The Old Man of Storr

Scotland is world famous for its brusque, characterful and mystic landscapes and the Isle of Skye in the northwest of Scotland is no exception. The... more

by Ingo Scholtes

Title

The Old Man of Storr

Artist

Ingo Scholtes

Medium

Photograph

Description

Scotland is world famous for its brusque, characterful and mystic landscapes and the Isle of Skye in the northwest of Scotland is no exception. The Storr, situated at the eastern coast of the Trotternish peninsula is maybe one of the most iconic landscapes of the Isle of Skye. This rugged area with its prominent cliffs and pinnacles marks the southeastern end of the Trotternish ridge, which is the longest landslip in Great Britain. The old man of Storr, a rock pinnacle almost 50 meters in height, is probably the most remarkable feature in the area of The Storr. In this image, it can be seen as the highest of the three pinnacles in the background. The old man of Storr is particularly well-known since 2012, when its alien appearance was used in the opening shot of Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

I will never forget the day when I took this image, as it marks one of the most memorable - and reverential - experiences of my life. Starting in Flodigarry, our original plan was to take two days to hike along the Trotternish ridge. Apart from the camera gear, I carried full trekking equipment, but a strong storm that would not stop for a minute did not allow us to pitch a tent at the ridge. Our only choice was to hike along the whole ridge, resulting in a total distance of more than 30km across mountains, marshes and rubble, while carrying more than 25 kilos of equipment. We finally managed to reach the Storr shortly before sunset, and I will never forget how relieved we were to leave the strong winds at the Trotternish behind. This experience was topped by this beautiful view of the Storr and the Sound of Raasay behind. I captured this memorable in this image.

Uploaded

July 25th, 2015