Highland Cattle at Sunset – Machrie in Monochrome
One of the quiet joys of working on the Isle of Arran is the ability to slow down and truly observe the relationship between land, light, and life. I found that connection again one evening near Machrie, as the sun was dipping low and the fields turned to a tapestry of shifting shadows and golds. There, standing almost as still as the stones the area is known for, were a small group of Highland cattle – unhurried, statuesque, and perfectly at home in their rugged surroundings.
This time, I made a conscious decision to shoot in black and white. While the golden light of a Machrie sunset is a spectacle in itself, stripping away the colour allowed me to focus entirely on the textures – the matted curls of their coats, the silhouette of horns against soft backlight, the tufts of rough grass breaking up the frame. In monochrome, these familiar beasts take on an almost timeless quality. The details become more pronounced: the way the fringe hangs across a gentle eye, the contrast between coarse fur and soft background, the layered depth of a Highland coat.
Highland cattle have a presence that lends itself so well to black and white photography. Their slow movements and dignified air seem to carry stories from generations past. These are not hurried animals; they’re born of a landscape that values resilience, patience, and peace – and in that respect, they mirror the island itself.
I spent a good while with them – crouching low behind clumps of grass, letting them settle into my presence, and waiting for the moment when the light fell just right across a shoulder or horn. Some of the images in this set capture direct eye contact, others are more about form and shape – horns cutting across the frame or a profile set starkly against the fading field.
Machrie is a place where time feels elastic. There’s a stillness to it – whether you’re at the stone circles or in the company of grazing cattle – that lends itself to slow, deliberate photography. This shoot wasn’t planned, but it reminded me how valuable it is to carry a camera always, and how fleeting light can transform the ordinary into something quietly profound.
These images were all taken using my Nikon Z9 and finished in black and white to draw attention to line and texture over tone. I hope they give you a sense of the calm and dignity of these wonderful animals, and the hushed magic of a Machrie evening.
