Immersed in the Light

In January I was so very lucky to be able to travel around Scotland and some of its Islands.

I went with my boyfriend Terry who was no stranger to these parts. My previous Scottish adventures consisted of a weekend crammed of a night in Edinburgh, a night at Stirling University, an STUC conference during the day and a brief walk around Glasgow on the way home! Not enough time to see the reality! Unlike this time!

I flew Luton to Inverness on the 4th Jan and was met by Terry who had driven his campervan from London through the night on New Year's Eve. We drove to Ullapool where our adventure really started. The rest of the trip consisted of sleeping in the van next to amazing beaches, next to Lochs, mountains, a hotel here and there, catching ferries to Isle of Lewis/Harris and Skye, climbing mountains, walking lots and generally seeing amazing landscapes before driving home on the 15th. 11 days of pure bliss!

I will write about the trip in more detail. What we did, where we stayed, what we saw. Most importantly I will write about how 2 people can survive in such a small confined space. Especially 2 people who like their own space!

We saw amazing sights. Amazing light. As a photographer of everything, I notice and use light, but when you are surrounded by such awesome landscapes, the light becomes everything. You become immersed in it. You become part of the landscape.

This photograph was taken on Luskentyre beach. We had stayed a couple miles up the road ready for an early start. We were rained on, hailed on, blown around on this beach. It was also very cold. Just watching the weather was like watching a performance on stage. Our own private performance. No one but us were on that beach. I have never seen a stage show like it! I probably never will!  The clouds, like main characters, sashaying across the sky. The rain, like dancers pirouetting all around us. After the rain, came the light - a spotlight on the dunes allowing them to become centre stage!

All rights reserved - Tracy Howl 2014

And then came another rainbow. Another reminder that Scotland would continue to wow us without notice.

Return to my World

Well that is what it feels like. A return to Pixel Vixen's world.

I've not been away. I've not been silent. Only on here.

I've been busy. Busy with photography and exhibitions. Busy with life, moving on. Busy moving forwards and upwards. Learning and growing.

2013 was quite a year. I may share some of it. Some of you will know all about it from Twitter, Facebook and some of you have been there with me all the way through it. Or some of it.

I left my part-time position of eCommerce Marketing Manager and Photographer almost a year ago.  The knowledge that you can support yourself (and daughter) as a freelancer is very comforting. Of course I have my good friend and work colleague Paul to thank for that. For support, for work, for being there. A great team. Also I thank my clients.

I achieved my goals.....

I photographed Prince Charles, David Cameron, Boris, a long list of World Leaders. I photographed not so famous people who were so extraordinary, they left their mark on my existence.

One of my photographs was used as a poster on London Underground for the Royal Parks. Much bigger than I had hoped for!

I travelled. To the city I loved the first time I went and still continue to love. New York.

My daughter became an adult. What happened there? She has always been very mature and grounded. She has worked for the last 3 years, she got good grades in A'Levels. She will do well. I am happy!

I met someone I like a lot, who has similar interests. Unexpected. Nice. Very nice.

I made new friends in random places, on trains, via Twitter, on the street.

I learned a lot about existing friendships. That is all.

I told the world that I was Daisy Meadows. That it was me who won the London Photography Award in 2010. Some of the world knew. Some didn't care. It didn't matter. I was glad the 'secret' was out! I exhibited in Wolverhampton at the Lighthouse Media Centre. I was happy to take my work back to my roots. To where my inspirations and passion for photography started.

I was reminded of the actual picture I saw as a teen, which made me so desperately want to become a photographer. The cover of Nik Kershaw's The Riddle album. I finally went to a Nik Kershaw gig. I met Kim Wilde and Rick Astley. I'm an 80's girl.... what can I say? ;)

I learned a lot about myself. I failed. I survived. I succeeded. I set new goals.

These are the cobwebs I needed to clear...