Instagrammer Of The Week: Eilidh Cameron

When I was younger I loved art and wanted to be an artist, I loved painting the Scottish landscape and used to go out and take basic photos of local views to refer back to when painting, but gradually I got more and more interested in photographing the landscape rather than painting the landscape.
http://instagram.com/p/BDxPoJCN08v/
What is the inspiration behind your Instagram handle?

There wasn’t a huge amount of thought really behind my handle, I wanted to be recognised as a photographer so I just used my name. My name is very traditionally Scottish so I suppose it also represents the part of the world I come from.
http://instagram.com/p/BDsD8pyt0-l/
What are some of your favourite things to photograph?

I love photographing the dramatic skies you get in Scotland and the beautiful light these skies produce, particularly when this happens over the islands of Jura and Mull. I’m also very fond of a good reflection.
http://instagram.com/p/BDAXj5nN0yd/
Has Instagram changed the way you photograph?

It definitely has, Instagram has made me work harder and push myself to produce bigger and better shots. Particularly now that I’ve got a large number of followers and so many people see my work, I don’t want to disappoint the people who follow me. I guess it has also brought out my ambitious and competitive side: I want to be the best in the field – I think I’ve a long way to go in that respect, however, as there are some exceptional Scottish Instagrammers.
http://instagram.com/p/BCr-_t6N09k/
Who or what inspires you?

The Scottish landscape definitely inspires me. It’s not just beautiful – it has something more, a soul or a spirit. Photographer wise, Colin Prior is a big inspiration.
http://instagram.com/p/BDiAZGbt09u/
What do you think makes a good photo?

I think composition and light are a big factor in making a good photo, but most importantly I think a photo needs a sense of atmosphere and mood. Anyone can capture a pretty view but you need that something extra to make a photo stand out.
http://instagram.com/p/BCUwT1sN0-4/
What message do you want to convey with your photographs?

I mentioned above that Scotland is more than a pretty face, it also has a soul and I want to capture that in my photographs. I also want to show the world how beautiful Scotland is and how incredible nature is in general. Many of the landscapes which I photograph have been carved by ice and that just blows my mind.
What motivates you to continue taking photographs?

My love for photography and Scotland is the main thing that motivates me, my favourite thing in the world is being in the outdoors, among nature and taking photos. But I also want to be a well known professional photographer so having that goal also motivates me.

http://instagram.com/p/BDSbzsyN06R/
How do you find subjects that you want to take photos of? For example, do you travel to locations you know you’ll find appealing, or take pictures as you experience life?

Yes, I would say that exploring Scotland is the best way to find locations to photograph. I also get a lot of ideas from Instagram. But sometimes a photography opportunity will appear out of nowhere; there have been many times I’ve had to slam the breaks on and abandon my car…maybe not the most advisable thing to do, however!
http://instagram.com/p/BBmkflEN0wF/
Among your photos, which are your favourite(s) and why?

I think my favourite shots have been my early morning shots at Kilchurn castle. The location is a photographer’s dream and early mornings produce the best conditions.
http://instagram.com/p/BDVAdK4N0-h/

And finally, what is on the cards for you in the future?

I plan to continue photographing Scotland and exploring new places. I’ve just booked a holiday to Skye in Autumn, Skye has always been at the top of my bucket list since I was wee so I’m very excited for that. I’ve also got a couple of potential exciting photography opportunities in the pipeline so I’m keeping my fingers crossed all goes well with that.
We’re sure they will! Thanks so much for talking to us, Eilidh.