Chasing Light at Dawn: Sunrise Over Holy Isle, Lamlash
There’s something timeless about standing by the shore at Lamlash in the quiet stillness before dawn. The rest of the island seems to be holding its breath, waiting for the first whispers of daylight. It's in that hush — just before the light breaks — that the magic begins.
I arrived well before sunrise, boots crunching softly on the damp shore, camera gear slung over my shoulder, and breath visible in the cool morning air. The sea was still, almost unnaturally so, as if it too was waiting. Across the water, Holy Isle lay like a sleeping giant, dark and solid against the delicate pre-dawn sky. I’ve stood in this spot many times before, but the light is never the same twice — that’s the beauty and challenge of shooting a sunrise here.
This morning, the conditions felt just right. A few boats lay anchored in the bay, their silhouettes calmly rocking in the tide, offering the perfect punctuation to an already cinematic scene. As the first streaks of colour stretched across the horizon — soft golds melting into lavender, blush pinks deepening into cobalt — I set up my tripod and began framing my shot.
I always find sunrise at Lamlash to be a deeply meditative experience. There’s something about watching the world slowly unveil itself from darkness, especially here, where Holy Isle’s quiet presence gives the scene a kind of spiritual grounding. It's easy to understand why this island, with its long history of religious retreat, feels sacred to so many. In the golden silence of early morning, it’s like the island reveals itself more fully, moment by moment, as the light glances across its contours.
As the sun crept higher, it painted the clouds with fleeting tones — those in-between hues that seem to exist only for a minute or two before vanishing into daylight. It’s these moments I chase as a landscape photographer — the ones that defy words but live on through the lens. I took a handful of frames in quick succession, letting the light lead the way, adjusting only slightly as the colours shifted and softened.
Eventually, the golds became whites, the purples faded to blue, and the warmth of the scene gave way to the crisp clarity of a new day. People began appearing along the shoreline, dog-walkers and early risers, unaware of the quiet show that had just taken place. I packed up my gear slowly, reluctant to leave that moment behind.
Photographing sunrise at Lamlash never gets old. The view across to Holy Isle is one of the most rewarding compositions on the Isle of Arran — ever-changing, ever-poetic. Each time I shoot there, I come away with not only images but a renewed sense of calm and connection. It’s mornings like this that remind me why I do what I do — chasing the light, standing still, and letting the landscape speak for itself.
