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Skyetime Podcast

Thank you to skyetime and to Simon Cousins for giving Gill and Geraint time to explain a little more about hthe BelowtheSkyeLine project.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins meets photographers Gill Williams and Geraint Ashton Jones who are collaborating on an underwater photography project in the waters around Skye. Gill is a retired police diver who spends her time diving beneath the waters to capture unique images. Geraint is retired from the Royal Navy and runs a commercial photography business. He takes Gill's raw images and uses post-production techniques to create the final images that are commercially available through their website www.belowtheskyeline.com

Listen to the podcast - just click here

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Choices – Colour & Monochrome

The vast majority of the images we have created at Below the Skye Line have been in colour.  The reason, in many ways, is obvious, as it is often the colour in the underwater environment that captures and captivates.  Whether this is the young mussels from earlier this year, a brightly coloured wrasse or vibrant seaweed brought to life by sunshine as it streams through the loch waters.  One of the most vibrant creatures we have created images of has to be the Lion's Mane jellyfish.  However does its colour mask some of the beauty of its detail?  We recently ran a series of 4 images in monochrome which was chosen to bring out some of the detail and below we have reproduced the same images along with their colour counterpart.  Life, after all, is all about choice.

When we create images we make our own choices either through camera settings or what we choose to do in post production.  With the Below the Skye Line project we rarely use filters, relying instead on the powerful adjustments of light levels, contrast and white balance.  At the end though the aim is always to highlight the environment we are capturing.  Whether that is its detail or interaction of colour viewed through a wider canvas.  Having these choices brings its own responsibility that we do not stray from the inherrent beauty of the underwater world.  We are fortunate that around the ISle of Skye that beauty is both colourful and detailled.

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Crabs of Camustianavaig

Nestling to the South of Ben Tianavaig lies Camastianaviag which sits on the Sound of Raasay.  It is a small crofting township with a stone covered bay that looks across to Raasay.  White Tail eagles, otters, dolphins and seals can regularly be viewed above the surface, but what about below?

Our first visit to this new location was dominated by images of crabs, some of which we have reproduced below.  We will be adding both the locations and some of the images to our gallery very soon.

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Flying the Flag for A Common Cause

A Change is as Good as a Rest

Below the Skye Line took time out this week from underwater photography of our wonderful marine life to support four rowers from Bristol (the Bristol Gulls) who later this year will be rowing the Atlantic as part of the 2020 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.  The connection was made following an introduction from a crew we supported last year, HMS Oardacious, and Gordon Ritchie, of Gordon Ritchie Marketing.

The team were on Skye all week and they are using their challenge to raise awareness of the plight of our waters, seas and oceans.  A cause close to our hearts.

The weather this week has played havoc with their programme but we met them at Broadford New Pier where Gill took to the water for some half and half shots of the Bristol Gulls in their boat which was proudly sporting Skye's new flag on it's stern.

Geraint meanwhile made do with a ride in the support rib and some above water shots.  The team have been active in cleaning up the Bristol Harbour area so hopefully they appreciated placing their oars in the pristine waters of Broadford Bay.

Follow and Support the Bristol Gulls

If you have 5 minutes please check out the Bristol Gull's website and possibly even throw them the price of a coffee to support their great challenge and really worthwhile aims.

Bristol Gulls Website

You will see from their website that they are the first team to compete in the Talisker Whisky Atalantic Challenge in an eco friendly boat, so already they are trail blazers.  And in their own words:

"The Gulls want to promote a safe and healthy relationship with our waters. They want to bring awareness and engage with Bristol on a couple of key points: plastic pollution and safety at sea.

Every stroke, every mile, every soar, every tear, every smile will be worth it knowing their efforts will inspire change.

With your help, they hope to raise money in order to support these two charities and their initiatives."

Below the Skye Line wishes Lorna, Phoebe, Sarah and Sophie well in the final preparations and the race itself.  Hopefully they enjoyed their week on Skye even if the waters were a bit turbulent during their stay.  We wanted to capture, with our images, a taste of what they can expect in the Atlantic and as Talisker says:

"Made By The Sea"

The Whisky is the oldest that is made by the sea but they would approve of the very modern technologies in the first eco boat to compete in the race they give their name to.

Good Luck.

Gill & Geraint

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New West Coast Dive Site – Camus Ban, Harlosh

A trip to the Isle of Skye's West coast and a new dive site for Below the Skye Line Project.  Camus Ban is a sheltered natural harbour near Harlosh and Loch Bracadale.  Being on the West side of the island there are often big swells running when you venture away from the natural shelter close to shore.  It has long been a popular area with sea kayak enthusiasts who enjoy the challenge the West coast brings along with some great stacks and sea cliffs including wonderful sea arches near Idrigill Point. This first dive also showed that it has great potential for underwater photography with a wide variety of plant and marine life, including the shanny (above) having a face off with the camera.  There will be more images when they have all been processed.

And if the lure of the water is not enough to entice you to this part of the island it is also home to the famous Isle of Skye Fudge Company!

Snakelock Anemone

A sponge? (we think)

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Double First for Below the Skye Line

No we are not talking about grade inflation and the current situation with exam results!

Yesterday saw a dive at location number 31 around the Isle of Skye and some more great underwater photography to add to the project's growing archive.  You have already come to expect vibrant colour from Below the Skye Line but we also try to catalogue and create images from a variety of the underwater life that we find.  So from our new location at Braes we also have added a new species for us.  Which is?  Well keep following our blog, Facebook and Instagram to find out.

Colourful rock at Braes

Moon Jellyfish - an old favourite

Dragonet Fish

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Wonderful Lion’s Mane Jellyfish at Fiskavaig

A new dive location but the return of an old favourite.  On the first dive at Fiskavaig Bay the Lion's Mane jellyfish were in abundance and generated some wonderful underwater photography.

Fiskavaig, ISle of Skye Lions Mane jellyfish near the surface 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

A classic image of the Lion's Mane jellyfish with its delicate upper lobes and the vibrant crimson underneath of the bell, surrounding the jellyfish's mouth.  The name comes from the long tentacles which trail out from the bell and these can cause nasty stings if caught unawares.

Lions Mane jellyfish reflected in the surface water 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Abstract of the reflection of aLions Mane jellyfish in the surface water 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

A couple of abstract images created by the reflection of the jellyfish near the surface of the relatively calm waters during this visit to Fiskavaig Bay.

Lions Mane jellyfish near the surface 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Lions Mane jellyfish close up showing underneath detail 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)Lions Mane jellyfish near the surface 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Whether underwater or above, one of the advantages of still photography is to capture form and allow delicate features to be studied.  For many the view of a lion's mane jellyfish is from above and their true beauty may not always be appreciated.  It was certainly good to once again create some images of them as we continue to explore new underwater photography locations around the Isle of Skye.

Lions Mane jellyfish reflected in the surface water 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

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Five More Images Available To Purchase as Prints- Premium Paper, Acrylic or Aluminium

We are very pleased to announce that five more images have been released and are available to purchase as prints.  The prints are available as premium paper in either a Lustre or Gloss finish.  They can also be purchased printed on  acrylic or aluminium.

These additions bring our print offering up to ten and we hope to add some more soon.  To view the images available to purchase as prints please click here.

Crabs

Detail of crab eye 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

The close up image of the crab eye has proved to be one of hte most popular recent image.  Perhaps it is because we are all used to seeing crabs in rock pools along the sea shore.  There is fabulous detail in these creatures which only a still image allows you to really appreciate.

Hermit Crab 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

The original campervan!!  On the Isle of Skye we see our fair share of campervans and motorhomes.  Having a mobile home always with you is nothing new.  However, unlike a snail, the hermit crab doesn't produce its shell it borrows one.  Another image that brings out the detail of the scene and how the sand on the crab's shell helps it be camoflaged on the sea floor.  The image was created on the first divie visit to Waterloo, just East of Broadford.

Dragonet and Mussels

Female dragonet fish. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com More information on this fish can be found at: https://britishseafishing.co.uk/common-dragonet/ (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

If the hermit crab uses sand for camoflage how well does the colour scheme of this dragonet fish act as camoflage against the stony loch floor at Sconser?  Sconser is probably best know for producing some of the Isle of Skye's best scallops which are farmed by moving young scallops in to managed waters to mature.  However we have found it to be productive for underwater photography with a wide range of different sea life being found in the loch's clear waters.

The final images are two more of the young mussels at Carbost.  It may seem a lot of images of the same subject but they do print up very well with their vibrant shells and almost tartan checks!  Could be a design for a kilt lurking there somewhere!

Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

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New Dive Location – Fiskavaig Becomes #30

Fiskavaig

On Sunday, Fiskavaig became our 30th dive location as part of the Below the Skye Line Project.  The images are still being processed but they look very exciting.  Images include: Lion's Mane Jellyfish (very popular last year), Sprats, Sea Mat, Eels and a couple of other treats.

We will be dropping the images into the social media feed before too long.

Sand Eels at Fiskavaig

Fiskavaig is from the Norse language and translates to Fish Bay.  We seem to be collecting 'fishy bays' with Tarskavaig on Sleat (visited in 2019) also from Norse and translating to Cod Bay.

Fiskavaig is a small crofting community found on the Minginish penninsular (translates as Main Headland) to the North of Carbost, an underwater dive site which has proved very successful in 2020.  In 1921 evidence of Pict settlement was discovered when a symbol stone was found on the beach.  This is on display in the Museum of Scotland.

Sprats at Fiskavaig

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Five Memorable Images From July

July was a busy month for the Below the Skye Line project.  In total Gill dived 11 times at 6 different locations and from these dives we have uploaded 50 images to share with you.  Below we have reproduced 5 memorable images from July which help showcase some of the projects underwater photography and also the ever increasing range of underwater life we are getting to make images of.

Nudibranch - Carbost - 3 July

Nudibranch at Carbost - 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Nudibranch's are beautiful delicate creatures which shed their shells before becoming adults and are often commonly referred to as sea slugs.  The 'coronet' in the image above is the external gills of the nudibranch.  If you wish to find out more about these wonderful creatures then click for their wiki page.

Also Jim Anderson hosts a website all about Scottish Nudibranches which includes many different images. He tries to classify and identify all the different types of Nudibranch he finds in Scottish waters.  His page can be found by clicking here.

Mussels - Carbost - 25 July

Young mussels covered by acorn barnacles and further small mussels. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Sticking with the same dive location of Carbost but changing species to mussels, found everywhere around the Isle of Skye.  Throughout June and into July we were mazed at the vibrant colours of the young mussles which we were able to capture due to a period of very clear water, some great light coming through from above the surface and just a touch of light from a strobe.  By the end of July, as the mussels grew, the colours faded.  The above image though was another sorce of delight as the macro lens on the canon brought in to sharp focus 100s of tiny mussels growing on a larger mussel shell.  Amongst the tiny mussels there are also growing acorn barnacles.

Crab Eye - Aird Bernisdale - 24 July

Detail of crab eye 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

It is not easy capturing tack sharp macro images underwater.  It can be difficult to keep the camera still due to the movement of the water.  This image is a great example of the skill Gill has as both a diver and photographer with a super close up of a crab's eye.

Each of the two primary eyes of the crab move independently on their own stalk.  The eye is a compound eye and is adapted to be very sensitive to light.  The eye gives 360 degree vision and can detect very small changes to both sunlight and moonlight.

Shrimp - Carbost - 25 July

Small shrimps translucent with splashes of colour 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Carbost was a really productive dive site in July and provides 3 of the 5 images selected for July's showcase.  This is a front on close up of a shrimp which highlights the detail of their mouthes and also provides detail of their translucent bodies.

Sea Gooseberry - Aird Bernisdale - 12 July

2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

A sea goosebury fires off and lights up green.  These small creatures are difficult to create good images off because they are nearly transparent and also very small.  There are over 90 different species of the sea gooseberry and they are found in most of the oceans around the world.

Sea gooseberries may look fragile but they have a voracious appetitie and can eat upto 10 times their own body weight a day.  As shown in the image, they have a beauty and grace in the water but once out of it collapse to a gelatinous blob - such a shame but hopefully for those unable to see them swimming our images are a small compensation.

It was very difficult reducing 50 images to just 5.  The majestic salmon, found at Glen Brittle, have not been included nor some lovely examples of starfish.

Who knows what August will bring!