1 Oct 2021

Scotland and the Isle of Skye

 










Photos as follows;

1. Skye; Aird

2. Mallaig

3. Loch Sheil

4. Glenco

5.Loch Arkaig

6. Loch Lochy

7. Skye; Point of Sleat




Incredulous as it sounds, I'd never visited Scotland despite its close proximity to where I live. The lure of distant places tended to win out, over more familiar destinations. That being pre-Covid. Apres-Covid and its societal and worldly fissures, the nearer and familiar have accrued new meaning; nature has become of prime importance and an opportunity to interact with others, a new raison d'etre


Pleasantly surprised, you could say... I was naive about the extent of Scotland's wilderness and its Scandinavian-type beauty! When you wake in the morning to the Sun breaking through dark skies full of Cumulonimbus clouds atop high, rugged peaks punctuated by sprawling lochs I realised that Scotland was something special.


Then again, the Isle of Skye is something else. Part Celtic and part Scandinavian Skye's landscape ranges from Icelandic oddity to Irish-like, rugged coastlines and gently undulating land a la Yorkshire or Cumbria. Despite the hot, almost Mediterranean weather there remained a Northerly cold, suspended in the background, coming in off the sea. 


It was a relief to experience the slow pace of life at Skye. In many ways it probably hasn't changed much in a century, crofting, fishing, hospitality and the tourist industry are pretty much all I witnessed. Skye's remoteness and, contemporaneously its closeness and familiarity are cogent reminders of the UK's separation from continental Europe and its splay Northwards into the North sea, upwards towards Iceland and the Artic. 


Quiescence abounds throughout Skye. Sleat Point and its beautiful sandy cove, with views over the sea to Western Scotland and Mull, really encourage relaxation, a slow-paced mantra to a different way of life, much healthier both physically and mentally than the frenetic lifestyles of city dwellers. The air hits you with a strange purity, a tinge of Northern coldness infiltrated the Sun-warmed air and both the freshness of the countryside and the ocean were delightful! 


You can see why Paganism was the principle religion across the UK for centuries. When life is governed by the weather, nature and the seasons, when Aurora paints the night sky with light gods and goddesses of the Sun, Moon, sea, fauna and flora seem to make more sense. Surely these preoccupations are healthier than our current condition preoccupied with representations, artificiality, aloofness via new technologies and the worshipping of money? 


Whatever the philosophical, moral or scientific ramifications of multifarious lifestyles, exploring a land as evocative and unspoilt as Skye's is both fascinating and liberating. Indeed, Scotland, largely seen as an irrelevant wilderness and a distant drain on the economy by the ignorant and powerful at Westminster, offers an antidote to many of the problems we experience in our, hectic day-to-day lives. I feel the Orkney's calling! 


Simon Sept. 2021.

Simon Harris (the crescent) | Flickr

9 May 2021

New Photography 2021



It doesn't seem unreasonable to state that our attention is focused on nature today. I mean, a pandemic and its huge impact on our lives, fiscal anxiety post- 2009 and our ever-increasing immersion in new technologies, all lead to a perhaps, reticent acknowledgement that the intrinsic, healing powers of nature and our mistreatment of the natural world need urgent attention. Paradoxically, coerced into ever-decreasing circles where one of our few pleasures is to exercise in the countryside or in our gardens, healing and contemplation commence. I was never one to concentrate on ecological problems, conceding defeat to an exploitative Capitalist system in my youth. However, when a pandemic is running rampant over our globe even the most experienced or hard-hearted individuals are beginning to develop a new consciousness of our natural environment.It's no longer idealistic, naive or clunky to claim that environmental issues require our attention; it's no longer about a willingness to unquestionably swallow or dispute scientific hypotheticals or vague facts, it's about pragmatism and the evidence that's unfurled before our eyes. I'm not suggesting that people should disengage their capacity for critical thinking or withdraw from practical, commercial realities and the deep-rooted politics that colour our social interactions. 
But, it is time to address nature and acknowledge its necessity to both our existence and to our health.

Simon.

26 Mar 2021

Usually Always by Fred Simon


Fred Simon's interesting approach to writing instrumentals, full of quirkiness and gentle ambiguities. Infused with Jazz, Pop and Classical influences, syncopated and engaging melodies meander over modulation, key changes effervesce with introspective drama resolving in joyful, structured conclusions. "Usually/Always" from 1988 certainly reflects the ambiguity of its title and for all its gentle and innocuous nature, it gives the intellect and emotions plenty of stimulation.


N.B. Please click on the "watch on Youtube" link on the video to listen. Thanks.


Simon.

16 Jan 2021

Interesting Facebook Post

 

What is the realm of art?
And what is the realm of science?
Some feel these two realms are distinct from one another.
Others see overlap and interaction between the two.
Still others feel both are different expressions of the same deeper intention — human understanding.
My name is Patrick Olson. I’m the one behind the scenes.
I am embarking on a multiyear artistic journey, exploring the relationship between art and science through music, music videos and performance art.
I will give everything in an effort to create a memorable journey for you.
And now I want to ask you...
Will you be one of the first to join me?
Click the link below to find out if we’re aligned:






I found this unusual post on Facebook (you never know what you'll find these days) and couldn't resist responding as the artistic concerns are right at the heart of philosophy. It seems that the Facebook algorithm can actually get it right occasionally and post something on your feed that does reflect your interests! My response below...

The difference between the arts, religion and science is, intrinsically one of emphasis. Where it's interesting to debate differences between the principle methods of enquiry and their variable status, from a Western perspective it was the rediscovery of Greek texts during the Renaissance period that formed the basis of scientific emphasis rather than the arts. Mimesis, largely via Plato's musings but not invariably, lead to an idea that the arts were a method of comprehension via copying observations and gaining understanding/insight through this method. Philosophy that paved the way towards science was considered a better way of truly understanding the nature of things. The emphasis was on definition and palpable/measureable notions.
So, of course all areas of enquiry coalesce at some point(s) and shifts in emphasis are invariably arbitrary, at least up to a point which leads us to politics/ Politics which is something very different although some think of Politics as pragmatic enquiry.... And dogmatic definitions begin to fall away again....