Caffe Nero

I keep thinking about Scotland.  I’m not really sure why, but it keeps coming to mind.  I like Scotland a lot.  The people are super nice and they have the best accent in the world!  I have a little trouble understanding what they are saying at times, but I always enjoy hearing them speak.

I have been to Glasgow several times, and find the town to be quite beautiful and one that offers a lot of great photo opportunities, even in the rain!  (Yes, it seems to rain there a bit.)  I hope to return to Glasgow, and I also hope to make it over to Edinburgh at some point.  I hear great things about that town, and the pictures I have seen are awesome too.  I will make it some day!

This is Caffe Nero, which is a coffee shop in one of the plazas in Glasgow’s central downtown area.  It’s really close to the train station, which is a great place to shoot as well.  I spent that morning in the train station - actually avoiding some rain, and getting some cool shots - and then wandered over here and just loved the awesome architecture of Caffe Nero.  It’s a coffee shop, but looks like a miniature castle!  Maybe they consider themselves the “King of Coffee”?  haha

You can find all of my Glasgow, Scotland shots here: http://www.nomadicpursuits.com/blog/category/glasgow

Milarrochy magic

Milarrochy Bay, along the Eastern shores of Loch Lomond, is a magical place.  I arrived late one winter afternoon, and had it entirely to myself.  I had seen some photos online and knew that it was a site I would be interested in photographing.  It did not disappoint.

There are a few of these trees anchored in shallow water, and with the pebbles underfoot I was very confident that the HDR process would help me bring the scene to life.  That did not disappoint either.

There was no wind, and the water was like a big sheet of glass - perfectly still.  I was in heaven.  I could shoot this stuff all day!

For those interested, here is a single tree that I captured here that same afternoon: 

http://www.nomadicpursuits.com/blog/2012/2/6/the-lone-tree-at-milarrochy-bay.html 

Winter at Loch Lomond

I grabbed this HDR while wandering the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland.  It’s an incredible place, and it seemed like I had it all to myself.  It had been a rainy morning, but the rain stopped long enough for me to shoot for an hour or so around the banks of this secluded Loch.  I kept hoping for Nessie to raise up out of the depths, but of course that’s a different Loch so I struck out there.  Despite missing out on a mythical monster, I had a monster time firing shots in this gorgeous place.  If you ever get a chance to visit - take it and go, you will love seeing this for yourself...monster or not.

A Scottish church

I shot this in a little town called Drymen, which is about 15 miles from Glasgow, Scotland.  I was in the area for 1 night and headed out to shoot at Loch Lomond which is nearby.  En route, I passed this little church and just loved the look of the whole scene.  I thought it was beautiful.  So, I stopped.  I knew the Loch wasn’t going anywhere.

This scene felt very “small town-ish” to me, if that makes sense.  If you look all the way down the road you can see the various grave markers which are scattered on the lawn in front of the church.  I liked the long road leading you to the church, and the textures of the red brick posts with the patches of moss growing on them.

It had recently rained (this is Scotland, you know!) and I was happy to get a little tree reflection in that one puddle.  The barren trees and overcast skies added to the mood of the scene.  Thankfully the rain was over, so I shot away here for a bit before heading off in search of Loch Lomond...

Sunrise at Mar Hall

Mar Hall is a luxury resort situated on a wooded estate, just outside of Glasgow, Scotland.  I was there at the end of January this year for a customer event and formal dinner, which included me wearing a kilt.  It was pretty awesome actually. Despite my fears that the whole "Scottish national dress" event was a joke played on an unsuspecting American - and therefore being the only guy to show up in a skirt - it turned out that nearly all the attendees were "kilted".  So I fit right in.  Whew!

Anyways, the following morning I got up to explore the grounds at the crack of dawn, hoping for a few shots.  I was treated to this incredible sunrise, while I mushed around in the damp grass and trampled their lovely golf course greens.  But, it was in the name of art so I felt justified.

And if you are like me, then your obvious question is: where’s the pic of Jim in the kilt?  Well, here it is.  Goofy, huh?  (taken with my iPhone)