to visit, sic!
To Achnasheen, The Midge Bite where we were before and once again drink a fine cappuccino. Tent lives up to its name. And it’s low season, in terms of midges, and thus bites, too. In the car, we terminate a few more midgets before they can make their move.
Next, we pass Loch Maree, a three-star lake according to Michelin, and the old Caledonian forest—exclusivity largely hidden from us behind roadside bushes.
Gairloch is a nice coastal town where we stretch our legs and eat our sandwiches.
At the waterfall Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, we get out again to stretch our legs and conquer vertigo in a deep gorge with a suspension bridge.
Then we went to Ullapool. We walked into town, which is small but nice. It’s much smaller than we thought, even smaller than Thurso, but also nicer.
Torrin Pools
Now also available as a print.
Elgol, Broadford, and icy water at Torrin pools
Via Broadford – for some shopping – to Elgol.
There, the locals walk with mosquito nets in front of their faces. We soon notice the reason: very small midgets—fortunately not much trouble. We make a small along the coast over not very well-trodden paths.
To Torrin pools. Here, a river flows from the steep slope into Loch Slapin. The walk along the cascades of fast-flowing water is very pleasant. Some try to bathe in the small pools below the falls. The icy water almost hurts from shrinkage.
Back to Broadford. Walked to the pier. There is not much more to see than breathtaking views and fishermen—enough to do it for.
In the bar, Gabbro, we have a beer. Make plans for tomorrow.
Portree, Shakespeare in McLeods castle, sheep
Breakfast is barely inferior to dinner.
First, we go to Portree, the main town of the Isle of Skye. It is a nice, small, partly very colorful port town (where not colorful also equals concrete gray). We look around in the drizzling rain.
On to Dunvegan castle of the MacLeods. Painted portraits on the wall of the Chiefs van de MacLeod clan show stout men with thick sideburns. However, the last scion of the MacLeods family to be portrayed here is a sweet old lady, Chief Dame Flora, who has managed to bring the feuding chiefs back together.
The castle has an extensive library, where I discover Shakespeare and our own Grotius (Hugo de Groot).
We check out the bay by the castle and the garden.
We drive back home through the rain, and we still have to get out of the car to take pictures, among other things, of stubborn sheep complainingly bleating as they cross the road.
Thurso naar Sconser; and Cranachan for desert
Yesterday, from Thurso to Sconser on the Isle of Skye. A long drive right through the highlands.
We decide to take the north coast up to Tongue, then down through Lairg, Dingwall, and then across to the Isle of Skye.
The drive along the coast west of Thurso is beautiful and rugged. Almost everything from Thurso is single-lane, so you frequently have to give way to oncoming traffic at passing places.
At Tongue, we turn off onto the plateau into the rugged hills. There are magnificent views of lakes between the mountains.
Only fifteen minutes before Sconser, it begins to rain.
The hotel is by the sea and overlooks the island of Raasay. The owner welcomes us and leads us through the authentic dining, bar, and sitting rooms. They look great.
The hotel also provides dinner. It is super – halibut and hake. Cranachan for dessert. The king of Scottish deserts…
Cranachan (Scottish Gaelic: Crannachan pronounced [ˈkʰɾan̪ˠəxan]) is a traditional Scottish dessert. It was originally a celebration of harvest,[1] made following the raspberry harvest in August. The dessert of cream and fresh seasonal raspberries is bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky.
Around Aberfeldy; dear antlers, and a steam train
With mild amazement, we look closer at the hotel’s interior. Is this a real hunting hotel? Even the lamp at the reception desk is made of deer antlers.
Taking the steam train to Boat of Garten, a town down the road. Steady conductor and conductress. Conductress rudely throws the door, for which a fellow passenger apologizes to us: she always does.
Walk on the path along the railroad tracks back to the village. Mile or 10 on a beaten track. Cappuccino in the village at The Coffee Pot.
After lunch, we go to Loch Morlich. Across the lake, we can see the snow on the peaks of the Cairngorms.
We go back to the hotel to plan tomorrow’s trip. Again, there are many more things to do than we have time for. Six months is still not enough. Choices…
In the hotel pub, soccer dominates. It’s Sunday, and there is a table full of Guinness. One of the screens has a dominant blue tinge, but apparently, that doesn’t matter.
Tartan on the walls.
Frankie goes to Hollywood in the restaurant When Two Tribes Go To War.
