View From The Top!

I don't have to say anything about the view form the top of Ben Lomond.

One View From Edinburgh Castle.

I was working recently in Edinburgh Castle and I think iconic views of it are instantly recognisable worldwide.

Like most world landmarks that you live near to or see frequently, you tend to take them for granted and wonder what all the fuss is about.

I forgot about the views that can be seen from the ramparts. This one of the Balmoral Hotel with Carlton Hill in the background is a cracker I have to say!

Scottish Weather!

Ask any wedding photographer the thing that really gets them down when covering a wedding and I'll bet you that rain is top of their list. I know it is for me.


A few weeks ago, Lewis and Donna got married on the "Bonnie Banks" at the iconic Luss Church and went on to the fabulous Lodge on The Loch nearby for their reception.

When I arrived about an hour before the service was due to start, the rain was literally bouncing off the car and it was still that way when the groom and best man arrived. Just before three o clock, the sun came out for the brides arrival. During the service, you could hear the rain thumping off the church roof.

Out we all came to blazing sunshine and formal shots were taken down on the beach. I even managed to get the happy couple onto the pier and get the stunning back drop of Ben Lomond. Just as we got back into the Double Six Limousine, the heavens opened up again. Looking at these two photos, you would think it had been like that all day.

Under the circumstances, I was a very happy man.

Rare Shetland Bumble Bee.

I have been reliably informed that the Shetland Bumble Bee is a rare wee beastie.

I spotted this one going about its business in Hillswick this morning.

UK's Most Northerly Fish and Chip Shop.

Brae on Shetland is home to the most northerly fish and chip shop in the UK.

How do I know this?

I have just finished the best fish supper ever from Fankies that's how!

"The Bridge Over The Atlantic!"

I have recently started up on twitter and have to admit, it is very interesting from both a social and business point of view.

A few days ago I spotted a tweet from a chauffeur company where I saw a mention of the Bridge Over The Atlantic which connects the magical Seil Island with the mainland.

It wasn't so much the bridge I remembered from my last visit when I was doing photos for a travel piece, it was this fantastic old BSA motorbike parked up opposite the restaurant on the other side of it.

Anyone out there know its model?

I think it's vintage is from the around 1920 but I couldn't find the owner to ask.

And by the way if you have never been to Seil Island, just go!

And Then There Were Three!

A few weeks ago, one of my "Todays Photos" was my "urban fox" enjoying a bit of sunshine.

Well this afternoon I looked out of the window and saw this lot!

There is a lot debate about whether these creatures should be allowed in cities. Well I don't mind for a minute that they have set up home in my back garden. It's great fun watching them go about their business.

I don't bother them, they don't bother me.

Glasgow Mela.

This years Mela in Kelvingrove Park proved to be a bit of a soggy affair.

There was a sea of umbrellas and something I have never seen in Glasgow, a beer garden with no one in it!
















The hardy souls who did brave the elements all seemed to be having a great time despite the inclement weather.

As I overheard someone say " We are used to this kind of weather".

Fair comment but I still don't like it at this time of the year.

Name That Mouse And Go Down In History!

I was in Glasgow's greatest cheese shop this afternoon and spotted a mouse!

Don't panic, owner George Mewes told me that he puts it on guard duty at night when when the shop closes. I asked what it was called.

"Doesn"t have a name" said George. "Well that's hopeless" I said.

So name that mouse, go down in history and win a £ 20.00 gift voucher to boot.

Contact George by the 4 rth of July and be that winner.

A Cross Between Moses And Billy Connolly.

I was covering a wedding at Luss Parish Church last weekend and shortly before the service started, the Beadle informed the minister, the Rev Dane Sherrard that a guest from a previous wedding had likened him to a cross between Moses and Billy Connolly.

When I asked him what he made of that, his reply, "I've no problem with that".

It then got me thinking what Billy Connolly's Ten Commandments might read like!

Chick Meets Crowe!

I saw on the BBC news that one of my clients Charles "Chick" Allan, head of the Clanranald had been visited by his old mate Russell Crowe.

When I first met Chick back in 2002 I had been asked to recreate the famous Marylyn Monroe "skirt in the air" shot but using a bearded kilted Scotsman holding a broadsword with a castle in the background for a marketing pop up stand. No problem then!!!

Chick is standing above an industrial paint dryer which we had buried in the ground in order to get enough updraft to lift a heavy kilt.

The whole shoot was a hoot and I have snapped him many times since.

He met Russell Crowe on the set of the Ridley Scott film epic Gladiator where Chick playing a Barbarian is seen in the opening scene shouting obscenities at the assembled Roman troops waving a severed head of one of their comrades. This made them really mad and if memory serves me well, Chick didn't last very long after that.

I must get to have a look at his medieval village, it sounds fantastic.

I Knew It Wouldn't Be Long.

Just over a month ago I posted up that for the first time in ages there was no road cone on the head of Wellington in Royal Exchange Square.

It has become one of Glasgow's iconic sights and it was recently reported that the authorities were going to try and stamp out the age old practice.

Well this morning it was not only Wellington that was wearing a cone, so was his faithful steed!

Severiano Ballasteros

I was saddened to hear of the recent death of golfing legend Seve.


Over the years as a sports photographer, I have covered many championship golf tournaments involving many of the great golfers. I used to play when I was a teenager which allows me to tell how difficult a game it is.

I remember how effortless and elegant he made it look and he was the same age as me which I liked.

I have been asked to participate in several media training courses and when I was going through my archives looking for suitable material, I found a cutting using this photo I took of him at the Australian Masters way back in 1983.

I remember at the press conference after the match he had nothing but praise for his opponent 'The White Shark' aka Greg Norman who beat him on that occasion.

Fun Portrait

Young Rebecca paid a visit to the studio today for some portrait photography and she was great to work with.

It was a hoot!

Raptors

I was covering an event on Saturday where part of the day was a close up display of various raptors in action.

I have seen displays of this nature many times but never tire of seeing these magnificent creatures.

Awesome!

Early Summer.

I heard on the news this morning that nature had been fooled into thinking it was the middle of June due to the sunny weather that most of the UK has been having of late.

Apparently the lowest rainfall in decades has been recorded, well ask anyone here in Scotland if they would like to concur with that and you might get a different answer.

I have to say that a couple of weeks ago, we did have a fantastic week of sunshine but alas it was not to last and back came the rain.

The upside was that my back garden literally exploded with plants that I have to admit usually don't appear this early on. Climate change springs to mind.

Nature photography out of my office window, Scottish bluebell city!

Ignominious End.

I have never claimed to be a musician, in fact, I can't play a note but I do like my music.

I spotted this old piano at the weekend and felt quite sad. It got me thinking of all the tunes that people would have played on it over its life and when you see the craftsmanship involved in its working parts you have to think it should have been saved.

I remember a strong man type TV show when I was a youngster where part of the act was smashing a piano with a sledgehammer into pieces small enough to fit through a small square opening. The winner was the guy who could do it the fastest. I always felt a bit uneasy at this as I couldn't see why anyone would want to do something like that to a musical instrument.

I wonder what the late great Ian Stewart would have thought.

For a guy who played on every album bar one that the Stones turned out between 1964-1986, I can imagine.

One Week Later.

It has been reported that this April has been the warmest since records began.

Last Sunday the sun was splitting the skies and everyone was out and about. This Sunday, you guessed it...... it's freezing and wet.

I have posted up a wee reminder of what it was like and I think everyone here in Scotland at least, knew it was to good to be true.

Robert The Bruce Gets His Oats!

The great thing about my job is that you never know what the day will bring.

I have been going all over the country of late to photograph the refurbishment, re branding and official openings of Scotmid stores.

Yesterday, on a rainy day in Renton, "Robert the Bruce" no less turned up to do the honours.

Astonishing!

May The 4 rth Be With You.

Another milestone in life arrived yesterday as my younger son Andrew turned 18.

He decided to have his first legal drink with his old man and older brother.

What better than a pint of Glasgow brewed Tennent's lager in one of the cities oldest and most iconic pubs, Tennents Bar to do the deed and it was a scorcher of a day.

Can't beat a cold beer on a hot day!

Wallace Monument

I was at Stirling University at the weekend and saw this shot of the famous Wallace Monument through the trees.

It's a wee bit different to the usual property shots I'm asked to take.

I think it looks much better in black and white.

Unusual Sight.

It's not very often that you get to see this.

For as long as I can remember, there has always been a road cone on the head of the statue of Wellington.

It has become one of the iconic sights in Glasgow.

Not today.

Glad It's Not My Car!

I am always telling people that every living thing on the planet has as much right to be here as us humans.

I'm not so sure that I would be too pleased to own this vehicle though. Seagulls are beautiful looking birds but do they make a mess and a whole lot of noise?

I've never had the patience for wildlife photography but when an opportunity like this presents itself, what are you supposed to do?

Q......Where Are We?

A......Right in the middle of Glasgow.

Glasgow Green to be precise.

It's amazing the sights to see on a warm sunny day in the city centre.

Tales Of The Riverbank.

I grew up in Clydebank.

I clearly remember the tram cars, cobbled streets, thick fog due to smoky chimneys but most vividly, skylines of swinging cranes loading and unloading goods on and off ships on the riverbanks and shipyards.

It was a great day on Sunday and I went for a cycle along what is now a great route alongside the river Clyde which passes right through the city centre. When I got to the site of the new futuristic transport museum, I spotted one on the last undeveloped stretches of the old quayside. You can still see the old rail lines that the gigantic cranes used to travel along. A pile of granite cobbles caught my eye and when I picked one up it was obvious why after all these years they were still as good as the day they were laid down.

These old B&W photos reminded me of when I was a wee boy and before you ask, no I didn't take them.

Flight Of Fancy.

I spotted the sea plane getting ready to take off from the river Clyde on Sunday at the Glasgow Science Centre.

In order to get airborne, it has to pass close by the paddle steamer Waverley. I was curious to know how long it would take her to get to Oban. A quick phone call and all was revealed, thirteen hours.

It takes the sea plane twenty minutes.

Shangri-La On The Bonnie Banks!

Having spent the last 35 years of my life working in media, I have seen many good and many bad things.

Today, I found a very good thing on my doorstep. I was invited to visit Ardoch House at Gartocharn overlooking the 'Bonnie Banks' of Loch Lomond and it is something else.

An old farmhouse has been cleverly spliced together using 21st century technology and modern building techniques and as you can see by the result, it is quite stunning.

It is a multi use building which can cater for under privileged youngsters one day and top end corporate conferences the next.
It's hard to believe that it is only half an hour from Glasgow.

But for all its sophistication, it can't beat the world famous view.