Choosing your favourite child......

Crathes Castle

I have been fortunate enough to have been asked by our local hotel The Whitehorse to have a small exhibition evening in September.  To be fair its taken a year for me to say yes as I never feel that my photographs are good enough but now is the time to shake off that apprehension and go for it. 

If I am honest the other half has insisted that I/we do this as it is a fantastic opportunity and to be fair all I will have to do is turn up on the night. My organisational skills are practically nil so I will hand over the reins to the capable hands of the other half, hoping that my input will be minimal and limited to picking the photographs that will be on show. 

 

If I thought picking a selection of photographs would be easy, I was wrong it is a kin to choosing your favourite child, they all have  different qualities that make them each appealing. So how to choose.... 

I have decided to limit myself to a specific number of images which will be produced in varies prints and frames. I had though about a theme so all images would be in similar frames however life isn't like that and as I look round my home there are hardly two frames the same. So instead will pick frames that suit the photo. 

Stairs at Fittie, Aberdeen Beach

 

 Secondly narrowing my geographically coverage of Scotland to the North East, play to the local audience. Striking a balance between castles, beaches and countryside shots. Otherwise I would flood the evening with the photos I had taken when I was on the West Coast in July (as they are my favourites at the moment). 

Dunnottar Castle

So I have gone from making an appearance at the evening to negotiating my way through all my photographs to deciding which images best represent me and my skills. I am nervous already and still over a month to go before I have to witness first hand peoples reactions.  

 

Bow Fiddle, Portknockie

 

So wish me luck on choosing between my babies......... 

  

www.whitehorseinn.co.uk 

Instagram to Instameet

 

Dunnottar Castle by Mark Harris

I have been on Instagram for a number of years and have made friends from all over the world. I received a message from the lovely @katstewart01 who was planning the North - East of Scotland's first Instameet.

 

An Instameet is when a group of people with a passion for photography meet up at a location and spend a few hours or a full day taking photos. It is a chance for Instagrammers to finally connect in the real world with people that they may already follow.

 

So on the 17th April at 0530hrs  I met with a group of around 14 keen Instagrammers at Dunnottar Castle carpark to capture the sunrise over the castle. The members of the group had travelled from far and near, with one intrepid sole camping overnight in his campervan.

 

It had been arranged that the Instameet group could gain access to Dunnottar Castle  prior to it opening to the public but before  this the group explored the landscape around the castle.

Neil Donald

View from beach by Simon Ward

 

 

Once it was time to enter the castle we were joined by a further 4 Instagammers. The Custodian of the Castle Jim Wands gave a brief history of the castle to the group. Walking around the ruins in the peace and quiet of the morning allowed me to feel the history of the location.

View from Window by Mark Harris

 Being able to take photos in a tourist attraction without the tourists was a wonderful experience, as often you are jostling for the best spot.

We spent nearly 2 hours in the castle before taking a walk along the coastal path to Stonehaven.

The picturesque harbour was high on the list to visit but first we visited the War Memorial which was surround by sunny daffodils.

The War Memorial is situated on Black Hill and commemorates  the 200 plus men of Stonehaven who gave their lives in the First World War.

War Memorial by Neil Donald

Daffodil by Mark Harris

After the War Memorial it was walk to the picturesque Stonehaven harbour. After a walk around the seafront it was time for a well deserved plate of fish and chips.

 

Stonehaven Harbour by Neil Donald







The day came to an end and I had thoroughly enjoyed myself, finally meeting people that I had chatted to and had followed. It was agreed that this Instameet was the first of hopefully many more from across the North East.

A Few of the Instagrammers by David Powell

Thank you to everyone that came along and especially for allowing me to use some of your photographs from the day.




Valentine's not just for February

After my introductory blog my head was swimming with ideas and photos I wanted to share. When I realised I would be blogging close to Valentine's Day, I knew exactly where I wanted to take you all.

One October weekend I found myself free, so with my OH, Audrey, in the driving seat we took to the road. Destination - the most romantic and recognisable castle in Scotland, Eilean Donan, near Dornie.

 It was beautiful weather for a drive and once past Inverness the scenery really comes into it's own,  calling for the odd stop off by the roadside to take photos.

Loch Garve

I've past Loch Garve on several occasions but never been able to stop - until today, when I'd all the time in the world. It was a bit of a scramble to get to the shoreline but worth it, as there wasn't  a breath of wind and the loch surface was like a mirror.

Back on the road we'd a decision to make, left to the castle or right to the hotel, of course we headed to the castle- neither of us willing to wait to see the beautiful former stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. Around the corner and there it was, standing magnificent in a loch.... of seaweed and rocks. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I looked at Audrey and laughed - "why did we bother".  Always one to see the bright side of a situation she consulted her phone, assuring me the tide will be in later in the afternoon. Also, the best time for photography would be just after high tide, when the water would be at a stand still, waiting to turn. She's a fount of random facts. So I took some photos and as we'd time to spare, we enjoyed a tour of the 13th century castle.

It's well worth a visit, as we learned of an Irish Saint-Bishop Donan, of the Celts, of Viking raids, of battles won and lost, of the 46 Spanish soldiers who were garrisoned there-planning an attack, in support of a Jacobite uprising, which ultimately led to the castle being blown apart by English troops. For me, hearing these dramatic stories simply added to the charm and character of the place - what's not to like?

 

Eilean Donan at low tide

Afterwards, we headed to the hotel, only to be told that they are in the process of closing for the winter, so running a limited menu - not a major issue. However, it also appeared that the heating had been switched off. I know how to treat Audrey! Who said romance is dead!  After a warming coffee, it was time to return to Eilean Donan Castle and this time it didn't disappoint.

 

The autumn colours of the trees, the crisp clean air and the still reflections in the water -  I was in my element. 

Eilean Donan at high tide

I stayed until the light began to fade, which was relatively early in October, but decided we would come back once it was dark - to see it lit up. 
 

Now I am not much of a romantic but when we saw the lights and the ancient stonewalls of the fortress reflected in the loch - it was magical. To top everything off, a wedding was being held at the castle and we could hear the piper playing. The sound of the bagpipes floating across the water on that still night couldn't have been more Scottish or more wonderful.
 Unfortunately night photography is still a work in progress and don't feel that my attempts do the castle any justice. Also it's the perfect excuse to go back.

So like any good love story, it wasn't love at first. Instead a growing attraction which with time and the right circumstances, led to me falling in love with - Eilean Donan castle. The perfect place to take my Valentine at any time of year - even in October.