Temperate rainforest…

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Chris Goan

It stopped raining so we went off into the forest, getting some air before the arrival of guests who will be with us for New Year.

It is only a slight exageration to suggest that the forests of Argyll are part of the fragments of temperate rainforest left in northern Europe. Huge old trees in a sponge of moss and leaf mulch, well watered by the western Scottish climate.

As ever, my camera came along. I think I have a million photos of some of these places- searching for the play of light and the movement of water. I never quite manage it but some come close.

Sometimes the bird…

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Chris Goan

Bird

Sometimes I’m the bird

Sometimes the tree

Sometimes cold wind

Blows right through me

Sometimes the song

Comes steady and strong

Sometimes all I can do

Is keep

Holding

A little lower than the Angels…

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Chris Goan

Psalm 8:5-9

from The Message

5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

Anyone want to buy my camera?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Chris Goan

Most of the photos on this blog (including this one) were taken with my camera- a Pentax K2000 (also known as the KM.) This has been my constant (and careful) companion for the last couple of years. I have loved the quality of images I have been able to collect with it, but I have now upgraded to another Pentax- a second hand K5, and so the old one needs a new owner.

There is a very honest review of the camera here.

It would make a brilliant first camera for anyone wanting to make a step up from point-and-shoot photography into the rarefied world of the SLR– so if you are looking for a camera yourself, or a Christmas present for someone you love, then you might be interested.

The camera will come with two Pentax lens- a 18-55 mm and a 50-200 mm. Both are great lens, modern, lightweight and very usable. Check out my flickr pics down in the right hand margin to see what they can do.

I will also throw in some extras- a camera bag, a circular polarising filter (essential for landscapes) and a couple of extra lens extensions. The camera comes in its original box, and is in really good condition.

I am asking £150, which is about what you will pay for this camera on ebay without both lens.

I would love to see it go to someone who can get some real creative use out of what has been a gadget that was actually worth owning…

The boat is long gone…

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Chris Goan

Falling off the edge of the world…

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Chris Goan

I have had a loooong 12 hour working day, involving a trip to Campbeltown to chair some conferences. I took the first ferry over Loch Fyne from Portavadie to Tarbet, and had time to stop and take a few photos.

Campbeltown is a wonderful strange place- right out on the far western extremities of Kintyre. Go too far and you call of the edge of the world (or I suppose, end up in Ireland.) I walked around the town to clear my head between meetings and marveled at the fact that all the shops closed at lunchtime- presumably so the shop keepers could go shopping. It is like a place in its own micro-time zone. In a good way.

A storm was on the way, and I missed the ferry on the way back by about 2 minutes, which meant I either waited for an hour (with the risk that the ferries would be off) or drove home the long way, via Lochgilphead and Inveraray. I reluctantly did the hard miles.

It was good to be home- but my, how beautiful is the place in which I live and work.

Meanwhile, most people live as well as they can, where they can…

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Chris Goan

A few days ago I wrote a piece about home ownership in the UK- suggesting that it has become a national obsession, and that it might be distorting our sense of community and collective identity.

Today Michaela showed me this- I loved the way people made personal spaces out of whatever they can. Life flourishes where we love.

Eileach an Naoimh wilderness retreat pics…

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Chris Goan

Just looking at some photos of our trip to Eileach an Naoimh. It was great, and there is much more to reflect on, but for now, a few pics as I should be busy setting up our house for an ‘open studios’ event;