ManServant

Hi Richard,

I have just returned from a week's trip based in Doune, Knoydart. I was
part of a group of photographers hosted by Colin Prior on one of his
week long courses to improve my photography skills. We visited Muck,
Rum, Sanday, Eigg and would spend our days slowly walking, observing,
and recording in the camera our own images that might capture some of
the allure of each place. I found that I might, if lucky, feel I had
done so, by my own standards in perhaps two or three of the hundred or
so images I took each day. I picked up Scottish Islands Explorer on my
Co-Op stop on Sat while setting off on the long drive back to London. I
wanted to carry with me more of the Islands, and to revisit in my mind
the islands I had been to. Perhaps I could do this, I thought, whilst
travelling to work on the tube!? Like you I found myself trying to
fathom why the islands have a special draw. Yes, I agree, the islands
make us feel better. Indeed our boat skipper - 'Andy' of the Mary Doune
- expressed this profoundly himself when beaching us on Muck. His eyes
rolled and he beamed a wide smile at us as we stepped off the dingy
onto white sand and gently lapping waves. "Oh", he said, "this
place...", "it just makes you relax and feel contented immediately you
set foot here". This from a man who lives and works these islands from
Doune! But I think he was referring to the special character each
island has and how each might cause us to return for different reasons.
My own story is I believe that I have been drawn to the islands at
times in my life when beyond their shores I have been challenged by
life in the most personal of ways. Recently, divorce, and staying
focused on my daughter's needs who has just turned 15. I took her with
me on my trip last week. I was delighted when I could see more clearly
how well she is doing. One of our group commented "She's a great girl"
and indeed she is. Some years ago - and this is a story in itself! - I
managed to accompany my father to St Kilda where he served his National
Service in the late 50's. We managed to hitch a lift on a helicopter. I
wanted my father and I to understand each other more and of course I
wanted him to return to a special place for him. He had told us all
about it when we were growing up! So for me a visit to the islands,
however brief, bring us as close as we can get to nature from wherever
we normally live on the big island we call the British Isles. They
remind us that the noise and distractions of city life cut us off from
our inner thoughts and feelings. The islands enable us to listen to our
own barometer which constantly transmits to us something of who we are.
Colin summed it up one morning while giving a tutorial about
photography. "There is something there", he said "something we don't
understand".. and "the best picture's simply try to illustrate order
from chaos and capture that which is not understood"..

I hope you like my story.

Mike