New Year, New Faces, New Views..

Novel Points of View is introducing a few changes for 2016. We want to say goodbye and many thanks to Jenny Harper and Mary Smith, and a big hello and welcome to new members Rae Cowie (writer), Jennie Bohnet (writer) and Neil Donald (photographer). We’re really looking forward to having new voices – and amazing photographs – in the weeks and months ahead. 
 

 To get things rolling we have asked each of our new members to give us three words or phrases that best describe their creativity. And also to tell us a little bit about themselves. Over to you, Neil… 

 

 

 

 

Hello and many thanks to the Novel Points of View team for inviting me to join their  gang. 
 

New year, new challenges. I will let you into a little secret, in the photo above you will see me Neil, the one in the suit, and my better half Audrey. She is the one writing the blog as I struggle to string sentences together but she will be writing in the first person, as me, so not confusing at all. 

 

I am a landscape photographer, who has learned through trial and error. I initially started with the camera on my phone and was more interested in the paranormal, taking photos in supposedly haunted castles, and Aberdeenshire has no shortages of castles. I then realised that I had an eye for taking photos and my love for photography and exploring our beautiful country grew, along with my camera equipment. 

 

The first word that I would use is patience, taking photographs is time consuming and waiting for the perfect light takes time. Something that I don't usually have, but when I am out in nature time seems to stop. It won’t be the first or last time that I will  have driven for a few hours to take photographs only for  the weather to turn and the only thing I can do is wait it out in the hope that it lifts. So it’s good that I am happy with my own company. 

 

Coast is my second word, originally a city boy until the age of 23, I moved to the North East of Scotland from Birmingham. A bit random you may think but my parents are originally from this area. Over the years I have always been drawn to the sea and the coastline and this has become a major source of inspiration for my photographs. I can visit the same spot every day and it will change every time according to the height of the tide or the shifting of sands. I am lucky enough to live a moments walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland (this is my personal view). 

 

 

The final word that I would use that helps gives my photographs a creative flair is light. The golden hour of sunrise or sunset can make a photograph and the quality of the light we have had this winter has been amazing. Usually when the alarm goes off for work purposes I am reluctant to get up, however when it's my day off and the sun is rising I am up and out the door in a flash. Although I do take photographs during the day simply to satisfy my addiction to photography, it's the soft glowing light of sunrise or set that does it for me. 

 

I hope I have managed to convey my passion for taking photographs, in fact I should call it an addiction as I have two external hard drives full of photographs and I take my camera everywhere. It's a good excuse to escape the house but Audrey has now realised that if she suggests a weekend away somewhere with stunning scenery, then I'll be more than happy to oblige. So the plan for 2016 is to visit more of Scotland. 

I will be sharing my thoughts and photographs with you but if you want to take a look prior to my next blog click on the link http://on.fb.me/1RfnnlY  this will take you to my Facebook page. 

 

I am looking forward to our journey together.