Five Memorable Images From July

July was a busy month for the Below the Skye Line project.  In total Gill dived 11 times at 6 different locations and from these dives we have uploaded 50 images to share with you.  Below we have reproduced 5 memorable images from July which help showcase some of the projects underwater photography and also the ever increasing range of underwater life we are getting to make images of.

Nudibranch - Carbost - 3 July

Nudibranch at Carbost - 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Nudibranch's are beautiful delicate creatures which shed their shells before becoming adults and are often commonly referred to as sea slugs.  The 'coronet' in the image above is the external gills of the nudibranch.  If you wish to find out more about these wonderful creatures then click for their wiki page.

Also Jim Anderson hosts a website all about Scottish Nudibranches which includes many different images. He tries to classify and identify all the different types of Nudibranch he finds in Scottish waters.  His page can be found by clicking here.

Mussels - Carbost - 25 July

Young mussels covered by acorn barnacles and further small mussels. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Sticking with the same dive location of Carbost but changing species to mussels, found everywhere around the Isle of Skye.  Throughout June and into July we were mazed at the vibrant colours of the young mussles which we were able to capture due to a period of very clear water, some great light coming through from above the surface and just a touch of light from a strobe.  By the end of July, as the mussels grew, the colours faded.  The above image though was another sorce of delight as the macro lens on the canon brought in to sharp focus 100s of tiny mussels growing on a larger mussel shell.  Amongst the tiny mussels there are also growing acorn barnacles.

Crab Eye - Aird Bernisdale - 24 July

Detail of crab eye 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

It is not easy capturing tack sharp macro images underwater.  It can be difficult to keep the camera still due to the movement of the water.  This image is a great example of the skill Gill has as both a diver and photographer with a super close up of a crab's eye.

Each of the two primary eyes of the crab move independently on their own stalk.  The eye is a compound eye and is adapted to be very sensitive to light.  The eye gives 360 degree vision and can detect very small changes to both sunlight and moonlight.

Shrimp - Carbost - 25 July

Small shrimps translucent with splashes of colour 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Carbost was a really productive dive site in July and provides 3 of the 5 images selected for July's showcase.  This is a front on close up of a shrimp which highlights the detail of their mouthes and also provides detail of their translucent bodies.

Sea Gooseberry - Aird Bernisdale - 12 July

2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

A sea goosebury fires off and lights up green.  These small creatures are difficult to create good images off because they are nearly transparent and also very small.  There are over 90 different species of the sea gooseberry and they are found in most of the oceans around the world.

Sea gooseberries may look fragile but they have a voracious appetitie and can eat upto 10 times their own body weight a day.  As shown in the image, they have a beauty and grace in the water but once out of it collapse to a gelatinous blob - such a shame but hopefully for those unable to see them swimming our images are a small compensation.

It was very difficult reducing 50 images to just 5.  The majestic salmon, found at Glen Brittle, have not been included nor some lovely examples of starfish.

Who knows what August will bring!

First Images For Sale – Released

At last

We have often been asked whether our images from the Below the Skye Line project will be available for sale.  Well today it is great to announce that the standard answer of 'we hope so' has been changed to yes.  Yes the first images for sale from Below The Skye Line have been released.

Gill and Geraint are very pleased that after 16 months of the project the first 5 images have been released for sale either as prints, aluminium mount or acrylic mount products.

First Images For Sale Released - Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

First Images For Sale Released - Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Gill was absolutely staggered when she came across the young mussels that were growing in the waters just off Carbost earlier this year.  Skye was enjoying a period of fine weather.  The water was crystal clear.  Together it was perfect conditions to highlight the vibrancy of the colours evident in the growing shellfish.  For those who only see mature mussles the range of colour was a relevation.

Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

After a number of dives Gill had created some excellent images which highlighted the variety of colour to be found in these young mussels.  They were a special addition to the collection of images gradually being added to as the project progresses.

Mytilus edulis (common mussels) have the most wonderful colour when young. As they mature the vibrancy is lost as they take on the more traditional blue shell. 2020 Image from the Below the Skye Line project. Photographer: Gill Williams Post Production: Geraint Ashton Jones https://www.belowtheskyeline.com (Below the Skye Line / © Gill Williams & © Geraint Ashton Jones)

One of the reasons we have delayed offering prints was waiting to ensure that we could do so in a way that would provide high quality prints but still allow us to continue the work of the project as it was not intended 'to run a gallery'.  We are now able to do this with a partnership through Photoshelter and Loxley Colour

The system is fully automatic and designed to be as easy as possible.  If you do have a questions then drop us a direct message via our Facebook page.  Click here to go the gallery of images for sale.

Gill & Geraint - July 2020