Scotland's Coasts by Joe Cornish

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Scotland's Coasts

by Joe Cornish.

Published by Aurum Press Ltd.

144 pages. Dimensions (in inches): 11.3 x 9.8 x 0.7

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Scotland's Coasts
by Joe Cornish

Scotland is a mythical land. One of age-old beauty — a place where water, sunlight and hazy, low-lying clouds intermingle with one another and cast shades of deep purple and blue upon the exposed earth.

The quiet history of one of the world's oldest nations, however, is often ignored in the face of such timeless beauty.

Nearly encompassed on all sides by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, this small nation is, perhaps, best known to the outside world as being the home of the legendary sea monster Nessie who is rumored to dwell in the depths of the Loch Ness.

An endless landscape

But British photographer Joe Cornish ignores this legend and consciously avoids taking photographs of the people, the towns and the urbanized coastlines.

Instead, he bestows Scotland and its empty spaces with a desolate and haunting quality.

His collection, entitled "Scotland's Coast," for the most part, explores the 10,000 kilometers (6.2 miles) of jagged coastline of Scotland, highlighting the Southern Hebrides, the Northern Isles and the Firth of Lorn, Mull.

Boulders, long stretches of unbroken white sand, waterfalls and salt marshes become the main focus.

Quiet moments

An image of Machrie Bay, Arran is entitled "Windy Day." The title itself seems a lie — the image appears still, the land forsaken and silent.

Mr. Cornish captures the elements coming together — sand, blue sky, dark clouds, mountains, water and green grass appear to collide into one another. It is this clash of elements that makes Scotland's beauty appear delicate yet seemingly destructive.

In a series of similar moments, a close-up photograph of seaweed becomes a compelling portrait. Although the image shows nothing of the sandstone cliffs of Hillswick, Shetland, the detailed and vibrant photograph of entangled pink flowers and dark green and tan seaweed tell a seemingly more personal story.

Text by Christina Erb.

About Joe Cornish

British landscape photographer Joe Cornish is the author of "First Light." He has taken numerous photographs for the National Trust in England. Mr. Cornish also has lectured extensively in the United Kingdom and across the world.

In 2004, "Outdoor Photographer" spotlighted him as one of the top four landscape photographers in the world. Mr. Cornish often says that he believes landscape photography is a type of advocacy for the preservation of the natural world.

Better than pasta. Seaweed, Hillswick, Shetland.

Foreshore and fine weather. Duncansby Head.

Sand patterns and oil rigs. Cromarty Firth.

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