Valentina Parente

Have a sneak into one of my photographic adventures, a beautiful morning at one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the UK.

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Tiumpan Head is the north-eastern end of the Point peninsula on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Its lighthouse sits on a majestic cliff surrounded by the sea. The area is well-known for its extensive network of coastal routes, as it is a very popular spot for whales and seabirds to watch, so during the day, it can be crowded with people hiking.

The best way to enjoy the most interesting landscape spots is to go early in the morning. I was in Lewis and Harris during my winter holidays, and as the weather looked promising, I decided to try to take a photo at sunrise.

I have always been enchanted by the long exposure technique, and I use it as my main photographic genre, so I had no doubt I wanted this kind of photo here, too. I found it especially interesting because it allows me to reveal the colour of the sea while creating a beautiful contrast between it and the surrounding landscapes. It can also create a dreamy-looking silky effect, which I find particularly beautiful.

The day before, the weather forecast looked good. Clouds were arriving in the area, and there were all the signs of a possibly beautiful and colourful sunrise. I arrived at the parking spot quite early, so I had plenty of time to explore in the dark to find the perfect spot. After a while, I found a vantage point right in front of the lighthouse, after going down a very steep hill.

I worked for a while, trying different exposures and views, but I wasn’t 100% sure, so I decided to climb the hill again. Just to understand that the best point that convinced me the most was just the first, so I went down again. What a workout before breakfast!

I wish I could say that the effort was worth it but, as you can see from the photo the sky at the end has closed everything with clouds coming and the dawn was anything but colorful. So it was a wasted morning?

I waited for the sun to rise and took a few pictures, including this one, with the lighthouse still on, while enjoying the wild and beautiful scenery around me. Breathing the fresh morning air and listening to the birds singing and the sound of the waves, I felt completely at peace. As the day started, I climbed back again to the car. Several people were walking the path, and I felt really happy to have been able to enjoy that little moment of peace all for me, and I remembered that what I love about photography is not bringing home a perfect shot, but the feelings of peace and freedom that I feel when I am in contact with the unspoilt beauty of nature.

So what better way to start a day?