Five Minutes With Luke Cartwright

We caught up with Cheshire based travel photographer Luke Cartwright to discuss where he draws his inspiration from & what keeps driving him North into Scotland.

What is your favourite equipment?

Canon 5DMK3, DJI Mavic Pro, Canon 24-70 F2.8L

Can you describe your photography style in 3 words?

Simple, relatable, communicative

What keeps driving you North into Scotland?

The sense of adventure – Joining the A82 and following the road up past loch Lomond and onward into Glen Coe before heading further into the isolation of the Highlands

How does Scotland compare to other areas you enjoy photographing?

The distinctive scenery of the Scottish Highlands makes the other areas I photograph seem tame and densely populated by comparison. The infinite landscape, abundance of lochs, land formations and hidden treasures make every trip memorable, exciting and stimulating – it always refreshes my creativity.

What would be your perfect Scottish road trip?

That’s a tough question. It would definitely need to start with a drive North through Glen Coe – I just can’t get enough of that ancient landscape. I’d really love to spend more time in the Highlands and as I’ve enjoyed my fair share of the ‘classic’ spots already, I’d love to just follow the roads, park my car and go hiking in any direction as I know that Scotland has plenty of isolated gold to be photographed

Do you have a standout photo from your trips here?

A photograph that I captured of The Ardverikie gatehouse last winter. I flew my drone in the middle of thick snowfall to create this photograph and I really just love the simplicity of it. It’s one of those photos where all the right ingredients came together and I’m just happy that the risk of flying my drone in the snow paid off.

There is no doubt you are a talented photographer. Do you have any advice for a budding photographer looking to visit Scotland for the first time?

Try not to plan too much, because things never tend to go to plan. I’d say that it’s good to organise a main route with the areas you’d like to visit, but it’s equally important to let the journey unfold by itself. There is lots to do and see in Scotland and I feel that it’s best just to let yourself get a little lost to get the most out of it.

Will we see you back in Scotland sometime soon?

Scotland will always bring me back and I plan to revisit once the autumn colours are in full swing – I’ve always wanted to see the Highlands at that time of year.

Find out more from Luke below