Capturing bold colours and graphic shapes on a crossing to Mull

There’s something about ferry journeys that always feels a little magical: the slow glide across the water, the sea breeze cutting through the quiet hum of engines, and the shifting palette of light and colour that plays across the deck.

On a crisp and beautifully sunny day in April, I travelled from Oban to the Isle of Mull. While the stunning natural scenery often takes centre stage on this route, I found myself drawn to something a little more unexpected – the ferry itself.

As the light intensified, so did the colours. Bold reds from the seating, industrial greens of the deck and hull, and high-contrast yellow safety lines all leapt out against the deep shadows cast by the morning sun. The ferry became a study in geometry and texture, its everyday details transformed into something almost abstract.

I noticed how graphic and striking these elements became under such strong light (sunshine and clear blue skies, in Scotland, in April, of all places, yes, I know). The vibrant colour palette of red, green, blue and yellow felt almost deliberate – a Mondrian moment in the middle of the Hebrides. I aimed to capture this visual energy, turning ordinary travel into a vivid visual graphic experience.

Photography has a way of revealing the unnoticed – and this crossing reminded me that sometimes, the story isn’t only about the destination or the landscape, but about the small, saturated moments we pass through on the way.