sight lines

Tom has been teaching himself to work with a drone camera, in preparation for a really exciting project (which I’ll tell you more about another time), and I’ve been rather enjoying the results of his practice. It is very interesting seeing our familiar landscape from new angles.


I’ve found myself thinking a lot about how the view from above makes a different kind of sense of the paths that animals and humans take through these spaces, and how the drone itself traces new lines of sight through the landscape. It is fascinating.

I thought you might be interested in the drone’s-eye view of where we live, looking north and west, out toward Ben Lomond. . .

. . . and here is a view south, back over our steading, with the distant buildings of Glasgow visible on the horizon.

. . . finally here is a few seconds footage which allows you a sense of our situatedness in the landscape, with our wee loch in the foreground, Dumgoyne and the Campsie Fells to the right, the Trossachs and Western Highlands to the left.

Yesterday evening was beautifully calm and still as we flew the drone out over Loch Lomond for the first time.

I thought you might particularly enjoy this short flight up and over the famous Milarrochy oak.


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Comments

55 responses to “sight lines”

  1. Erika T Avatar
    Erika T

    Omg you live in beautiful country girl!! Love the photos & videos💕💕

  2. dianne61 Avatar

    Homesick! My grandfather was born just outside of Glasgow and my heart leapt when I saw these photos. Always knew my heart belonged in Scotland even if my body will never get there in person. Sigh! In tears remembering his stories of home. Thanks for your powerful gift.

  3. In Tom’s first photo, I was delighted to see three colors of Buachaille: Furze, Yaffle, and Highland Coo!

  4. Jesse Peeters Avatar
    Jesse Peeters

    Beautiful and very inspiring…

  5. Loretta Maxwell Avatar
    Loretta Maxwell

    Magical

  6. The beautiful drone videos are so like my dreams in which I’m flying that they gave me goosebumps.

  7. Barb Clark Ross Avatar
    Barb Clark Ross

    These photos are quite lovely. I can’t believe how still and crisp the photos and videos are. I look forward to seeing the landscape throughout the changing seasons. It might be nice to see some shots of Islay – hint, hint.

  8. You live in the paradise of Scotland, we will house swap with you for our paradise in Far North Australia any day :-)

  9. It’s so beautiful! If I lived there I’d never get anything done.

  10. Victoria Avatar

    Thanks. Your post and stunning photos of a landscape unfamiliar to me sent me back to a wonderful novel Enigma of Arrival by V.S. Naipaul. Naipaul uses his experience as an immigrant from Trinidad living in a remote corner of England to make perceptive observations about the power of the physical world to both exacerbate and relieve feelings of alienation. His solitude and sense of displacement lead to heightened awareness of all that is strange and beautiful in the landscape.

  11. June & Tommy Hutchinson Avatar
    June & Tommy Hutchinson

    Hi Kate & Tom loving the drones view over loch!! They look great from the air. Very private looking where you live!!! Hope you are both keeping well things here have not been so good health wise!! Enjoying your photos ect, keep up the good work x👍June

  12. Dear Kate and Tom,
    I follow your work as closely as if we knew each other. This is beautiful. Both of you do your work at a level of excellence that is admirable.
    At my LYS, several of us even keep each other up to date on what you are doing – the latest posts on your blog – as though we are all old friends.
    I purchased “Inspired by Islay ” the first day it was available. I was enthralled.
    We visited Scotland in 1991, ’92, and ’93, while briefly living in England. We do hope to return someday. Until then, I will continue to enjoy Scotland vicariously, thanks to you both.
    Best wishes,
    Karen (near Toronto )

  13. Fascinating and beautiful! Thank you for opening up our world and can’t wait to hear what Tom is up to with his camera and drone.

  14. thecrazysheeplady Avatar
    thecrazysheeplady

    Lovely!

  15. josephine Avatar
    josephine

    Breathtaking country and breathtaking photos. I am a photographer (and photo instructor), myself, but remain earthbound with my beloved vintage film cameras. Thank you for giving me another view of the world.

  16. Karen Halchuk Avatar
    Karen Halchuk

    Thank you for lifting wings and spirits to soar and drink in the beauty that is around you.

  17. Cathy Minkiewicz Avatar
    Cathy Minkiewicz

    Beautiful, but I share a concern about drones and invasion of privacy. We live in beautiful seclusion on Martha’s Vineyard and I would be devastated if I were to go outside one day and see/hear one overhead!

  18. The drone videos are so peaceful. Thank you!

  19. Such beautiful views! I love how the colors of your landscape change with the clouds.

  20. I work in the aviation industry in the United States on drones (I call them UAS — unmanned aircraft systems) and this is by far my favorite use of them.
    But I totally had a moment of wondering what the UK CAA regulations were with regard to flying UAS and realized that I am a nerd and it is sad.

  21. Claire Hawkins Avatar
    Claire Hawkins

    You have just given me an idea for home educating my son. Getting a drone and camera and taking shots of our locality – the Romney Marshes, which are considerably more interesting than they sound. I think this could be a good start in interesting him in things other than computers and gaming :)

    1. What a great idea! 🙂

  22. Jennifer Avatar

    Lovely, magical….beautiful color.

  23. Patrizia. Avatar
    Patrizia.

    A couple of artists

  24. Amazing! So Beautiful :) My visits to Scotland via Tom.
    thanks for sharing

  25. Barbara Claridge Avatar
    Barbara Claridge

    Magnificent! Thank you.

  26. I love your posts Kate because I always feel connected with the place even though I grew up further north and east. Lots of fun getting up high – I love maps and landscape from above brings it all beautifully to life. Enjoy and I can’t wait to see the results of Tom’s adventures. Linda.

  27. These photos are absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing with us!
    Julie

  28. Claudia B Avatar
    Claudia B

    So beautiful!! Thank you for sharing. This simple makes me cry.

  29. frayedattheedge Avatar
    frayedattheedge

    I must look like Shrek, I am so green with envy ……. first for where you live, but second because I would love a drone!!

  30. That was FUN! Glad it was a still day, I just hauled a plane/drone out of my flooded field! Am sure the wind took it up, up and away. Beautiful photos. Thank you.

  31. I miss my beloved Scotland so very much. I haven’t made a return journey since our move back to Canada for it breaks my heart a little bit more every time I have to leave. Thank you for sharing the beautiful images, Kate & Tom, teary though they make me.

  32. How lovely! Reading your email now feels like I’m going to the movies! :-)

  33. I hope that your B&B outbuildings occasionally have vacancies — I’m ready to book a flight :-)

  34. Carol M Avatar

    Oh…to visit Scotland…someday.

    1. Me too, what I would give for a working vacation there.

    2. Me too, what I would give for a working vacation.

  35. Beautiful images. What an amazing place to live. Thanks.

  36. So extraordinarily beautiful. I’m already planning a visit during the next EYF, if can make it.

    The drone has added another dimension to Tom’s already breathtaking work.

    Thank you so much for the beauty you allow others to see through your eyes.

  37. Sally Greene Avatar
    Sally Greene

    Do you need a lodger? I’m ready to move!

  38. skyhag58 Avatar

    Beautifully done! So peaceful!

  39. Louise Elsweiler Avatar
    Louise Elsweiler

    Stunning photos. We have the opposite view from you. We live just outside Glasgow and can see Ben Lomond from our garden on a clear day. It is a view I never tire of.

    1. Rebecca Roy Avatar
      Rebecca Roy

      I was thinking the same thing. I can see some of those hills from my kitchen window. This view helps to situate myself in space and I shall think of it as I’m doing dishes.

      A view from above is a whole new way of looking. The sense of relative elevation of land changes and all the sudden climbs look easier than they actually are. :)

  40. Sue Williams/Highfield Crafts Avatar
    Sue Williams/Highfield Crafts

    I also feel an ache in my heart looking at your stunning landscape. How blessed you are to live in such a place. What is it about Scotland that speaks to one’s very soul? Can’t wait to see more of Tom’s work…

  41. Jennifer Avatar

    These photos are amazing. How far from the operator can the drone fly? We have a very talented local photographer who uses a drone to take magical photos of the Mull of Galloway in all weathers and at all times of day (although sunsets are a favourite!). He posts them on the “I love Drummore” Facebook page.

  42. deborah Avatar

    How lovely that you and Tom share his photography. The landscape inspires many ohs and ahs. Thank you.

  43. Nancy Kramer Avatar
    Nancy Kramer

    Fascinating! Lovely setting for your creativity.

  44. Linda Dziubala Avatar
    Linda Dziubala

    Breathtaking. Tom is a very talented fellow!! Thanks for sharing.

  45. What amazing pictures – looks wonderful from a different perspective x

  46. It’s so beautiful there. As usual, his photos are pulling my heartstrings.

  47. Absolutely breathtaking, Kate!

  48. Marilyn F. Avatar
    Marilyn F.

    WOW, the photos and films from a height are very interesting and definitely gives you a different perspective. Good luck to Tom with this new tool. I’m sure we will all benefit from the resulting photography.

  49. blaushorty Avatar
    blaushorty

    gorgeous, thanks for sharing ♥♥♥

  50. Beautiful!!!

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