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. After my first visit to the castle I felt I hadn't fulfilled the photographic potential it had to offer so a return trip was immediately planned.

Even after that second trip I still feel as if I haven't taken full advantage of the castle's potential. Further visits are definitely on the cards. If you ever visit Aberdeenshire, you must put Dunnottar Castle on your list of places to visit.

Staying in Stonehaven, little did I realise prior to visiting the area that Stonehaven itself was to provide some excellent photographic oportunities of it's own.

Being on the east coast, sunrise shots are an obvious choice for some dramatic photography and I wasn't disappointed. An early start was obviously needed to catch the morning light before and during the sunrise. Having found a spot where I wanted to shoot from, I decided that it would give more impact if shot at low tide. Checking the tide times revealed that the sunrise and low tide would coincide in a few days from when I arrived. I set the alarm and was excited when I looked out of the window to see a clear sky and the faint glimmer of early morning light on the horizon.

Luckily I was staying just ten minutes walk from the spot I had previously found and was in position and set up in plenty of time. One of the most enjoyable aspects of shooting sunrises is witnessing the sun climbing up from beneath the horizon transforming night into day. A short moment in time never to be repeated in the same way. The peace and quiet, the freshness of the air and the transition of colours associated with the sunrise is unparallelled in any other photographic situation I can think of. This occasion was one of the finest I had experienced with the light of the sun reflecting off the sea and the water flow in the sand and the glorious colours of the sky. Well worth getting up early for.

Update on Poppy:

Poppy's eye seems to have been ok for a while. A visit to the Glasgow Small Animal Hospital last month revealed that she has a detached retina, cause as yet unknown. The optical specialist there suggested that a tumor is a possibility which would mean the eye may have to be removed. As the eye isn't causing her any discomfort he was happy to leave it for now as long as I kept a close eye on it (pardon the pun). But it doesn't look too promising.