LENSMAN ON WHY HE’S GIVEN UP TAKING PANORAMIC SHOTS TO
40 Sunday Mail
Do Colin Prior’s observations match current scientific thinking?
Dr Luciana Esteves, , associate professor of physical geography y at the University of Bournemouth, says they mostly do.
She said: “An increased variability in n weather patterns has been reported in many y other parts of the world. d.
“In some locations, limitations in reliable data prevent a scientific confirmation n – there is a large variability in temperature, , rainfall and wind, and this makes it more difficult to be certain about trends.
“But acknowledging g that we may not yet be e able to quantify or statistically prove that weather variability results from global warming does not mean that the effects are not occurring.
“Damage to beauty spots is not an issue specific to Scotland.
“Most people will not venture out more than, perhaps, 500m from the main access point. It’s very important to ensure these are not too close to very sensitive habitats.
“Attitudes towards plastic have changed. As we are all much more aware of the issue, it’s important to consider whether plastic waste on beaches has got worse – or we just think it has.”
Years at ththe peaks of Scottish mountains have havegivenp given photographer Colin Prior an eagle-eye view of changescha to the natural worworld.
And increasincreasingly he doesn’t like what he sees.see
Climate chanchange, tourism, litter and the rise of social media are trashing Scotland’sScotl landscape and wildlife.
Colin, whohwhohas just been given the Scottish AwardAw for Excellence in Mountain Culture,C has given up depicting the panoramic views that madema his name. Instead, tthe 61- year- old plans to spespend the rest of his career takingtaki photographs that show theth damage caused by human behaviour.b
He said: “Photography has to be underpinnedund by a meaningfulmeaningfu story. I want to say sometsomething about the natural worldw which is in demise. I wi l l spend the rest of my working career taking photographsph that raise awarenessaw of the environment.”environm
WeatherWeath is as important to a landslandscape photographer as it is to a farmer – and he has notinoticed a shift over the last decade.dec
Colin said: “Back when I startestarted, the weather was more sstable and more predicpredictable. Weather forecaforecasting was more rudimrudimentary. I used to subscribesubsc to a service called Metfacts – it was two linesl saying what the weatherw was going to be and I had to pay for it.”it
SomeSo things, like hav ing snow in GlencoeGle in the second weekwe in February, werewe a given. No longer.lon As winters get milderm and damper, eye-eycatching photos