It took me awhile to come up with a photograph for this week’s Alphabet Photography Project by Charly over at PodCast. This week the letter is U. My photo was nearly “unusual” a photograph I snapped on my iPhone the other day while leaving a taster session at Hay’s Dock cafe restaurant for their special Shetland Wool Week menu. The unusual scene I found myself staring at was a collection of white textile jackets and bizarre hats arranged on display poles in a wooden boat in the foyer. You can see this photo on my Instagram feed.
I thought perhaps a photograph from one of our trips to Unst, the most northerly inhabited British Isle might do and I began editing one of Muckle Flugga with its lighthouse when I found the above photograph I’d taken in 2003 of the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival.
Up Helly Aa is Europe’s largest fire festival, taking in place in Shetland’s main town, Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January. Despite living here in Shetland for 15 years I’ve only been to the festival a handful of times. Let’s just face it, the inclement weather which so often befalls us during the winter months, the crowds, the fact that if you don’t get there early and grab a place next to the wall you’ll end up watching the whole thing through someone else’s digital camera or iPhone screen means I quite often sit at home and watch the event live streaming on 60 North TV – Promote Shetland’s internet broadcasting initiative. Plus, my night time photography is rubbish!
Nonetheless, it is a fantastic event to watch and if you can make it up for it I would urge you to do so, at least once. Go for the whole haul too – dancing and partying well into the night in the local halls. Don’t worry, the following Wednesday is a public holiday here in Shetland allowing everyone to rest.
So, for this week’s Alphabet Photograph Project U is for Up Helly Aa.
A is for… Adventure
B is for… Brave
C is for… Coast
D is for… Derelict
E is for… Education
F is for… Fishing Industry
G is for… Green
H is for… Helicopter
I is for… Iron Age
J is for… Jelly Sweets
K is for… Kohlrabi
L is for… Lynn
M is for… Marmoset
N is for… Noise
O is for… Orangedale
P is for Puffin
Q is for Quarry
R is for… Ruins
S is for Sculpture
T is for… Time
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Alison says
I would love to go to this festival, seen lots of photos. Your photo is amazing
Elizabeth says
Thanks Alison 🙂 My night time photography skills are desperately needing improvement. Maybe I’ll learn how to use my camera properly before the next festival and get some better snaps – glad you like this one though; it is my favourite.
Mummy of Two says
That sounds like a great festival and what a unique choice for U!
Elizabeth says
Thank you! 🙂
Sally - My Custard Pie says
What a fascinating name for a festival. Learn so much about a remote bit of UK from you always.
Elizabeth says
Thanks Sally, I am so glad you are enjoying the bits and pieces I share of my little island home 🙂
sustainablemum says
What an amazing picture! Sounds like a wonderful festival.
Elizabeth says
Thank you, it really is a superb event (when the weather is favourable!) 😀
Sara (@mumturnedmom) says
Fabulous photo. this is something I have always wanted to go to x
Elizabeth says
Thanks Sarah – maybe one day you’ll make it up here for the festival – it’s a fantastic event!
City Coastal Lifestyle says
Sounds like a great festival, we have an annual one down here but don’t go anymore, you need to get there so early and park miles away. Thanks for the note x
Elizabeth says
Oooh? What’s the name of your fire festival? I’d love to read up about it!
Sarah Willoughby says
Wow, this is an utterly perfect picture.
I love the warmth captured in this shot- really makes me look forward to bonfire night for some reason 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thanks Sarah – you can feel the warmth of the fire from quite a distance away it gets that big and fierce! 🙂
Hannah Staveley says
My word what an amazing picture.x
Elizabeth says
Thanks Hannah, it’s an amazing event to photograph!