Hydro is focus for photographer

The Lawers section of the Breadalbane hydro plant collects water through a system of tunnels and aqueducts and diverts it into Lochan Na-Lairige

A photographer is spending two months documenting Scottish hydro power schemes.

London-based Toby Smith's previous project, Light After Dark, featured England's 32 coal-fired power stations.

In capturing his latest images, he has experienced temperatures as low as -15C, during some of Scotland's coldest winter months in 100 years.

The project to create 12 large-scale prints has support from power company Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

Mr Smith has so far visited hydro power reservoirs at the Breadalbane scheme in Perthshire and lochs Ericht and Lednock in Perth and Kinross.

Rock fall

Last year, SSE began consultations about a new hydro scheme above Loch Ness.

The company proposes to build a plant that could produce six times more power than its Glendoe development near Fort Augustus, which was opened by the Queen in June 2009.

Glendoe, built at a cost of £140m, had to close in August after a rock fall in the tunnel and is not expected to be back online until 2011.

The planned new site is on the Balmacaan Estate, between Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston.

It would require a dam and a new reservoir to be built.