Ach! Greetings from bonnie Scotland!

I hope you all had a great Christmas. Thankfully it was a little less dramatic this year with no COVID lockdowns imposed in England. Little sis even made it home for the first time in two years!

As I write this Storm Corrie is battering the east coast of the UK with many homes across Scotland and NE England without power. I’d like to lie and say I’m writing by candle light and cooking on a stove, but the power is still running in Elgin. With the amount of wind farms I’ve seen here I’m not surprised.

So, I finally moved to Scotland and now happily ensconced on the East coast. I can’t believe I didn’t move sooner. I’m six miles from the sea and 20 miles from the Cairngorm Mountains. The outdoor fun potential here is limitless. I’ve come up here for a few months to shoot winter projects for Montane and Olympus and prepare for a guiding qualification.

I’m also stoked to say that I’ve been asked to join Montane’s team as part of their ambassador program and will be working closely with them moving forwards.

This month I’m sharing the perfect song to chill out to, a book to get the most of your climbing and why you should study art.

What I’m Reading

Chasing the Ephemeral - Simon Richardson

If any of you know anything about Scottish Winter climbing, you’ll know how notoriously fickle it is. Being in the right place, at the right time, is critical.

Simon Richardson reveals his simple strategy for success with a detailed analysis of the tactics and tools Scottish Winter Climbers must utilize to ensure the best chance of a great climb.

Music I’m Diggin

A friend recently recommended English singer songwriter Michael Kiwanuka to me after we wrapped up a shoot. He’s been on repeat ever since. With a blend of acoustic guitar and soulful voice he’s the ideal music to chill out to.

Love & Hate, Hero and Cold Little Heart are some firm favourites

Who I’m Following

Jon Gupta

Jon Gupta is one of the UK's most promising up and coming mountaineers with an impressive track record of big ascents from all corners of the world. He currently holds the Guinness World Record organising and guiding the quickest completion of the Seven Summits.

Follow him here.

Gear I’m Loving

Olympus OMD EM1 MKIII + M.Zuiko 8-25mm PRO Lens

For the 2021 Kyrgyzstan expedition Olympus sent me their latest camera and lens, the OMD EM1 MKIII & M.Zuiko 8-25mm to test it’s capabilities in the extreme environment of the Tian Shan Mountains. Unfortunately, due a series of logistical problems the kit didn’t arrive in time

I finally got a chance to use the gear out on the hill this week in the Cairngorms, Scotland. The camera and lens handled beautifully in the snow and gave me no issues in -20 degree winds!

One of the things I love about the OMD Systems is their small size, light weight and weather sealing.

The perfect tool for outdoor adventure and travel.

What I’m Watching

In a bid to further my photography I’ve recently been studying classical pieces of art to understand how artists so skilfully capture their subjects through colour, form and composition. Being successful as a photographer comes from a balance between technical know-how and artistic vision.

The above video is from a fantastic channel on the Tube called Great Art Explained that breaks down famous works of art in fifteen minutes.

In the below video art educator Tavis Leaf Glover shows how to illustrate why the dominant lines and complimentary shapes created by movement and contrast are so appealing to the human eye.

Quote I’m Pondering

I’m going for my first bout of winter climbing this weekend, hopefully some skiing too if the snow gods are kind.

Whatever you do, have a good one,

Alex

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