Gezicht op Bealach na Bà before 1865

This is "Gezicht op Bealach na Bà," a landscape captured by Thomas Ogle with a camera. Ogle invites us to consider our place in the grand narrative of nature. Consider how the romanticization of landscape intertwines with notions of national identity. The Scottish Highlands, in particular, have been subjects of both celebration and contestation. Reflect on how the rugged terrain and ethereal light capture the imagination, turning a place into an emblem. This image resonates with a collective memory of resilience, but also displacement through events such as the Highland Clearances. This history saw communities uprooted to make way for sheep farming and hunting estates, profoundly changing the social fabric of the region. What does it mean to depict a landscape that is both beautiful and bears the marks of cultural loss? This photograph prompts us to reflect on the stories we tell about places and ourselves.