Storm Comming

SECRET SCOTLAND

As promised the answer to why the beaches are deserted.

They are lovely to look at. Beautiful to stroll along. Paceful to sit on, and all you can hear is the waves lapping on the shore.

Why are they empty ?
The weather can change frequently during the day, and often does.
The air temperature is usually in the mid to high teens, 20c plus is verging on a heatwave.
Lastly the sea temperature, although it originated in the Gulf of Mexico, has somewhat cooled to around 10 to 15c.

All these points raised, personally I still find that I am drawn here and would hate to see these islands invaded with tourists.


Camera Canon 350D
Lens Tamron 18-200mm
Focal length 32mm
Exposure 1/60th sec @ f11
ISO 100



Lex

Deserted

SECRET SCOTLAND

Same as yesterday another beach and nobody there.

Why ? The answer revealed tomorrow.


Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm f4 IS
Focal length 24mm
Exposure 1/20th sec @ f16
ISO 100

Quite

SECRET SCOTLAND

Another day another beach and yet again not another person to be seen.


Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm f4 IS
Focal length 24mm
Exposure 1/30th sec @ f16


Lex

2 Things Challenge

When I saw the corrosion on the iron work on this bridge I thought it would fit the challenge.


Lex

Deserted Beach

SECRET SCOTLAND

Deserted Beach

Silver sand, crystal clear water and blue sky, where is this ?

Yes as the title says it is Scotland, what I refer to as secret Scotland.

Another day another beach and yet again nobody to be seen there.

Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm f4 IS
Focal length 24mm
Exposure 1/13th sec @ f22
ISO 100


Lex

Peace

SECRET SCOTLAND

Peace

This shot was taken on the Island of Benbecula, Scotland, looking towards the neighbouring island of South Uist.
It was late afternoon and the sun was dropping lower in the sky, when we went for a stroll along the beach at the back of the Black Island Hotel, as usual there was not another person to be seen.

Camera Canon 350D
Lens Tamron 18-200mm
Focal length 22mm
Exposure 1/125th sec @ f16
ISO 100


Lex

Tauben futten verboten

AUSTRIAN WEEK

Tauben futten verboten

Another photo from Austria, this time Mayrhofen. The title for this one is from the sign on the wall, which if I am correct translates to pidgeons forbiden. Can the pidgeons read or is my translation incorrect?
Anyway back to the photo, the path leading the eye through the frame from bottom right, passed the couple reading the menu in the window, onto the arch in the distance, then drawn back to the foreground by the decoration below the first floor window is what caught my eye here.


Camera Canon 350D
Lens Tamron 18-200mm
Focal length 32mm
Exopsure 1/60th sec @ f11
ISO 100


Lex

Which Way Now

AUSTRIAN WEEK
Which Way Now

This photo was taken a few years back on a Autumn walking holiday in Austria. The group in the photo had just came down hill from camera right and were discussing which route to follow. The photo was taken on a beautiful sunny day around noon, as you can see by the short shaddows.

Camera Canon 350D
Lens Tamron 18-200mm
Focal length 22mm
Exposure 1/60th sec @ f14
ISO 100


Lex

Road to the Alps

AUSTRIAN WEEK

Road to the Alps

This image was taken within 5 minutes of taking yesterdays image. Taken on a access track and looking south towards the Italian Dolimites and the Brenner Pass.

Another wonderful day spent strolling through this beautiful country.

Camera Nikon E5700 

Focal length 10mm

Exposure 1/280th sec @ f7.2

ISO 100

Lex

Patterns

AUSTRIAN WEEK

Patterns

This scene caught my attention while out strolling in the foothills of the Tyrol, close to the village of Igls, because of the different patterns and textures.


Camera Nikon E5700
Focal length 71mm
Exposure 1/400th sec @f4.2
ISO 100


Lex

Closer To God

AUSTRIAN WEEK

Closer To God.

This little church is a short walk from the top cable car station on the Penkenbahn, Mayrhofen. At an  altitude is in excess of 1800m this is the highest church that I am aware of, but if you know different leave me a note in the comments section below.

Camera Canon 350D
Lens Tamron 18-200mm
Focal length 80mm
Exposure 1/160th sec @ f 10
ISO 100

Lex

Croft in the Outer Hebedies

Croft in the Outer Hebedies

 I just love this picture, just the thought of each morning as you waken and look out the window onto such a wonderful sight. This was taken in the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It was a lovely morning and we were heading down to the beach for the day. What a beach, sliver white sand, supposedly the sand is carried on the gulf stream from the Gulf of Mexico. All day on there and we only met one other person.
Maybe I should have titled this "Secret Scotland"

Camera Canon 350D
Lens 18-200mm
Focal length 40mm
Exposure 1/60th sec @  f16



Lex

Stained Glass Window Culross Abbey

Stained Glass Window Culross Abbey.

The abbey the remains of a cistercian monastery founded in 1217. The above is a photo of the stained glass window in the south transept.

The image was modified in Lightroom to saturate the glass and darken the stone surround.

Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm f4 IS
Focal length 60mm
Exposure 1/15th sec @ f5.6
Manfrotto Tripod

St Margarets Loch Edinburgh

St Maragrets Loch.

The loch lies between Qween's Drive and St Anthony's chapel in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Once a boating pond, though now popular with locals and visitors alike it supports a significant population of sawns, geese and ducks. The hills in the background are the extinct vovcano of Arthur's Seat.

No metadata available


Lex

2 Things Challenge

I came across a site on the web called "2 things challenge". This is my first entry and the challenge is "Safe/Passage" why don't you have a look at the site, maybe even give it a try yourself. http://2thingsphotochallenge.blogspot.com/

Lex

Wild Folwers

Wild Flowers.

I acme across these flowers growing at the side of the path while I was walking along the coast on the Island of Maderia, January 09.
It was the bright yellow against the green leaves that caught my eye.

Camera Canon1D
Lens 24-105mm  f4 IS
Focal length 105mm
Exposure 1/500th sec @ f6.7


Lex

Photo Walk

More >>>>

For Hire

For Hire.

This photo was taken in Kitzbuhel Austria. The main subject was looking to hire his horse and cart to the passing tourists.
I noticed the way the light was falling on him from behind adding to the 3D effect created by the shallow depth of field.


Camera Canon 350D
Lens 18-200mm
Focal length 125mm
Exposure 1/90th @ f4
ISO 200


Lex

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan Castle

The castle is situated in Loch Duich near Dornie about 8 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh, on the A87 road leading to the Skye Bridge and the west coast of Scotland.
Originally built in the 13th century by Alexander II as a defence against the Vikings, it became a stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail, who installed the MacReas as hereditory keepers.

Camera Canon 350D
Lens 18-200mm
Focal length 22mm
Exposure 1/90 @ f16
ISO 200


Lex

Chatelherrault Country Park

Chatelherrault Country Park

Chatelherrault was built 250 years ago as a hunting lodge and summerhouse for the Duke of Hamilton. Restored by William Adam, it is set on an eye chatching hilltop south of Hamilton, Scotland. What was once kennels for the Duke's hunting dogs has been converted into a modern visitor centre, display gallery, shop & cafe. Visitors can see the Duke's private Banqueting Room and his apartments, and the formal gardens restored to their former glory.

Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm f4 IS
Exposure 1/60th sec @ f16
ISO 400



Lex

Early Morning Reflections

Early Morning Reflections.

Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival Lanarkshire, Scotland 2002

It was a beautiful calm and frosty morning of the annual balloon fest. The balloon pilots had their pre-flight meeting, checked the weather forecast, and the decision was to fly.

After taking close-ups of the preparation to inflate the bolloons and first lift offs, I repositioned at the opposite side of the bosting pond to capture the last balloon lifting off, with the reflectionsof the others floating away into the distance.

Camera Nikon E5700

Focal length 8.9mm

Exposure 1/220th sec @ f6.3

ISO 100

Lex

Roof top art

Roof Top Art.

The above photo was taken during Scott Kelby's World Wide Photo Walk in Glasgow on August 2008

It shows the statue of Mercury on one of the city's rooftops, with the city chambers in the background.

Camera Canon 1D
Lens 24-105mm
Focal length 99mm
ISO 400
Exposure 1/700th sec @ f11


Lex