This is from a wee walk on the West Beach the other evening, the longer evenings have been great but I have been unable to grab the opportunities with a multitude of personal inputs. Where I hope to ease in to my new career but the reality wont allow me to go quietly. This typical Moray lots going on – texture and light changes, reflections etc etc – I hope you enjoy. Your continued support is appreciated and highly motivational – Scott
I thought it only right and proper to share the other side of Skye (the we dont often have sunny days here Skye) this image was captured about 10 hours prior to Elgol 50 which allows for some compare and contrast. The shot is slightly further up the beach but in essence it is the same view (just a little tighter) the mountains had been drifting in and out of cloud – but on this occasion i liked the fact that you could see just the hills and cloud obscures the rest of the view. The challenge here was keeping the lens dry…. Enjoy
Well I am off on a bit of a photo sojourn – so I thought I better get posting or you will be losing interest in my blog. I am concious that I have been posting mainly landscapes recently so this time I thought – a little quirky architectural mono may be suitably different to keep you amused – anyway – as always you can decide – enjoy
It is moments like these that have convinced me to live here on the Moray Coast. That pre dawn moment, the town is still asleep not even the dog walkers are out just an idiot with a tripod – a calm nervous silence is all around.
Well my local icon wasn’t satisfied by playing second fiddle and basking in the shadow of some moody light. Red as my iconic friend is known wanted to be centre stage this time. I have several ideas in the pipeline which may become known as the Phonebox series or Red Moods – I can hear the gasps of anticipation.
Well I was hoping to challenge you a little here – this is taking my minimal theme to the extreme – have I gone to far 
Not a great deal to say here – simply a powerful light show – amplified by the still reflection upon an ebbing tide.
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.
I seen an image of one of the Moray coastal fishing villages which I knew was tweaked but I didn’t understand how so I went along took my own shot and have attempted the same effect – I spent a lot of time trial and error but think I have got the hang of it. Anyway you wont see too many of these – but I do feel this particular location works well for the tilt-shift process. Tilt-shift for the uninformed is Gaussian blur applied across all but a band of the image which you want to remain normal plus a little boost the contrast and saturation offering a dreamy toy village effect.
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
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
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.
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…….
Inverness Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Inbhir Nis) sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness, in Inverness, Scotland. The red sand stone structure evident today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn. It is built on the site of an 11th century defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court. There has been a castle at this site for many centuries. The castle itself is not open to the public but the grounds are.
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 
Not as dramatic as some of my recent images but I like it’s subtle and varied light sources, the two bursts of light on the island and the hint of some special light in the distance. My next post connect’s the two images and demonstrates how radically different images can be achieved by using a variety of locations and lenses.
Q – So what do you post after your most successful Photoblog image – bar none!
A – Something completely different – a Church and a Bridge gotta be safe really
Possibly one of the most specular sight’s I have ever witnessed, the rainbow was almost missed because of the quality of the existing light and reflections.
I think I would have to place this in my top three personal favourites………….
A lovely montage of Glasgow using the Clyde Arc Bridge to Frame the Armadillo and Finneston Crane – this was my first night shoot using a tripod and prolonged exposure – so was a big learning curve but I have learnt lots.
I hope you enjoy this – because I am no lark!
This is the dome of a shopping mall in Livingston Scotland – offering some lovely silvery contrast to the imminent downpour.
One from the Archives
Post sunset hue signals the last action of the day
Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building) belonging to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320.
I attained my 200th follower today – thanks every one
low light engagement – Moray Firth – Scotland
Duffus Castle, near Elgin, Moray, Scotland, was a motte-and-bailey castle and was in use from c.1140 to 1705.
I suppose this type of image is starting to define my style – large open spaces mottled by a variety of light. I do love those aftersun shots – for me more interesting than the big warm ball – thoughts
Looking towards Skye from Applecross Pass in the foreground are the small Island’s of Scalpay and Raasay
we all need some space for reflection – a Moray moodscape
A view from the River Lossie estuary witnesses late twilight dipping over the Lossiemouth Town Skyline, Moray, Scotland
The scale of Fort George takes your ‘breath’
Fort George is quite simply the finest example of 18th-century military engineering you’ll find anywhere in the British Isles. This vast garrison fortress was begun in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden (1746), which crushed the final Jacobite Rising. It took over 20 years to complete and in the event it was never attacked. It remains virtually unaltered today, and still serves as an important military base.
peace and tranquillity on the Moray Coast
paddling at Cullen on the Moray Coast
Based in Lossiemouth, Scotland. My main interest is in landscape, seascape and skyscape photography, equally I enjoy shape and texture imagery. UK Photo Sales & USA Photo Sales
my photoblog is Scott Marshall Photography (@skm1963)
