ISLE TO ISLE

JOHN ALEXANDER

Taking to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, John Alexander sought to capture the colours of the soft early winter light along with a selection of the people who share the same affinity for their landscapes. With the portability of the X1D-50c, John waded across lakes to capture breathtaking sunsets, climbed hills to accentuate contrast and textures in his landscapes, and drew upon natural light to photograph his Scottish subjects.

Sunrise at Loch Cluanie
© John Alexander

THE ISLES

Exploring the Scottish Highlands and Islands, John made his way to Aviemore, the Isle of Arran, Isle of Skye, and Loch Cluanie. “I chose to make this journey to this region to illustrate the scale and natural diversity of the area, to convey a sense of the calm and peace that it offers, and to capture the colours of the soft early winter light,” says John.

Heading north we chase the light and are rewarded with a tapestry of colour, shade and texture. While early morning sun begins to paint the clouds and smatter the peaks, the northerly wind stiffens to spread rising steam throughout the loch.

Solitary Soul – The Kyle of Localsh
© John Alexander

THE SCOTTISH SUBJECTS

As alluring as the Scottish landscapes were, John also sought to connect with those who inhabit these lands. Returning to his roots in Scotland,

Tristan trains as a mountaineer, works as an actor, and is a major advocate of taking action toward the environmental cause.

Winter Warmth
© John Alexander

ERIN

Erin is a local to the Isle of Skye. An artist and musician, while once frustrated by the relative remoteness of her place of birth, she has come to recognize the beauty that lays upon the shore of Skye, whose combination of raw, rugged, and tapestry of ever changing colours influences her creative path.

Erin
© John Alexander

PORTABILITY OF THE X1D

Having been on numerous climbing expeditions with various DSLR systems, John preferred the size, weight and shape of the X1D as his photographic tool. Having brought a tripod along with him, he found that he had little need for it. “The ergonomic design and simplicity of use of the X1D made setting up a shot a quick and simple task,” he says. Whether carrying the X1D in hand, as he waded across a lake or trekking up a steep slope, the X1D proved to be the perfect tool for John’s project around Scotland.

Old Man of Storr
© John Alexander

X1D’S COLOUR CAPTURE

Thanks to the 16-bit colour definition of the X1D, John could accentuate contrast and textures in the images in order to demonstrate a merging of shapes and shadows. “With this system’s incredible colour rendition, it enabled me to accurately capture a spectrum of tones, from sea to sky, and here in this shot, straight out of camera,” explains John.

The colours of the sky transform from misty blue to crimson red as we wait for the moment to capture this breathless scene.

Sunset over Skye
© John Alexander

ABOUT JOHN ALEXANDER

Brought up on the Isle of Wight, UK photographer John Alexander’s thirst for adventure started from a young age, with much of his childhood spent afloat on the family boat. Formerly a professional mariner and diver, this first career enabled him to sail within many of our oceans and explore its seas, and when ashore, ignited a passion to document rarefied locations and their inhabitants. In time, this path yielded to a new profession, combining his passion for exploration and photography while working on portrait and documentary photography projects on location around the globe. See more of his work here or via @johnalexanderphotography.

BRING THE POWER OF MIRRORLESS MEDIUM FORMAT ON YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

More Hasselblad stories

All stories

Ottavio Giannella

DIE ERDE ERWACHT

Fotograf Ottavio Giannella fliegt mit seiner X1D II 50C von Italien nach Frankfurt und weiter zum Flughafen Keflavík in Island. Er macht eine 40-minütige Fahrt in das Tal der Halbinsel Reykjavík und einen zweistündigen Spaziergang zu seinem Ziel, der Eruptionsstelle des Vulkans Fagradalsfjall.

Dayanita Singh

Bücher, Kisten und Museen – Rekonstruierte Exponate

Jeder Fotograf kennt die Marke Hasselblad, egal ob Amateur, Enthusiast oder Profi, weil die Fotografie viel von Hasselblad beeinflusst wurde. Für mich ist es eine Investition in meine Karriere, um auf die nächste Ebene aufzusteigen. Es ist immer wichtig, das richtige Werkzeug im richtigen Moment griffbereit zu haben, um großartige Fotos zu machen.

Ali Rajabi

New York anhalten mit der X2D

Jeder Fotograf kennt die Marke Hasselblad, egal ob Amateur, Enthusiast oder Profi, weil die Fotografie viel von Hasselblad beeinflusst wurde. Für mich ist es eine Investition in meine Karriere, um auf die nächste Ebene aufzusteigen. Es ist immer wichtig, das richtige Werkzeug im richtigen Moment griffbereit zu haben, um großartige Fotos zu machen.

Hans Strand

Island in faszinierenden Details mit 100 MP

Für mich als Fotograf ist die X2D das, was eine Stradivari-Geige für einen Geiger ist. Sie ist die ultimative Kamera.

Flora Borsi

Magischer Realismus mit der X2D

Die X2D ist wie eine Kamera für Maler. Die Bilder haben den Hauch und technischen Hintergrund eines Gemäldes. Ich konnte die beiden fast nicht auseinanderhalten, weil sie einfach so perfekt sind. Diese Kamera erzeugt alle Daten, die ich brauche, um die Geschichten zu vermitteln, die ich mit meinen Bildern erzählen möchte.

Heath Holden

Disappearing Doha

Discovering his new home of Doha, Qatar through the lens of street photography, Heath Holden explored the older and more traditional neighborhoods of the historical city.