CALM IN A STORM
Finding the Hebridean seascapes a powerful muse, Margaret Soraya believes we can all learn from the peace and tranquility of solitude
Margaret Soraya finds peace in the Hebrides' stormy weather
Finding calm in a world full of distraction can sometimes seem an impossible task, but for landscape and wedding photographer Margaret Soraya, the epitome of peace, tranquility and mindfulness lies only a stone’s throw from our doorsteps, writes Rosie Morton. Based in Drumnadrochit and frequently venturing over to the Hebrides, the seascapes of the islands have served as creative spaces for Soraya – powerful in their solitude and vivid in their blue, green and turquoise palettes.
Deeply concerned with the positive state of quietude, Soraya finds the untouched beauty of coastline and white sands her ideal muse – and water has a large role to play in that. ‘I always had this dream of living by the sea,’ she says, explaining she ‘tootles round’ Loch Ness every day for a swim. ‘Water is where I feel completely at home – it makes me feel so calm and alive.
‘My photography is about how I’m feeling in that moment. And that’s a lot to do with being alone. I just feel amazing and happy and revitalised when I’m alone. That’s what I’m trying to bring out in the images.’
Capturing a beautiful juxtaposition of calm in a storm, doing so by slowing down the shutter speed of her camera, her dreamy images are intrinsically ‘quiet’ – an element of her work she has found immensely beneficial to her mental wellbeing. Often waiting long periods for the right conditions, Soraya camps out in her van awaiting the perfect storm.
‘Saligo Bay, on Islay, is just such a nice memory,’ she says. ‘It was this really awe-inspiring day. I had been waiting four days on the island, and when the waves came they were incredible.’
Water is where I feel completely at home – it makes me feel so calm and alive