I ventured out hillwalking yesterday in absolutely atrocious weather – high winds and driving rain, mainly because I didn’t get out at the weekend, and I was going stir crazy. Its an experience being out on the high ground in such conditions, and an oddly enjoyable one, just because its unusual for us to be out in extreme weather. The downside was that photography was virtually impossible. Visibility was at tens of meters at best as I was up inside the clouds, and even if there had been a view, the camera wouldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds in the downpour. So, to get my photography fix, I found myself stopping the car every so often on the way home where I could see brightly coloured fallen leaves. Anyone who spotted me bent double at the roadside, in pouring rain, gathering up wet leaves, must have doubted my sanity. I probably didn’t look much more sane later at home, with the same wet leaves spread out on the floor. But, at least I could get some photography in, while keeping the gear dry.