October in the Highlands | 02.11.2026
the diary of a garden photographer
October has flown by and although my garden shoots have slowed down it was consumed with catching up on all the other daily stuff that gets completely shelved between May and now.
Beautiful seed heads, I think they’re agastache.
I always have a bit of a brain battle this time of year, should I get another job during the winter months or is personal work good enough to justify spending all winter being creative with? It always feels a bit indulgent to just slow my brain down and concentrate on exploring my own project work and whether or not I can try to make a winter living out of it. Or do I just get a job, something, anything, so I take the pressure off trying to find enough income to cover all the winter bills. Inevitably I always fall back to the decision that I’ve got this far, keep going, this is the only time of year I get to ‘play’ in my studio. I am determined to clear my studio of dead flowery matter, so this will be my goal, as well as to try and get a photo library started, set up a darkroom area, experiment with different printmaking, creates four zines (mini books with my ongoing project work) doing some transfer lifts (the one I’m most excited about), set up my new professional printer, the list is endless and time is what I need, so there’s my answer. Hold my nerve.
Finally shooting all my framed work to put in my Store, this is Tulip ‘Rosie Wainwright’, a framed Platinum print 32 × 22 inches,
I’m looking forward to Amanda Harman joining me next week. Her work is gentle, serene and captivating, she is a considerate photographer and produces thoughtful landscape photographs, I’m a huge admirer, so I’m thrilled she’s coming over, there will be endless chatter and ideas bouncing around, maybe a bowl of soup and we’ll be setting ourselves some realistic aims. We previously made a list of what we need to do before meeting, (mostly adding all our framed work onto our websites), but I’ve been a little distracted.
My first zine, printed by Silvergrain Press
I was so fortunate to get to visit the Highlands for the second time this year, back to Invernauld in Rosehall, almost bang in the middle! Arriving during the storm was thrilling,the roads were barely visible beneath the carpet of fallen leaves and branches. On arrival we were greeted by a warm welcoming house, we unpacked and headed straight for the Lower Falls along the Cassley river, it had never been so high according to the locals. The next morning calm reigned, the water had totally gone back to normal and the floods had vanished, the sun came out and revealed the most glorious autumn with just those bright golden leaves on the remaining beech trees and a smattering of birch left. My trip to Scotland this autumn was a time to rest, go with the flow, spend time with friends, eating and drinking far too much, but of course there was also time for long walks, observing nature and driving down long long tracks to tread where so few others do, my idea of heaven. One of my most memorable moments was standing in the Cassley river at the top end (30 min drive down a single track), chasing the light, hoping I wasn’t too late. Taking as little kit as I could, arriving just opposite the derelict bothy which sat picture perfectly where the rivers join, the sun was a little too low but the moment was breathtaking. A sea eagle (we spotted 3 a few days previously), soared high above the trees, a deer stood watching me and as I was taking my shot, a salmon leapt in front of me, to fast for my shutter to capture, then another, and another. I have no space on my phone to film them and when I put my camera on film mode it fell silent, just my luck. The light was going rapidly and I just made it back to the car before not being able to see my feet. I drove slowly along the track and stopped multiple times to let deer cross, as they made their way down to the glen in their masses to feed. It was my turn to be the chef that night and fortunately I’d put the lamb on to slow cook before I left, the boys had kindly tended to the pot which smelt delicious and was very welcome after my adventure.
A magical place
Lower Cassley Falls, Rosehall
Along the driveway at Invernauld
The River Oykel
NC500 on my way to Scourie
A loch I couldn’t resist to stop at on the way back to Rosehall
Badcall Bay
Time now to hold on to the inspiration and keep the motivation going for the winter months.
Thank you if you managed to read to the end!