MV Scot Carrier heads out from Inverness Harbour, with the Pilot boat alongside. A quick snap taken from near the centre of the Kessock Bridge... they weren't hanging about.

I cycled to Inverness to check my proposed spot for an event photo shoot tomorrow. It's nothing major, but there's plenty potential for some good action shots. If I'm going to any kind of event, I always do some sort of preparation. A prior plan certainly makes me feel more relaxed and confident on the day.

Basic stuff - times and places noted. It's an outdoor watersport event that I've covered before. Outdoor - weather forecast has been monitored all week, and it's looking like it will start sunny intervals, becoming full sun later. That'll be great for autofocus, but the light direction and harshness means issues with shadows, and the risk of blown highlights with all the water about. Water levels have been checked all week, especially after the thunderstorms last weekend. They are high for the time of year, but thankfully much lower than a week ago. Too high would have meant finding another spot. Gear - tripod and plates; two cameras with a single lens each; all cleaned up and checked over. Batteries charged, and memory cards formatted. All to be packed in waterproof bags for sticking in a kayak that'll be used to get to the spot. So there's all the kayaking gear too. Plus lunch; plus...