Yesterday whilst out in the Trossachs just north of Stirling in Scotland, the clouds opened up to reveal some patches of blue sky and allow the sun to reveal itself. Loch Venachar was as still as I’ve ever seen it. The reflections were simply stunning. I took a number of photos. Here’s one I’m particularly pleased with.
What you’re looking at here is the edge of the loch at the bottom of the image. The rocks are at the water’s edge. The branches stretch out from a few leafless trees which grow amongst the rocks and the rest of the image is the still water reflecting the sky.
I love how this image catches my attention straight away. My first thought is just how beautiful it looks. Then as I start to look more closely I feel a bit disorientated. What’s that rock doing up in the sky? Is it just hanging there, or is it impossibly supported by the tree’s spindly branches? Then the image resolves itself as I become more aware of the reflection.
I think it’s like this in life sometimes. We engage at an intuitive, emotional, even aesthetic level, taking in the whole as it is, then we start to focus on elements, or parts, and become a bit thrown off course, until we put what we are focusing on back into the contexts where they exist. Then the whole experience of standing at the edge of the water comes together again, but now intensified by our way of engaging with it.
Heroes Not Zombies 
beautifully expressed
Got married in The Trossachs in 1978!
the year my daughter was born…and the year I graduated from Medical School!
From Glasgow?
Edinburgh – I was born and raised in Stirling, just on the edge of the Trossachs really, inspired as a wee boy by Dr Finlay (ha! ha! No, really!) on TV – you may or may not know that Dr Finlay’s Practice was in “Tannochbrae” (Actually the village of Callander). I went to Uni in Edinburgh, did Junior Doc training in Stirling then practised as a GP in Ayrshire and Edinburgh before taking a post at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital for the second half of my career.
Yes, but the opening sequence of D F C with the ducks was actually filmed at Tannoch Loch, Milngavie, where I used to live until 1984/5.
I’m glad you were at Edinburgh. I was married to someone who graduated in 1977 from Glasgow Medical school!
Really??! How on earth did you get that interesting fact? You know, to be honest, I don’t remember the ducks… Hah! But I guess they’ve got a greater relevance for you given your Milngavie connection. Thanks for sharing that.