Evening light on surf. Islay

The southern Hebrides offer little of the raw, bare rock landscapes of the islands further north but something less severe. Islay bridges the sea between Ireland and Scotland and is appropriately similar to both.

The coast on the west is both dramatic and arced with gentle beaches. On a summer afternoon as the sun lowers unimpeded out to sea these burst into colour. The sea embraces this direct light which seems to infuse the water with a syrup-yellow radiance. The surface is polished with a lustre, so that light seems to come from within and reflect off the water. When a wave bursts on a rock this sun light seems to burst out too.