Apologies rather busy just now and not getting out and about so have been delving in to the archives and this appeared.I was drawn to the sun attempting to break through the thick cloud over the Cairngorm’s – with limited effect.
Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Complex Weather – Loch Morlich 33 comments
Muted Loch Duich 30 comments
I have been so many locations recently when the sun hasn’t even peaked out from the cloud and I haven’t had the time to hang around for the light to change. This can leave very flat opportunities – until recently the camera would probably have remained in the bag. But as an amateur with limited time out and about I have to deal with what I can get and lets face it this is the Scotland many people are faced with. So your challenge here is to look that bit closer for the light, it is there very subtly – these locations and conditions always generate a calm which relaxes me.
Covesea Starlight Dance 20 comments
This is a shot I have been after for while now but it had been to windy for lengthy exposures. The other challenge was only a new moon in the sky filtered by clouds meant using a torch to manipulate the settings. Most notable challenge was focus with insufficient light for the autofocus to hang on then it was back to good old fashioned manual focus – equally challenging without cross-hairs – but trial and error prevailed – I like the lick of cloud breaking up the starry backdrop. I learnt a lot and am really starting to enjoy night photography – there are some excellent results to be had.
Crash landed a Hunters Moon 18 comments
Well I though I would demonstrate the diversity of textures in the Scottish landscape – even on a dricht day contrasts can be found – less than 300 meters from my misty Loch Duich was this stark contrast – by avoiding the mist and dricht using along lens to isolate the reflection – I ended up with this. I was drawn to the circular shape and the title fell from that – admittedly the colour is a little flat but then that is how it was – notice also the tide draining out of this sea loch placing the seaweed just below the surface in nice lines 
Special Feature - Scott Marshall Photography (Scotland) 11 comments
Special Feature
Scott Marshall Photography (Scotland)
I don't think anyone who knows me or has followed my blog will be surprised that my Special Feature for the month of February is all about Scotland.
And Scott over at Scott Marshall Photography perfectly captures the exact essence of what makes me love Scotland.
In all fairness I have to give a shout-out to my gal Gunta over at
What a privilege to be featured on someone else's blog - especially when the feature has been so beautifully drawn together by Tahira's Shenanigans. But why would you take my word for it after all I have been known to utilise all sorts of exagerated statements to increase my viewing statistcs - so please dont simply take my word pop along to Tahira's blog and gauge for yourself. My heartfelt thanks to Tahira for the feature and hope at the very least it plants the seed towards a trip to Scotland - enjoy
Soflty ~ Softly Loch Duich 26 comments
I have been hankering at taking a minimalist soft focus image – which was inspired by work from a few of my fellow bloggers. I wont name names at this point but those who follow similar artists to myself will have a reasonable idea. Anyway something a little different which evokes the moodiness of Scotland at it’s best. Enjoy
Kinloss Abbey 17 comments
Had this hanging around for a while but wasn’t to sure anyway as I have to go and bury my head in my first assignment for my just commenced Photography Higher Professional Diploma – I will leave you to decide if I got it level in the end 
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A Haunted Carbisdale Castle Hides amongst the Trees 21 comments
I hope your eyes are wandering across the vista seeking the haunted Castle which I am referring to. I stayed here when I was 15 on a tour of the Highlands which was run by my school. This and a subsequent trip to Minnesota have in many shaped the creative side of me. I have ghost story to tell with this picture – but you wouldn’t believe me and it would take to long. So please just enjoy this and if you get the chance to go and stay (it is Scottish Youth Hostel Association venue) don’t think twice.
I long for Spring 17 comments
The classic Scottish Golf tease it could be Turnberry to the uninitiated it is in fact a small 9 hole golf course called Covesea after the lighthouse of the same name. In the early Spring (not that long now) the yellow sea of gorse comes alive and we know we are emerging from winters grip.
Converging Texture 20 comments
Well I was planning to post this image some 3 hours ago but I started messing about with the crop and 3 hours later I still wasn’t happy but decided to hit save anyway. It was a lot easier when I posted this on Instagram less to think about. All in all it is about the myriad of colours and light n shade which all converge on the building. Classic harsh winter light
Light Box – a call from the Heavens 52 comments
Using an old Post Office Red Telephone Box to filter the sunlight bursting through the cloud after sunrise – the filter generated some really dramatic light – I particularly like the chair drowned in the light drama
Gentle afterglow 19 comments
Here we are in the depths of winter and I realised I have not generated a good old fashioned sunset since mid November – now there is a reason for that of course (I am working when the light departs) but I was down the beach last weekend when this happened and I thought you may like this little chase of light……
Assynt Mono 15 comments
This is a shot I took along time back which compositionally I was happy with but the upper part of the Sky was alittle blown so I thought I would mess around with some infrared & mono interpretations. Anyway the long and the short of it is I rather like this and may well try some more IR shots. Enjoy
Glasgow Sampler 27 comments
Docks
Bridge over Coloured Water
Waverley
Queen St
Old within New
Armadilio
Shipbuilding Past
Finneston
I am the eye in the Sky
Photographer Captured
Wing and aPrayer
Florence?
Still Game
Green Descent
Walking Away
Runes
Self
Straight Ahead
Trapped Animal
Necropolis
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder
Arc of a Diver 30 comments
This is probably the image that made me take photography more seriously – for a long time I regarded it as my best shot – the last time I rolled this out was May last year and it received a mere 8 likes (naturally I was dissapointed but was not long in to blogging so no real surprises. Anyway this shot is a wet film rescan and is now 25 years old – so here is my question has it stood the test of time? Secondly do you think it reflects my style as you have come to know it? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Sail with me – Clachnaharry Sea Lock 18 comments
Some changes then – I have altered the name of the blog – have no fears your subscriptions etc are all intact – in changing the name I am aiming to build my Google SEO. I thought this particular photograph suitable for this change as it is the sea lock which is located at the junction where the Moray Firth and Beauly Firth merge and you can enter the Great Glen onwards ultimately to Loch Ness (home of Nessie). In summary the lock is at a crossroads just like myself. One journey ends and another begin’s …
Forget small glasses – Whisky in large Barrels 20 comments
right that’s me sorted for the bells – lang may yer lum reek – see you in 2013
Merry Christmas from Elgin Cathedral the ‘Lantern of the North ‘ 35 comments
The Lantern of the North resplendent in it’s winter coat
@skm1963 my recent Instagram’s 19 comments
I use Instagram for some fun and this week with emerging policy amendments – the ‘IG’ community spoke with a firm voice and apparently we were listened to – we shall see
Osprey Height’s – Still Game 14 comments
For the the Scot’s amongst you or indeed those who steep themselves in Scottish Culture. This is the scene for Cult Scottish TV comedy about the lives of two OAP’s Jack and Victor and their views on how it used to be in the old days and how bad it is now. For those whom haven’t seen the program you will just have to enjoy this high-rise reflection and long for summer to return.
Napoli – Thunderstorm 4 comments
Another pretty bland view which to be honest I wouldn’t give a second glance towards unless I was witnessing this incredible surreal lighting situation where the sun is setting behind me generating this intense backlight against a stormy sky and it was being punctuated by lightening bursts being filtered by the cloud – One of the most dramatic light dances I have ever witnessed.
Bàgh Shanabhait – Wet n Wild 20 comments
Sandwood Bay (Scottish Gaelic: Bàgh Shanabhait) is a natural bay in Sutherland, on the far north-west coast of mainland Scotland. It is best known for its mile-long beach and Am Buachaille, a sea stack, and lies about 5 miles south of Cape Wrath. Behind the bay’s large dunes, stretches Sandwood Loch – a freshwater loch full of brown and sea trout.
Though remote, and with no road access, the bay is easily reached by a 4-mile long, yet well-trodden and fairly flat, path leading from the gravel car park at the hamlet of Blairmore. Sandwood Bay is part of the Sandwood Estate which is run by the John Muir Trust. The beach is considered to be one of the cleanest and most unspoilt beaches in the whole of mainland Britain.
Taking in the view – Oldshoremore 17 comments
Well as you tolerated my Glaswegian Social Commentary, I thought I may continue to indulge some people photography – here are three ladies soaking up the view in beautiful light at Oldshoremore, Sutherland. The view which they are not sharing with you is wild and magnificent. First and foremost I loved the light, but I clocked the other person dissapearing (hands on hips) in to the distance and the wonderful white house isolated by the dark sky. I immediately thought they had been socially excluded from the bench threw a temper tantrum and walked off in a huff.
Glasgow a Social Commentary 5 comments
Ballandalloch Gatehouse 11 comments
Yes this is just the gatehouse – several miles down the road from the Castle – it is located in the heart of Speyside, near to the famed local whisky distilleries of Cragganmore, Glenlivet, Glenfarclas and Glenfiddich. Surrounded by majestic hills, and with the tumbling waters of the Rivers Spey and Avon flowing through the grounds, the setting is truly magnificent.
A Wash of Colour 18 comments
This is another long lens landscape – I took several shots to get what I was seeing with my eyes, I was messing around shooting across the light. I loved the ruffled patch of water and I loved the light on the trees to the left of the image, but was failing to join them in an interesting way so I moved my perspective more in to the light and hey presto the graduation you can now see. With strong light and reflection fading towards the patch of different water. In the end I moved from being frustrated to being satisfied. I hope you enjoy it too.
Play Misty for Me (#2) 35 comments
At this time of year the days are very short here in Moray and a little darkness can fill your mood – this dusk image seemed to capture that feeling – a lone tree peaking through twilight mist – spooky in a sensual way…….
Blue for You 15 comments
This is an archive repost from the “Burghead Sunset Sessions” a seminal week in November 2011 where I witnessed several wonderful sunsets in the same week.
Gordonstoun Autumnal Walk 17 comments
This is more the kind of drive that you would see in an English Parkland Estate, but the this is the school grounds through which a young Prince Charles would have wandered – the light was dull and flat but the leaves would not be defeated. I had no tripod so placed the camera on my woolly hat – to get the depth of a smaller aperture and used the timer at 1/8 sec.
Gallery of Remembrance (please open an image and reflect) 6 comments
It is my view that our freedom to live our lives in relative peace and have choices and opinions is down to those people who gave the ultimate sacrifice
Arable Seasons 23 comments
I wanted to brighten things up – I know you will be used to seeing reflections in my work – on this occasion however I have used farmland in varied state of being farmed. I like the collection of soft browns and autumn colours all being amplified by the depth of the reflection – but natural enough to display a range of surface textures – enjoy
First taste of Winter – Ben Wyvis 17 comments
Driving towards Inverness this weekend my eyes were drawn by the first dusting of snow on the mountain’s of Easter Ross. I couldn’t resist the temptation of capturing autumn colours contrasted against the snowline. Was even lucky enough to get some good sunshine kindly dance across the peak of Ben Wyvis, Easter Ross. This a long lens landscape taken from the dam at Loch Glascarnoch about 25 miles NW of Inverness.
My most successful Instagram’s and why are you not following me :D 32 comments
These are small snapshots of my most successful Instagram Images – I thought it might be interesting to share, couple of points to note – it is mainly my landscape work but not exclusively which is popular, wildlife on the whole struggles and people crash n burn – moody coastal scenes work every time but then I understand that. Anyway if you want to follow me on Instagram or Twitter just search @skm1963 – I find it fun and relaxing 
Dune Burst 12 comments
I love capturing the light pre-sunrise especially when there is high clouds to catch the light, here the sun has actually risen above the horizon but I have rapidly withdrawn to use the dunes as filter, I hope you like the result as much as me.
A Doe a Deer 11 comments
This was taken on the Rannoch Moor at Kingshouse Hotel right under the gaze of the Buachaille Etive Mòr (Scottish Gaelic: Buachaille Eite Mòr, meaning “the great herdsman of Etive”) clearly they have some sort of deal with the hotel chef’s
