"Rob Roy Country" Photo

Photographer’s Note

When we left the Isle of Skye we travelled through the Highlands and stayed the night at Callander in the Trossachs National Park. The next day we explored the area before setting off back home. We decided to go and see Rob Roy’s grave in Balquhidder.

The first known church to be built in in Balquhidder Glen was in 1250 AD, although records show Christianity to have come to Balquhidder in the late 600s AD. This ruined church was built on the same site in 1631. The current parish church just next to these ruins was built in 1855 and is still in use.

Balquhidder church is famous for the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor. Rob Roy was a folk hero in the same vein as Robin Hood. He was also a cattle-rustler and an outlaw. He died in 1734 and is buried in the graveyard of the ruined church.

I told a story in a previous post about clan warfare in Scotland back in history, and originally this area was the land of the MacLaren clan. Way back in 1558, the MacGregors murdered 18 MacLaren families in Balquhidder Glen and in 1603 the entire MacGregor clan was outlawed by King James VI. Although all that was before Rob Roy's time, I wonder what the MacLarens of the past would make of the fuss being made of a MacGregor, and of the tourists travelling to the Glen to see his grave here. The Trossachs National Park is known as ‘Rob Roy Country’!

See map link (right) On the actual Google Map, Rob Roy's Grave is marked in a slightly different place. I'm certain that is wrong, as I don't recognise any of the surroundings. Where I have marked is familiar to me. You can see the ruined church and the present church in the same grounds.

ISO200, 29mm

xuaxo, vasilpro, snunney, subhendu_bagchi, ChrisJ, Dashab, asajernigan, Buin, saxo042, Kielia, Gerrit, shevchenko, PixelTerror, Graal, gnuri, paura, holmertz, chawax, s_lush, Cricri, JCG, Angshu, Philippe, plimrn ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

xuaxo (5771) 2009-09-27 1:44

Good morning Kath,
We have to click your thumbnail, if we wonder who Rob Roy was ;-) I didn't know about him.
The photo is quite pleasant, despite it's a ruined church and graveyard.
The dark trees or bushes seem to replace the gone building of the church.
It's interesting that Rob Roy’s grave (WS) has fresh flowers, after so many years of his death.
Greetings,
F.

vasilpro (9058) 2009-09-27 1:55

Good morning Kath,
Very nice composition with the ruins of this church, very good clarity, sharpness and colors. Very interesting and useful your notes about the unknown hero to me and the map for this place.
Have a happy Sunday, Vasilis.

pajaran (3502) 2009-09-27 2:10

Dobar dan iz Cuprije.
Interesantna arhotektura.
Dobra fotografija, boje i ostrina snimka.
Mnogo stara crkva.
Lep dan za odmor, Paja.

snunney (35118) 2009-09-27 2:22

Hello Kath,
A fine point of view on this ruined church surrounded by the old gravestones. The background trees make an interesting backdrop. Very good colours and sharpness. Thanks also for the accompanying note.

subhendu_bagchi (3301) 2009-09-27 3:04

Namaste Kath,
the grave yard is nice with the ruin of old church. The depth is magnificent here. We can see clear the church as well as the trees and the graves. Beautiful compo with an ideal point of view. Tfs.
Have a nice sunday.
Subhendu

ChrisJ (70357) 2009-09-27 3:05

Hello Kath

Good textural details on the ruined church, & nice repetition of the gravestones. Excellent sharpness, colour & lighting contrasts. Tfs!

rodgerg (24529) 2009-09-27 3:09

Hello Kath,

An image full of atmospher. Very simple but very efficience composition. Beau tiful contrats well colected and nice harmony in the colors between the green of the vegetation nad the colors of the chapel and the cimetery.
Have a nice Sunday,
Roger

Dyerco (9180) 2009-09-27 3:27

Hi Kath
Nicely exposed to bring out the rich greens of the evergreens and the texture in the stonework.
Phil

darek1978 (11371) 2009-09-27 3:43

Hi Kath,
A fine view of the ruins. I like the vivid colours and the brilliant light as the great contrast of the colours. A really gorgeous picture and very interesting place. COngratulations!
Best regards,
Darek

TopGeo (21973) 2009-09-27 4:19

Hi Kath! They is a subject that perhaps teases, but has him with very beautiful way gives that me impressed! Splendid frame and colours
Regards
Geo...

jwmunro (6355) 2009-09-27 7:33

Hello Kath -

At least you were there on a nice day - it was pouring cats and dogs" when I visited the Trossachs. This is a well composed image with the headstones in the FG and the chapel ruin in the BG. The clouds add drama and a soft feel to the scene. Well done.

From my history readings I suspect that McGregor was set up, much like Locksley, and was forced to take the criminal road. But, since these are both folk tales I think there has been a lot of details lost or ignored to support the heroic deeds of both men. I suspect William Wallace falls into the same category where the legend exceeds the deeds.

Thank you for sharing.

John

Dashab (1053) 2009-09-27 8:24

Hello Kath,
A very nicely composed picture with great sharpness and wonderfully rich colours. Thanks! Dasha

asajernigan (14218) 2009-09-27 8:26

Kath,
This is a great shot of this ruined church with the gravestones in the foreground. The lighting and colors are fine as is the photo's sharpness and DOF. The off center placement of the church works well with it providing balance for the trees.
TFS,
Asa

john1 (2223) 2009-09-27 8:44

Hi Kath,

Excellent composition with the ruins of the old chapel and cemetery.
Good atmosphere with typical Scottish Highlands region.
A good Sunday.
john

Buin (37988) 2009-09-27 9:34

Good evening Kath!
What a wonderful and impressive place - and atmospheric! This picture doesn't need much words. In combination with the excellent note a real contributionn in terms of TrekEarth!
Greetings from Germany - still warm and sunny!
Frank

bema (8890) 2009-09-27 9:52

Hello Kath..

what a nice place and an beautiful old building, captured in a very good quality from a fine pov.. like it..
grat colors and perfect sharpness, my compliment s to this perfect shot..

have a fine new week, best regards Bernd

saxo042 (15978) 2009-09-27 10:22

Hi Kath,
Now this is very interesting! First of all, as a boy I was fascinated by the stories of Rob Roy, there were some books about him that I read with great interest. Then, when having a holiday in Scotland in 1990, we passed this place and of course I had to see it with my own eyes! But there is more; a businessman by the name of David Carnegie (the younger) (1813 - 1890) came to Gothenburg at around 1835 and started both a sugar factory and a stout brewery here. He spent his summers at his estate at Balquhidder. He decided to build a church in Gothenburg as an exact replica of the church at Balquidder, Saint Birgittas Chapel. I have a lot of photos of this pretty chapel and have intended to post one of them here on TE. Maybe I will soon! This is really an interesting picture and link!
Kind regards
Gunnar

gilou530 (35434) 2009-09-27 12:31

salut kath
une petite partie de ruines au milieu d'un endroit de verdure qui est bien cadré avec ces pierres tombales, nickel
amitiés
gilbert

Kielia (8611) 2009-09-27 12:32

Hi Kath,
your photos of places in the UK show a deep dedication to your homeland. This image is very poetic with these beautiful contrasts and the wonderful light. Excellently composed impression of this fantastic place in “Rob Roy Country” and what a history! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Gerrit (35965) 2009-09-27 15:06

Hi Kath,
beautiful view on this ruined chapel and graveyard with the cypresses taking over.
regards, gerrit

shevchenko (9986) 2009-09-27 21:55

Hi Kath,
What an abandoned church in the National Park, the trees like pines are unique and just look like a big bonsai, thanks for sharing a historical corner.
Ally

danyy (69147) 2009-09-27 22:26

Bonjour Kath,
Rob Roy, un des plus beaux films que j'ai vus et qui effectivement se déroulait sur ces belles terres de l'Ecosse sauvage. Une photo haute dans les contrastes des lumières, un ciel magnifique finement capturé. Un cadrage parfait, tu as une solide expérience maintenant, même si la tombe à l'avant plan est coupée.
My best regards
Daniel.

PixelTerror (86416) 2009-09-27 22:33

HI Kath
There's nothing much left of the church but it looks as it was small, I like there the surrounding tombstones that now tell about the context
have a nice day JY

Graal (58319) 2009-09-27 23:13

Hi Kath,
an interesting old cemetery. Good informations and 2 images. I read W. Scott's novel about Rob Roy. Well done photos. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

paura (38784) 2009-09-28 4:40

Kath,
A charming Place despite the sadness that can represent for someone. Sharpness and pp art are very nice. Excellent photo job indeed.

Regards

Paulo

holmertz (9805) 2009-09-28 8:06

Hello Kath,
A fascinating place with a lot of atmosphere. The picture is as sharp and perfectly exposed as ever, but isn't it just a bit tightly cropped at the bottom?
Kind regards,
Gert

leonorkuhn (13785) 2009-09-28 9:59

Hi Kath,

Rob Roy became a legendary figure,a popular taste attraction. Excellent capture of the ruins, in beautiful colors, great texture and very good light.

Greetings
Leonor

carper (65252) 2009-09-28 10:49

good photo here Kath,
nice balance, good details, fine light, very good contrast, what can I say more. have a good evening Kath.
regard jaap

chawax (6102) 2009-09-28 11:11

Hi Kath,
I am very surprised that such architecture exists in Scotland, the bell tower really looks like the ones you can see on chapels in Brittany !
Regards,
Olivier

s_lush (2326) 2009-09-29 10:22

Hello Kath,
This historic place is captured perfectly well, with all elements of the composition having come from the past. Very good image and excellent commentaries! Thanks!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Cricri (43360) 2009-09-29 12:32

Hi Kath
Jolies teintes de vert qui ce marie si bien avec le gris des vielles pierres, belle présentation et note, juste un peu serré sur l'avant qui coupe les pierres tombales..
Friendship
cricri

JCG (25553) 2009-09-30 2:50

Hello Kath,

Character who recalls me film on the life of this Robin of Scottish wood, with the excellent actor Liam Neeson. An interesting framing on what remains of what had to be a beautiful church. I like the place of these two trees in background which fill the hole with the back of the building. Much atmosphere on this place. Interesting photograph just like your WS and Internet link. Thank you Kath.

With all my friendships and a very good day,

Jean-Charles

Angshu (33891) 2009-09-30 8:29

Hello Kath
The 2 trees in the BG are most attractive to say the least...are they shaped or this is natural? I was about to say that the gravestones are a bit tightly framed in the lower frame, then I saw your thread with Gert, and I understand the problem you faced. Well composed with very nice colour contrasts in this Rob Roy country. I had seen the film where Liam Neeson starred as Rob Roy, though I do not know how much had been fictionalised in the film, as always :-)
Best Regards
Angshu

coco (27962) 2009-09-30 22:51

Hi Kath.

Another good work with the composition, exposure and note.
I like it a lot and this looks a very nice and interesting place.

Well done.

Philippe (11779) 2009-10-10 7:18

Hi, Kath. The gravestones and the ruins of the little chapel stand well out against the surrounding vegetation. There is a nice array of green tones in the foreground, which contrast well with the sky.
Have a nice weekend,
Philippe

batalay (21086) 2009-10-23 0:08

Hello Kath,

I love this bucolic scene — the old stone structure left in ruins, weather worn gravestones still with an air of order, and especially the inclined one (but I wish you had included its base). The grass, nonetheless, is well manicured, and British! Your note is excellent, and the whole package is worthy of inclusion in a tourist books. There use to be encyclopedic RAA books. Do they still exist?

Warm regards from Virginia,

Bulent

plimrn (19688) 2009-10-27 18:32

Hi Kath,
The two trees seem to complete the ruined church while the clouds seem to emmanate from the tree tops. In addition to your carefully planned framing, the sharpness and colors are superb.

I'm very fond of your map links, I should give them a try again. The WS adds interesting detail, as Francisco says, it's interesting to see flowers. The knowledge of the Mac Gregors rise might touch off another massacre.

Hope you had a great trip.
HLJ, Pat