I think one of the things that one might consider doing is telling a story with your photographs. Journalists do this every day. How powerful a photograph can be, it can convey emotions, information, or a simple moment in time that is special.

Recently, when I was in Scotland doing photography with a group of friends, one of them used the term “Glen of Weeping” when referring to Glencoe. I had never heard the term before. And, then, later, when one of my friends took me to a spot near the entrance to the famous glen, I took this photograph.

You may view a larger copy of this photograph by clicking on it.

The term “Glen of Weeping” is often used to refer to Glencoe. From Wikipedia: “The Massacre of Glencoe occurred in Glen Coe, Scotland, in the early morning of 13 February 1692, during the era of the Glorious Revolution and Jacobitism. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen—Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achacon—although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned.”

I titled this photograph “Passage to the Glen of Weeping” for some reasons.

First, the tree is symbolic of both death and as a warning of what lies in the passage.

Second, the deep colors of red in the heather represent the blood that was shed here.

Third, the Orange colors of the grass represent William of Orange and the one’s whose inhuman killings were caused by him.

Fourth, there are those vistas in the distance, profoundly beautiful and in stark contrast to the dead tree. Here the symbolism is of what has been given to each of us on this beautiful earth, and what can be taken away by the folly of humankind.

I suppose that someone who views the photograph on my website might simply look at it with no further inquiry. But, then, perhaps one in a thousand will search the Internet for the phrase “Glen of Weeping” and there find the story.

That is my hope.