The Rhins of Galloway

At the far south west of the Scottish mainland lies the Rhins of Galloway, an 'ear' shaped peninsula jutting out into the Irish Sea and on a clear day from the most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway, you can see the Lake District of England, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. At first thoughts it's easy to think that the Rhins do not offer much in the way of photographic potential - no mountains, no large lochs, no crashing waterfalls and not much in the way of rivers...

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Wigtown Bay

Heading to the south of Scotland I decided to explore Dumfries and Galloway a bit more than I have done in the past. Staying at Garlieston, south of Newton Stewart, I intially thought there would not be much to photograph in the area but I was pleasantly surprised. Being on the east side of the peninsular, sunrise shots are a dfinite possibility. An early start at 4:30 am was a challenge...

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North of Northumberland

At the very north of Northumberland lies a town that was, up until the 15th century, the subject of numerous battles between England and Scotland fighting for ownership. Berwick-Upon-Tweed still proudly exhibits many remnants of these battles including bastions around the town wall which in itself provides a lot of photographic subjects. The artist L.S.Lowry made many of his paintings...

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Stonehaven, an Eastern Delight

Having read about Dunnottar Castle on the east coast of Scotland in Aberdeenshire I thought it would definitely be worthwhile paying a visit to the area. Situated a couple of miles south of Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle is a very photogenic medieval fortress located on a rocky headland. The position of the castle provides plenty of angles from the surrounding cliffs giving seemingly endless photo opportunities...

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Seabirds a Plenty

A visit to the north east of England in July is not complete without a visit to one of my favourite RSPB reserves - Bempton Cliffs. Situated in East Riding of Yorkshire, the 400ft high sheer chalk cliffs are home to over 250,000 seabirds during the breeding season and is home to the only mainland gannet colony in the UK. The RSPB provide safe viewing platforms with good views of the cliff nesting sites...

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An Unusual Visitor

Talking to my Sister and Brother-in-law last week, they told me of a Great Horned Owl they spotted near Huntingdon. Initially I was a bit perplexed as the Great Horned Owl is not a resident species to Britain and neither is it a usual visitor. Apparently it was a captive bird that has been released into the wild either deliberately or by accident but I had to travel down there to check it out for myself...

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Stone Barns and Black Looks

One of my favourite areas of North England are the Yorkshire Dales with their drystone walls and field barns seemingly scattered at random about the countryside. I can, and sometimes do, spend hours travelling around the dales searching out patterns made by these walls and barns that provide great subjects for photography. It is all too easy to stop at a good viewpoint...

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An Obliging Deer

A few days ago I was walking along the bank of the River Lochy near Killin in the Trossachs when I happened to spot a couple of Red Deer in a field on the other side of the river. I stood watching them for a few minutes and they were seemingly oblivious to my presence. Luckily I had my 500mm F4 lens with me which I attached to my camera and set up in wait aiming to get some good shots...

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Horizontal rain and a chance encounter

One area I always like to visit is Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands. There is so much photographic potential here that I could easily spend three months or more and still not shoot everything I would like. That's why I come back so often.

This time, I decided to stay for three weeks in order to satisfy my hunger for good photography of both Glen Coe and Glen Etive as well as venturing a bit further afield. The first week, however, didn't allow much photography as we experienced some of the worst weather I had known...

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Wet, Wet, Wet

No, I'm not talking about the Scottish soft rock group, more about the weather we've been getting in the Lake District. I've been here for two weeks already and have managed to get out just a couple of times, and then it was between showers. Yes, it's been pretty wet but then you don't visit the Lake District and expect glorious Mediteranian sunshine, just a few dry days would be nice though.

I've been planning this shot of a jetty on Coniston Water before I had arrived here but the sky was always dull...

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Frozen feet but worth it

A few days ago I was up on the top of Mam Tor above Castleton shooting the surrounding area over Hope Valley and the neighbouring Vale of Edale, a difficult task as the area is very popular with hill walkers. It was quite late in the afternoon and I thought that I had finished for the day but before I headed back to the car I noticed the sun's rays pushing through the dark gloomy blanket of cloud that had been helping to keep it cold all day along with the chilling wind. I decided to wait a while and take some shots of the sun's...

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In at the deep end, both feet first

Well, here I am at the start of what promises to be a new life after spending too many years stuck in a dingy office staring at a computer screen day in day out surrounded by some of the most irritating people I have ever known.

Some may say it's a brave move, some may say it's stupid, but it doesn't matter as I have made the decision and there's no turning back. What decision is that? To quit my job, sell my house and hit the road, so to speak, for the next year or two, maybe longer, to hone my own skills and build my portfolio and forge a living doing what I love best - being in the outdoors...

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