©National Geographic Society
The west beach of Berneray, which looks out over the Sound of Harris, is famous. (But it's only famous to those who know about it, and that's not all that many people.)
I came to this beach for frame 1,303. And here's the truth of the matter: I didn't do it justice.On the beach at Berneray I witnessed three miles of the most perfect shell sand, white as snow, and clean. The long crescent sweeps out of sight in either direction. High dunes shoulder close by, held firm against the winds by the beachgrass. On the other side lies the machair, its soil enriched by blown shell. Wildflowers riot there in the island summer.If you were lucky enough to be there on the most beautiful day of the most popular holiday weekend, you might find a crowd of five people. The whole island, just to the north of North Uist, has a population of 136. Perhaps this is why Prince Charles made Berneray his favorite secret retreat for nearly a decade.The island's only true fame comes as the home of Angus MacAskill. The late Mr. MacAskill -- called Giant by everyone -- was 7 feet 9 inches tall, the tallest natural giant ever to live, by some accounts. Descendants of his family still live on the island. They are tall.I feel a sort of duty to places like this -- places of modest distinction, places that never clamor for attention or proclaim beauty without shame. They deserve more that just local fame. I think that's why I lingered so long that evening, alone in that lovely swath of drifting sands, trying my best until the light was no more.Maybe I don't know how to do such a place justice. Maybe mere photography can never substitute for just being there. Whatever the cause, I felt then and I feel now that the beach at Berneray deserves more.With luck I'll get another chance.Jim
I came to this beach for frame 1,303. And here's the truth of the matter: I didn't do it justice.On the beach at Berneray I witnessed three miles of the most perfect shell sand, white as snow, and clean. The long crescent sweeps out of sight in either direction. High dunes shoulder close by, held firm against the winds by the beachgrass. On the other side lies the machair, its soil enriched by blown shell. Wildflowers riot there in the island summer.If you were lucky enough to be there on the most beautiful day of the most popular holiday weekend, you might find a crowd of five people. The whole island, just to the north of North Uist, has a population of 136. Perhaps this is why Prince Charles made Berneray his favorite secret retreat for nearly a decade.The island's only true fame comes as the home of Angus MacAskill. The late Mr. MacAskill -- called Giant by everyone -- was 7 feet 9 inches tall, the tallest natural giant ever to live, by some accounts. Descendants of his family still live on the island. They are tall.I feel a sort of duty to places like this -- places of modest distinction, places that never clamor for attention or proclaim beauty without shame. They deserve more that just local fame. I think that's why I lingered so long that evening, alone in that lovely swath of drifting sands, trying my best until the light was no more.Maybe I don't know how to do such a place justice. Maybe mere photography can never substitute for just being there. Whatever the cause, I felt then and I feel now that the beach at Berneray deserves more.With luck I'll get another chance.Jim
Tomorrow: To the lost lands of St. Kilda
You can see pictures from the article and more on the National Geographic web site, here: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/01/hebrides/richardson-photography
Dear Jim,
I share with you this sense of not giving a place justice with photography. So many times it happened to me up in the mountains. That glorious light that I never fully manage to capture in its essence. And here lies the beauty of our endeavor. To return again and again to savor that immense feeling and for yet another time failing to portray it. The best we can do is try to render justice to our emotions in such places, and invite other people to go and experience for themselves.
Posted by: Luca Baldassarre | January 08, 2010 at 01:22 PM