Everyday Scenes in Black and White

Striking black and white photograph of a pigeon perched on a ledge with a city dome in the background, highlighting contrast and simple composition.
Black and white street photo of a lollipop man walking away with a stop sign, his hi-vis jacket and long shadow creating strong visual contrast.

These photographs focus on ordinary subjects seen in a different light. The first isolates a pigeon against a clear sky, with architectural detail in the background adding context and balance. The second captures a lollipop man walking away, his shadow stretching across the pavement.

Both images strip back colour to emphasise shape, light, and contrast — turning everyday scenes into simple, graphic moments.

Vessel Operations Offshore

Out in the North Sea, the Norwind Storm support vessel takes position beneath the setting sun, a steady presence against the rolling water. These iPhone images capture both the vessel itself and its role within the offshore wind environment — working alongside turbine structures and platforms.

The offshore environment always provides striking contrasts, especially when captured in black and white. This series adds to my Wind Industry collection, alongside wider work across Industrial and Places photography.

Remembrance Poppy Display – St Annes Parish Church

Photo of St Annes Church in Lytham St Annes with a cascade of red poppies flowing from the tower for Remembrance Day
Drone photo of St Annes Church in Lytham St Annes with a cascade of red poppies flowing from the tower for Remembrance Day

Today we remember - those who paid the ultimate price 🎖️,

and the many, many more who’ve quietly checked themselves out since.

You are not forgotten.

Those still fighting their battles.

You are not on your own.

Please talk.

Each year, the Remembrance period brings a powerful stillness to communities across the UK — a pause to reflect on the lives lost in conflict. This striking poppy display at St Annes Parish Church does exactly that.

Thousands of handmade poppies cascade from the church tower to the ground, symbolising the ongoing flow of remembrance from generation to generation. Seen from above, the red trail cuts through the old brickwork and gravestones — a vivid reminder of sacrifice and resilience.

The installation was created by local volunteers, each poppy representing care, memory, and community effort.

Arbirlot Walks – Fields, Waterfalls and Woodland

Seagulls take flight across a football pitch in Arbroath.
Woman exploring Arbirlot waterfall near Arbroath.
Dog standing in the river below Arbirlot waterfall.
Green barley field beneath a clear blue summer sky.
Dog running on a woodland path near Arbirlot, Scotland.

A short walk through Arbirlot, just outside Arbroath, takes you from open fields into shaded woodland and down to the small waterfall under the old stone bridge. It’s a quiet spot, ideal for a wander with the dog or simply enjoying the scenery. The mix of farmland, riverside paths and that hidden cascade makes it a favourite place for locals to explore.

The waterfall itself, tucked beneath the bridge, is the highlight. Whether standing above it or cooling off below, it’s a reminder of how much variety you can find within a short distance of town.

Exploring places like Arbirlot shows just how much variety is on offer in this part of Scotland. From open coastlines to tucked-away woodland, I’m always drawn to the mix of landscapes nearby. You can see more of my work across Places and People.

Helvellyn, Lake District – Solo Hike Photography

The Lake District is full of routes that test both stamina and focus, and Helvellyn is one of the best known. This solo hike followed Striding Edge, up to the trig point, across Swirral Edge, and back via Red Tarn.

iPhone photography from a solo hike on Helvellyn, Lake District. Images capture Striding Edge, Swirral Edge, and the surrounding fells in Cumbria.

Taken on iPhone, these images record the sharp ridges, steady climb, and open views across the fells. More than a walk, the route doubles as a physical test and training exercise.

I was happy with 4.5hrs.

Hill walking remains a steady part of my work and training. These photographs add to a wider collection capturing the landscapes of the Lake District.

Black and White Gym Photography – Weightlifting Event in Arbroath

Black and white photograph of a weightlifting competition in Arbroath, Scotland, showing athletes training and competing.

At Warehouse Gym in Arbroath, a weightlifting event provided a chance to capture strength and focus in a stripped-back style. Without colour, the story shifts to contrast, shape, and movement.

The black and white approach highlights athletes in training and competition. Sharp contrasts draw out detail in posture and expression, showing the raw intensity of the sport.

This shoot extends my portfolio of event photography in Scotland, using a simple approach that keeps attention on people and performance.

Dunnottar Castle Sunrise – Drone Photography in Stonehaven, Scotland

Drone photograph of Dunnottar Castle at sunrise in Stonehaven, Scotland, showing the ruins on cliffs above the North Sea.

Few locations on Scotland’s east coast carry as much atmosphere as Dunnottar Castle. Perched high above the North Sea, the ruins dominate the headland and remain one of the country’s most iconic coastal landmarks.

Captured by drone at sunrise, the first light revealed texture in the stonework and depth across the cliffs. The dramatic shadows emphasise both the scale of the castle and the rugged coastline that surrounds it.

The surviving buildings are largely from the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages.

Dunnottar is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century.

This work adds to my wider series on Scotland’s coastal landmarks, using drone photography to document places where history and landscape meet.

Rattray Head Lighthouse at Sunrise – Coastal Photography in Aberdeenshire

photograph of Rattray Head Lighthouse at sunrise, captured from the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland.

Scotland’s lighthouses have long been designed to face harsh seas, but few look as striking in first light as Rattray Head Lighthouse. Built in 1895, it still stands strong off the Aberdeenshire coast.

Photographed at sunrise, the tower rises above calm water with warm light catching its surface. The scene captures the balance of engineering and isolation that defines Scotland’s coastal navigation points.

Rattray head lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and stand 120 feet (37m) tall.

This lighthouse is part of my continuing focus on maritime Scotland, documenting structures that combine function, history, and striking design.

St Mary’s Chapel, Rattray – Historic Church Photography in Aberdeenshire

photograph of St Mary’s Chapel in Rattray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, believed to date back to the early 13th century.

Tucked away in Aberdeenshire, St Mary’s Chapel at Rattray is thought to date back to around 1214. Its weathered stone walls stand as a reminder of centuries of local history.

This shoot continues my project of documenting Scotland’s historic churches, using simple photography to record places that hold centuries of community history.

Montrose Old and St Andrew’s Church – Drone Photography in Angus

Drone photograph of Montrose Old and St Andrew’s Church in Angus, Scotland, showing its tall spire above the town’s skyline.

The spire of Montrose Old and St Andrew’s Church dominates the skyline of the Angus town. Built in the late 18th century, with its steeple added in 1834, it remains one of the defining features of Montrose High Street.

Photographed from the air, the drone perspective shows the church in its urban setting, highlighting both the height of the spire and the layout of the town around it.

This work adds to my series on churches, using drone photography to show how historic buildings shape and define modern townscapes.

Helvellyn via Striding Edge – Winter Hike Photography in the Lake District

Winter hike photograph of Helvellyn and Striding Edge in the Lake District, showing snow and ice on the summit trig point.

Winter conditions can transform even familiar routes. On this hike, Striding Edge offered its usual exposure, but Helvellyn’s summit trig point was still iced over, changing the descent.

The route taken was

Glen Ridding car park,

up and over Striding edge.

The weather was nice on the route up, but unexpectedly Helvellyn's trig point was still very icey and snowy making the descent onto Swirrial edge dangerous without spikes so we walked Whiteside pass back to the car.

6 hours in total.

The photographs show both the sharp ridges and the snow-covered summit. Even with good weather on the climb, frozen ground demanded a change of route on the way down.

Hill walking isn’t just about the views — it’s about adjusting to conditions. These images document the challenges and rewards of winter routes in the Lake District.

Scurdie Ness Lighthouse – Coastal Photography in Montrose, Scotland

Drone photograph of Scurdie Ness Lighthouse on the Montrose coast, built in 1870 to prevent shipwrecks near the River South Esk.

Built in 1870 after numerous shipwrecks, Scurdie Ness Lighthouse stands at the mouth of the River South Esk, guiding vessels safely along the east coast of Scotland.

Photographed in freezing conditions, these images show the tower against clear skies, highlighting the engineering that still defines the Montrose shoreline today.

Scotland’s lighthouses remain some of the most practical yet visually striking coastal landmarks. This shoot adds to my ongoing series on maritime structures.

Blackpool Tower Sunrise – Coastal Photography in Lancashire

Blackpool Tower has been a landmark on the Lancashire coast since 1894. Photographed at sunrise, the tower rises above the quiet seafront before the town comes to life.

Sunrise photograph of Blackpool Tower and seafront promenade in Lancashire, England.

The images show both the tower itself and the open promenade below, with first light adding contrast and atmosphere.

This shoot continues my coastal series, recording familiar landmarks in changing light to highlight their place in the landscape.

Car Photography – Urban Automotive Study

Cars are as much a part of city life as the buildings and streets around them. This series focuses on vehicles in an urban setting, photographed in colour to emphasise reflection, surface, and movement.

If you are anyone you know, that has a high end, or collectable car, please DM me on instagram

@lee_ramsden

Urban car photography in colour, showing reflections, movement, and vehicles in a city environment.

The images highlight how cars interact with their surroundings, from light bouncing off bodywork to the contrast between machine and street.

This project ties into my wider work on urban photography, where everyday subjects are recorded as part of the shape and rhythm of the city.

St Annes Beach Sunset Walk – Coastal Photography in Lancashire

St Anne’s Beach stretches wide along the Fylde Coast, a place where open sands meet shifting light. Photographed at sunset, the shoreline glows under soft, fading colour.

Sunset photography of St Annes Beach in Lancashire, England, showing wide sands, silhouettes, and warm evening light.

The images capture walkers moving across the sand, their silhouettes adding scale to the wide expanse of beach and sky.

This shoot adds to my coastal portfolio, recording how light transforms familiar seaside locations into something more atmospheric.

The Importance of Revisiting a Site – Photography Practice in Scotland

Photography series showing the importance of revisiting locations in Scotland, capturing how changing light and weather affect results.

Returning to familiar locations often produces new results. Light, weather, and season all change, meaning a second or third visit can reveal details that weren’t there before.

This series shows how repeat visits create variety. The same place shifts character depending on the conditions, offering new compositions and perspectives.

Revisiting sites is part of my regular approach, ensuring subjects are documented in different moods and at different times. It keeps even familiar places fresh.

Offshore workers.

On an offshore wind farm substation, the real story is the people who keep the asset running. This set focuses on routine tasks, safe systems of work, and the teamwork that holds everything together. The aim is simple: clear, direct portraits of workers on the job—no fuss, just the work and the environment.

Two offshore workers on a substation walkway discussing a task beside marked safety barriers.
Offshore wind technician standing by substation equipment on deck, radio clipped to harness.

Part of my ongoing industrial and renewables series. For more, see the renewables and industrial sections of my portfolio.

Offshore Substation

This offshore substation isn’t just infrastructure — it’s a hub of scale, engineering, and the environment. These images show parts of its structure, deck, and setting offshore, captured during site conditions that mix light, metal, and sea.

Today I’m sharing a collection of images from that substation. The steel beams, walkways, cable trays, and platforms are framed against open sky and occasionally shifting light. There’s contrast in the work-worn surfaces, in the reflections, in the human scale where people or fittings show just how large these structures are.

This shoot adds to my ongoing series on offshore industrial installations. If you’re interested in renewables, structural photography, or commissioning work in wind infrastructure, check the wind industry section of my portfolio.