My retirement over the past 3 years has allowed me to pursue a hobby that I've had interest in most of my adult life. This web log basically represents a means of sharing my photographic images with my family and friends.
I used to be a photographer back in the 70's. I bought a Nikkormat 35 mm film camera shortly after getting my first real job after college and used it until I gave up on life for a real career. Recently, I converted some of the old slides to digital files. They did not reproduce very well...grainy and somewhat out of focus. But still I see some interest in these old images. Weird that I can remember where almost all of them were taken when I can barely remember .....what was I saying.
You are likely tiring of Scottish pics, but I thought these should be posted before I left this subject. The last shot is of the door to Edinbrough Castle Prison and the names of prisoners that were carved into it over the years. I would like to mention that I am going to teach a 3 day digital photography class at the Studio School in Roanoke in October, 2011. It will emphasize composition and light, but also teach how to mechanically achieve this with a modern camera. Details soon.
I must have taken the Low Road to Scotland...through the rain, wind and cold. I kept looking for the High Road and the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond but I must have gotten lost in the storm. Actually, we did get a storm with 100mph winds one day. So these shots don't show a lot of sun and bright contrast but still they present an interesting mood. Scotland is all about mood. That is why they invented Scotch.
After the week on Sark, we moved to the Kingdom of Fife in eastern Scotland for another 7 days of beautiful land and seascapes. Though it rained most days, my photography seemed to improve as we travelled through the small towns, ruins, rural fields, and harbors. Let me know if you see any interest in these shots.
Sark is one of the designated "dark regions" on the planet....an area that does not have light pollution from human lighting at night. The island does not have cars, street lights, or electric signs that give off light at night. Electricity is expensive and house lights are kept to a minimum. Therefore, you can experience the sight of the many millions of stars in the Milky Way on a clear night. We didn't really see more stars than I can see from many places in SW Virginia as there was a nearly full moon each night. Interesting that 2/3 of the people on the planet cannot really see the stars at night.
