Early One Morning

The mist is still on the ground as dawn rises in to the sky in Moray. I thought to myself I haven’t posted some nice light for a while – so here you go – enjoy

A Bridge too far (Kessock)

The Beauly Firth becalmed, In the distance is the Kessock Bridge which replaced the ferry service back in 1982. Today’s traveller to the northern Highlands will often only see Inverness in passing. The A9 trunk road carrying traffic from Perth and all points south descends from the summit of Drumossie Muir and sweeps round the eastern side of Inverness. The roundabout close to the stands of Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club briefly interrupts progress, but beyond it you cross the Beauly Firth to the Black Isle via the Kessock Bridge. (Undiscovered Scotland). I loved the reflection but also the space and serenity.

The Fate of the Lady Elizabeth

On 4 December 1912, The Lady Elizabeth left Vancouver bound for Delagoa Bay Mozambique, with a shipment of lumber. The ship encountered severe weather halfway through the voyage and was damaged just off Cape Horn. Four crew members were lost overboard, along with the ship’s two boats and part of her deck cargo. She also sustained damage to the deck fittings, wheel, moorings, and other parts of the ship. Captain Hoigh ordered the ship to the nearest port for repairs. The Lady Elizabeth altered course for Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Fifteen miles outside Port Stanley, the Lady Elizabeth struck Uraine Rock just off Volunteer Point and suffered a six-foot break in the hull and keel along with a foot long hole. The ship began to sink but was able to get to Port Stanley for repairs. After the ship was examined, the Lady Elizabeth was condemned (declared unseaworthy) because of the damage.
In June 1913, she was condemned and converted into a coal hulk. She was sold to Crown Receiver of Wrecks, Falkland Islands for £1,000. The Lady Elizabeth remained stationed there until 17 February 1936 when her mooring lines broke during a storm and she drifted to where she now lies in Whale Bone Cove in Stanley Harbour.

I have my eye on you

I spent most of yesterday afternoon chasing Swallows in the grounds of Huntly Castle. I had several failed attempts under my belt when I peeked through an Arrow Loop (for bowmen to fire with some protection) to spot a resting swallow he was surprised to see me looking back I got off 3 shots 2 were pretty poor but this was pretty good I though next challenge will be to freeze them whilst they are flying – you might have to wait a while for that shot. Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, . They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter.

Eilean Donan Nightscape

Something to tide you over whilst I recover my crashed hard drive – and the lesson is always back up – I did

It’s a Puzzle

A close off centre crop of a Monkey Puzzle Tree – this is a close up taken with a 50-200 non VR lens. I would love to get hold of a Macro lens – would love to see the close up potential.

Portrait Landscape

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

Elgol 50

Classic Scotland nothing more to say – on sale at Photo4me.com

The Bridge over the Spey (Garmouth)

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

A Brush of Light

lots of subtle light varied in the way it is has dappled itself unequally across the sky and wet sand – somewhere in Moray – well you cant have all the details or you will be on my doorstep pinching my great sky’s

Beauly Firth Calm

I am afraid I have not been out and about recently as I am extremely busy which disappoints me immensely so rather than dig in to the archives this time I have decided to publish an image which has lain on the cutting room floor so to speak. I promise to catch up with all you wonderful blogs over the coming weeks. Enjoy

Complex Weather – Loch Morlich

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.

Sistine Chapel Interior – Rome

I am not of Catholic Faith however as today was the inauguration of Pope Francis I thought I would share a shot I took of the Sistine Chapel in Rome – The Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The ceiling is that of the large Papal Chapel built within the Vatican between 1477 and 1480. The chapel is the location for Papal Conclaves and many important services. The ceiling’s various painted elements form part of a larger scheme of decoration within the Chapel, which includes the fresco The Last Judgement on the sanctuary wall, also by Michelangelo.Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis of which the Creation of Adam is the best known, having an iconic standing equalled only by Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the hands of God and Adam being reproduced in countless imitations. The complex design includes several sets of individual figures, both clothed and nude, which allowed Michelangelo to fully demonstrate his skill in creating a variety of poses for the human figure, and have provided an enormously influential pattern book of models for other artists ever since.

a hint of what’s to come

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.

The Five Sisters of Kintail

I apologize for not replying to all of your recent comments but I wanted to share an image before departing for the weekend and I couldn’t do both. I promise to catch up early next week. I wish all the mothers a happy Mothering Sunday so make sure you spoil your Mum for at least one day of the year
Anyway I don’t post many Black and White landscapes but I thought the contrast in this scene lent itself to some mono treatment. I am rather pleased with it. I edited it in Lightroom 4 which I bought at student rates (I am a student after all) using my PayPal account generated from my photo sales so I actually earned this software which gave me a real thrill. I am hoping the reinvestment will pay for itself. Have a great weekend everyone and happy blogging.

Light’s On Nobody Home

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.

Santa Chiara

Well for those who have just started following my Photoblog you may not have connected with my captivation with Italy.  Her Majesty determined that I should to spend 4 months in Napoli – what was I to do. Naturally, I travelled far and wide – I loved Italy in every way. In Scotland  I was brought up in the bosom of the Church of Scotland – but the Italian churches were the most amazing spaces.   This is the Majolica Cloister known as the ‘Cloister of the Clarisses, transformed in 1742 by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro with the unique addition of majolica tiles in Rococò style.  The brash colour floral decoration define this cloister, with octagonal columns in pergola-like structure, likely unique and would seem to clash with the introspective world of cloistered nuns. The cloister arcades are also decorated by frescoes, now much degraded. Here you find it abandoned at the height of the sun only a Scotsman would venture out in such heat. 

 

Muted Loch Duich

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.

Fading Away

Well I was hoping to challenge you a little here – this is taking my minimal theme to the extreme – have I gone to far

Overwhelmed

Not a great deal to say here – simply a powerful light show – amplified by the still reflection upon an ebbing tide.

Covesea Starlight Dance

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.

Crovie at the edge (Tiltshift)

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.

Crash landed a Hunters Moon

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

Soflty ~ Softly Loch Duich

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

Saccharin – Eilean Donan

A castle had stood on this spot since the 13th Century. Following the failure of the Jacobite rising of 1715, the Jacobites, supporters of the exiled James Stuart, the “Old Pretender”, sought new support from Spain. An advance party of 300 Spanish soldiers arrived in Loch Duich in April 1719, and occupied Eilean Donan Castle. The expected uprising of Highlanders did not occur, and the main Spanish invasion force never arrived.
At the beginning of May, the Royal Navy sent ships to the area. Early in the morning on Sunday 10 May, HMS Worcester, HMS Flamborough, and HMS Enterprise anchored off Eilean Donan and sent a boat ashore under a flag of truce to negotiate. When the Spanish soldiers in the castle fired at the boat, it was recalled and all three ships opened fire on the castle for an hour or more. The next day the bombardment continued while a landing party was prepared. In the evening under the cover of an intense cannonade, the ships’ boats went ashore and captured the castle against little resistance. According to Worcester’s log, in the castle they found “an Irishman, a captain, a Spanish lieutenant, a sergeant one Scotch rebel and 39 Spanish soldiers, 343 barrels of powder and 52 barrels of musquet shot.”[36] The naval force spent the next two days demolishing the castle, which took 27 barrels of gunpowder.[37] The Spanish prisoners were put on board Flamborough and taken to Edinburgh.[38] The remaining Spanish troops were defeated on 10 June at the Battle of Glen Shiel. (Wikipedia) . What you see here is the reconstructed Castle between 1919 & 1932 – It has starred in many movies but it was the film Highlander in 1986 which brought it first to my attention. It is an impressive sight by any standard but is surrounded by development which pretty much limits the images you can get. Still I got to practice my night photography again. Enjoy

The castle was rebuilt in the years between 1919 and 1932 by Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap.

Kinloss Abbey

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 .

A Haunted Carbisdale Castle Hides amongst the Trees

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

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

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

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

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

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

Queen St

Armadilio

Necropolis

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

Florence?

Self

Wing and aPrayer

I am the eye in the Sky

Trapped Animal

Runes

Docks

Bridge over Coloured Water

Walking Away

Shipbuilding Past

Photographer Captured

Still Game

Straight Ahead

Waverley

Green Descent

Finneston

Old within New

Arc of a Diver

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

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 …