Crofter Eric Ibister, 78, grew up on Foula. He’s left the island only twice – and one of those two times was for his own birth. Initially Mitchell was going to be introduced to Eric by another islander. But Mitchell wound up driving past Ibister’s house and saw him feeding his cow, Daisy, and goat, Dixy, outside. On a whim, Mitchell stopped to say hello and ask if he could snap a few photographs. 

To his surprise, Ibister was effusive, telling him to come right inside – even though people had told Mitchell not to «spring» on him. In retrospect, Mitchell said, laughing, «we think it was mistaken identity... His eyesight’s not the best.» 

Mitchell was staying with another local who Ibister knew well. The two were about the same height, wore a similar flat cap and Mitchell had borrowed his car. «But once I was in, we got to chatting,» Mitchell said, adding that the crofter very quickly realised Mitchell was not, in fact, the islander he knew. «I was there for 1.5 hours.» (Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)