Welcome back to our featured walker series, today’s featured walker is the wonderful photographer Kenny MacCormack. Kenny is an avid photographer and walker, with some excellent photography and hiking tips to offer. Don’t forget to have a look at some of our previous featured walkers!
How Did You Get into Photography?
I started off with a Kodak 110mm camera many years ago. I progressed to a 35mm Minolta Zoom when my kids were young. I went digital in 2003 with a Digital Compact Olympus C-5000Z before upgrading to a Nikon 35mm DSLR in 2009. The quality of the DSLR was far superior to my history of cameras and confirmed my interest in photography. I have now attended a course on DSLR photography as well as having some very useful reference books. My main subject is foreign holiday and Scottish walks. My wife Alison loves our Nikon for taking photos of our four grandchildren.
What is Your Favourite Scottish Walk?
I have several favourite walks for various reasons;
- Fyrish Hill – Nearest.
- Stac Polly (Stac Pollaidh) – Best Mountain.
- Sandwood Bay – Best Lowland walk.
What Do You Feel are the Highlights of These Walk?
- Fyrish Hill is my local walk and it is a very popular with many people in Easter Ross. It is relatively short at under 4 miles and has an historic, incomplete monument at the top, with great views of Alness, The Black Isle, The Cromarty Firth, and my home town of Invergordon.
- Stac Polly (Stac Pollaidh) is a spectacular looking mountain with a distinctive volcanic looking craggy top. Although a relatively easy and short walk, there are stunning 360 degree views at the top notably looking north toward the magnificent mountain of Suilven with all the lochans dotted between the two mountains with Auchiltibuie and the Summer Isles to the West.
- Sandwood Bay is a hidden treasure with no connecting roads. A round trip of over 8 miles to walk but well worth the effort to enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. An expanse of golden sand with an iconic rock stack to the west. There is also the legend of a sunken Spanish Galleon at the Bay with the ghost of one of the sailors haunting the dunes and nearby bothy to this day.
Have You Got Any Pictures of These Walks You Would Like to Share?
Looking East along the Cromarty Firth towards Alness and Invergordon.
The incomplete monument
Looking east across the bay
Looking east towards the rock stack
Approaching the mountain
Looking North toward Suilven
Where Can People See More of Your Work?
I have a website with mostly holiday photographs – www.kennymaccormack.co.uk
What Tip or Piece of Advice Would You Give to Someone Starting Out Walking?
Get the correct clothing for what kind of walking you plan to do, but whatever it is – get a good pair of Goretex walking boots to keep your feet dry and comfortable.
What are Your Top Tips of Taking Stunning Landscape Photos?
Composition of the shot is very important and if your camera setting allow, shoot in RAW format as these are more flexible than JPG to correct exposure and other settings afterwards. Get a tripod with a ball head mount – you can pick up a good one second hand. I got mine from Ffordes for a very reasonable price.
Are you looking to explore some of the stunning scenery Scotland has on offer? Then check out our walking holidays in Scotland. If you would like to find out more, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
