These photographs were taken in Cromarty on the Black Isle, looking at the lighthouse from two slightly different angles. The monochrome treatment felt right for this set. It gives the building a more documentary look and pulls it closer to its working history rather than presenting it as a purely scenic coastal landmark.
Cromarty Lighthouse was first established in 1846 to guide vessels from the Moray Firth into the Cromarty Firth. It was designed by Alan Stevenson, part of the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers.
The light later became automatic in 1985, and it was withdrawn from service in 2006. After decommissioning, the site passed into academic use, and the buildings are now associated with the University of Aberdeen’s Lighthouse Field Station.
That history gives the site more weight than a simple lighthouse stop on the coast. It stood at an important entrance to the Cromarty Firth, an area long valued for its sheltered waters and maritime importance. Even now, the building still carries that sense of purpose.
Cromarty has no shortage of history, but the lighthouse is one of the clearest reminders that this small town was connected to much larger routes, movements and industries at sea.
