Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 11 on 17/11/2003.

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Sam Torrance

EACH ISSUE WE FEATURE A TOP CELEBRITY’S FAVOURITE LOCATION, WITH NARRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM TOP LENSMEN ANDY HALL. HE STARTS WITH 2002 RYDER CUP CAPTAIN SAM TORRANCE

Sam Torrance is a favourite son of Scotland, especially after leading Europe’s successful Ryder Cup team in 2002. I was delighted that he agreed to be a participant for my book - A Sense of Belonging to Scotland; The Favourite Places of Scottish Celebrities – my photographic collection of landscapes chosen by well-know Scots as personally special to them.

Sam’s choice allowed me the opportunity to photograph the Firth of Clyde which has a place in the hearts of so many Scots from the South West of Scotland.

This shot of Great Cumbrae and Arran beyond is taken from beside a famous landmark in Largs, Ayrshire, called The Pencil. It is the view that Sam had from his house as he grew up in this attractive town which overlooks the Firth of Clyde.

The Pencil is a wonderful location to photograph. My first debate was whether to include the obelisk itself but I decided, having done my customary walk around, that the yellow rocks in the foreground presented the perfect contrast to the dual blues of the water and the sky, producing interesting texture and colour.

The photograph was taken early on an April morning, after a particularly wet and dreich weekend. But for every negative there is a positive and, by staying on for an extra day, I was rewarded with an atmosphere which was as clear as I could have hoped for, completely devoid of any
impurities in the air.

As a town, Largs appears a total of three times in the book. Billy McNeill’s favourite view is from Haley Brae and the G.....

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By Andy Hall

Section : Celebrity Scotland

Page number : 13