Culzean Trip by Alan Kempster
On Wednesday the 11th of May, Irvine Camera Club’s Photo-walk evening was to Culzean Castle and Gardens. Although the National Trust property closes its gates at 5 pm it is possible to park at Maidens and walk along the beautiful sandy beach to the steep but well-maintained steps up to the woods surrounding the castle grounds.
Fortunately, the weather was kind to us with light patchy cloud, plenty of good light and the promise of an interesting sunset across to come.
Once inside the grounds we explored the various paths leading through the woods and around the Swan Pond towards the Castle. It is also possible to get access to a few beaches while investigating the paths on the seaward side.
In order to get the creative juices flowing we had set ourselves the challenge of taking photographs on specific themes. As photographers we usually prefer to stay behind the camera, so our first challenge was to get everyone to capture a portrait of themselves in the environment. With that trauma out of the way, our 8 intrepid photographers set about creating striking images of the castle as well as looking for contrast, not just in the light but also in subject matter. It is always a good idea when taking photographs to try to express more than just the obvious in your images, looking for deeper meanings and interpretation in what we see in front of the lens.
I hope you enjoy spending some time looking at this small collection of images that we made on what was a very pleasant evening at Culzean. This was the first time we’ve managed to organise a visit. The last time, a few years ago, we were totally rained off. We shall return again soon.
We have a packed programme of photo-walks and events taking us through the summer months and we always welcome interested photographers to come along and join us. Keep an eye on our club website, www.irvinecc.co.uk where you’ll find all the details.
