Waiting for the Light at the Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye. One Photo, One Story.
- julien delaval
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Landscape photography is not just about capturing a place, it is also about living a moment. Each image has its own story, a mix of unexpected events, emotions and patience. And this outing to the Old Man of Storr, on the Isle of Skye, will remain etched in my memory as one of the most intense I have ever experienced.
We hadn’t planned on photographing the sunrise that morning. The weather forecast called for a completely overcast sky, with no hope of golden light at dawn. The only possible times for a lull were late morning. Rather than wait in the warmth of our accommodation, we decided to set off early, in the rain, with the aim of being in place at the summit at the right time.
Ascension under the Storm
It is 7am when we arrive at the foot of the path leading to the Old Man of Storr. The rain is falling hard, whipping the soggy ground, and the wind is making the short grass of the Scottish moor dance.
The atmosphere is austere. Mystical. Wild.
You might think that in such conditions it would be better to turn back. But that is precisely what I like about landscape photography: the challenge, the unknown, the hope that the light will eventually reward the wait.
We begin the hike, each of us deep in thought, concentrating on each slippery step on the muddy trail. The wind grows stronger as we gain altitude. The mist thickens, revealing only fragments of dark rock, emerging for a moment before disappearing.
Halfway there, I look back for a moment. Below, the loch disappears under a sea of moving clouds. No clear panorama, but a heavy, almost supernatural atmosphere.
We continue. I pull my jacket tighter around me, trying to keep my gear from getting wet. I still hope that the weather will eventually turn in our favor.
A Wall of Water and the Doubt that Sets in
Arriving at the foot of the gigantic rock monolith, the situation becomes complicated. The wind howls through the cracks, the rain suddenly intensifies, and every attempt to take out the camera results in an instant shower.
Water starts to seep under my jacket, streaming down my arms. It's impossible to shoot in these conditions.
I spot a small fold between two rocks and rush into it to find a semblance of shelter. My friend joins me and says, skeptical:
- Are you sure about this? Are you sure there will be a clearing?
I hesitate. I'm starting to doubt myself too.
The thought of going back down without any usable photos crosses my mind, but I refuse to give up after coming all this way in torrential rain.
– We're staying. I'm sure the sky will open up eventually.
The Wait, the Patience, Then the Miracle
We stayed in the pouring rain for almost an hour. An hour of fighting the cold, trying to keep some heat by moving, waiting for the slightest sign of change.
Then, a tiny detail.
A slowdown in the intensity of the drops. A slightly different light behind the veil of mist. And suddenly, between two thick sheets of clouds, the Old Man of Storr appears.
The rocky summit stands out in a still diffuse light, like a giant emerging from limbo. The scene lasts only a few seconds before the mist closes its doors again.
I know it now: the weather is in our favor.
- We have to wait a little longer. The sun will eventually come out.
The Revelation: A Fleeting and Unforgettable Show About the Mythical Old Man of Storr
And I was right.
The rain stops. The clouds begin to slowly tear apart, revealing fragments of blue sky. Then, a bright break.
A ray of sunlight pierces the last mists, falling right on the Old Man of Storr, as if a natural spotlight had been switched on.
This is the moment I've been waiting for.
I grab my camera, I shoot. Again and again. The contrasts are incredible: the dark rock contrasting with the golden light, the last drops hanging in the air, the clouds playing with the reliefs of the Isle of Skye.
For several hours, the light changes constantly. Sometimes soft, sometimes dramatic, always in motion.
I capture every moment, savoring the reward of this long wait.
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Why was this Photo Outing Unique?
This outing will remain as one of the most memorable experiences of my photographic adventures. Everything seemed against us: the violent wind, the incessant rain, the biting cold, and the total lack of visibility. Several times, we doubted, questioned our decision to stay there. And yet, it was this waiting, this perseverance, that made all the difference.
Scottish weather is unpredictable, brutal, and sometimes even discouraging, but that’s also what makes it magical. When the clouds finally cleared, it wasn’t just a clearing. It was a spectacular sight. A fleeting moment when nature, after testing our patience, gave us a play of light of rare intensity.
I found myself facing the Old Man of Storr, bathed in divine light, with that unique feeling of being in the right place at the right time. I captured powerful contrasts, infinite nuances, and above all, an atmosphere that only Scotland can offer.
More than a photo, it was a fight with nature, a struggle against discomfort, a victory over doubt. Proof that sometimes you just have to wait.
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