Arbroath Harbour — Coastal and Historical Harbour Photography

Arbroath Harbour has carried centuries of history in its red sandstone walls, medieval origins and weather-worn docks. I’ve visited this place several times; when the sky clears and the water calms, the textures of sea, stone, and light combine in ways a single visit can’t capture.

The harbour, medieval in origin, was improved by John Gibb in 1838-39 and extended by James Leslie in 1841-46 to include 2.4 hectares enclosed by red sandstone sea walls. The old 1725 harbour was converted into a wet dock in 1877 — the wrought iron gates remain, now kept open to the North Sea.

Today’s shoot shows weathered stone, calm reflections, the contrast between structure and water, and the soft lines of dawn light reaching the sea wall and boats. Where light hits the sandstone wall or the gates, there’s depth; in the shadows and water, quiet shapes. These images are about material, history, and stillness.

Harbours like this connect past and present, where centuries of maritime life continue in stone, wood, and tide. For more harbour and coastal photography with structure and mood, see my Places and Drone galleries.

Montrose A92 and Railway Bridges — Sunrise Drone & Structure Photography

Bridges are found in most towns, but when the light is right, they become more than infrastructure—they turn into patterns, angles, and motion. At Montrose, using my drone at sunrise offered fresh views of the A92 and railway bridges, where structure meets transport in the early calm.

From the air, the steel girders and road decks form lines against the sky; the railway tracks cut through the frame, waiting for trains to add motion. Dawn light inches across surfaces, casting long shadows and making reflections dance off metal. Watching a train pass beneath, perfectly framed among beams and spans, gives a moment of balance between still structure and movement. The set includes both wide-angle shots and tighter compositions, showing scale and detail.

Patiently waiting for a train to pass, does not disappoint when they come in to the scene.

Structure, motion, and lines are themes I return to often. For more work exploring architecture, bridges, and drone perspectives, see my Places and Drone galleries.

Sunrise Stood on the A92 — Bridges, Trains & Morning Light, Montrose

Sometimes being in the right place at the right time makes all the difference. Standing on the A92 bridge in Montrose at sunrise, I saw light that turned ordinary trains into golden silhouettes and bridges into dramatic lines. These images come from those moments when waiting pays off.

The morning sky warmed slowly as I watched trains cross the bridge, each passing bringing out the contrast between metal, rail, and light. From the A92 vantage point, I captured wide views of the highway and railway, then turned to shoot the railway bridge itself. The contrast between warm sunlight on train carriages and the darker structure around them struck a chord. These aren’t staged scenes — just light, structure, and time aligning.

Architecture, transport, and light are themes I like to explore repeatedly. For more work with bridges, rails, and early-morning sky, see my Places and Drone galleries.

North Pier, IJmuiden at Early Sunrise — Drone & Coastal Morning Light, Netherlands

When the horizon is calm and dawn breaks over the water, familiar structures take on new form. The North Pier in IJmuiden at early sunrise offered one of those moments — air cool, light soft, reflections still. Riding a bike before the workday started to catch that transition from darkness to colour made all the difference.

These images came from a session where outcomes were uncertain — sky, tide, cloud cover all played their parts. Walking or cycling toward the pier meant seeing small changes in light on railings, weathered timber, and pier surfaces. The drone lifts you above the scene: boardwalks become lines, the sea becomes a mirror, and the horizon becomes a soft gradient. Even when the result isn’t what I originally planned, I enjoy what emerges — shapes, tones, mood.

Mornings like this remind me why I chase light before day begins. For more sunrise pier, coastline, and drone work, see my Places and Drone galleries.

Elephant Rock, Lunan Bay, Montrose — Coastal Travel & Landscape Photography

Walks out to coastal arches like Elephant Rock are reminders that nature’s shapes matter — rock, sea, sky combining into unexpected forms. A recent visit to Lunan Bay brought just that: the arch of Elephant Rock with cliffs and the chapel above, tides low, skies open.

Chapel of St Skae burial ground.

Elephant Rock (also called the Rock of St Skae) is a volcanic coastal arch, shaped over time by wind and wave. These photos capture its elephant-like silhouette — trunk and head — framed against cliffs, water, and sky. Nearby is the 12th-century Chapel of St Skae, perched above the cliffs; I included shots that show its position in the landscape and even the odd gravestone (like George James Ramsay’s) that gives the place character. Walking back via Lunan Bay, you get wide views: dunes, receding tide, sand ripples, the light changing across beach and cliff.

Upon leaving Elephant rock, we called into Lunan Bay.

Information if you are visiting.

Lunan Bay has attracted many visitors throughout the ages, from Viking armies in the 10th century to generations of holidaymakers. Today it offers a secluded haven on the dramatic Angus coastline.

Sites like this remind me why landscape travel photography is about more than the view — it’s about place, memory, and context. For more work in coastal landscapes and travel-informed photography, see my Places and Travel galleries.

Arbroath Coastal Walk — Weather, Harbor & Cliffs by the Sea

Walking the coast around Arbroath often means facing the sea, sky, and whatever weather brings — and that’s exactly what this set of images shows. Storm-light, crashing surf, softened cliffs — all blending into the rugged edges of the harbour and coastline.

The image on the right makes me smile, as you can guess, I got absolutely soaked!

These photos were taken during rough weather; salt spray, wind, and sudden cloud cover influenced how each frame looked. The harbour walls stood weathered; waves broke against jetties; the cliffs loomed overhead, cliffs and textures highlighted where light managed through the cloud. Some shots show the RNLI, lifeboat station, or pilot office—places shaped by sea. Others are just of the way waves hit rock, or how boats hover between calm and chaos. It was more about mood than precision.

The coast around Arbroath always shows something new — in structure, texture, or weather. If you like rugged coastal scenes and harbour life, take a look at my Places and Travel galleries.

Exploring the Timeless Beauty of Arbroath Abbey — Medieval Architecture, Scotland

Arbroath Abbey, founded in 1178, remains one of Scotland’s finest medieval ruins. Even in partial ruin, its arches, rose windows, and carved stone tell stories of history, craftsmanship, faith, and identity.

Built by King William the Lion, the Abbey is best known as the place where the Declaration of Arbroath was drafted in 1320 — a document that asserted Scotland’s independence. In person, the Abbey’s architecture speaks in stone: towered sections, pointed arches, weathered rose windows, and worn masonry. The play of light through open arches and across aged surfaces accentuates how architecture survives time. During my visit, I walked among the ruins, noting where shadows lengthen and details emerge in light — stone carvings, tracery, and subtle wear showing centuries of exposure.

Ruins like this connect us to centuries past, where architecture, faith, and identity meet in stone. For more church architecture and heritage photography, see my Places and Drone galleries.

La mia famiglia

Good morning,

Here are some photos of my family and images from a trip to Ferrara, Italy.

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, moments with family often pass by in a blur. But what if you could freeze those precious seconds and revisit them anytime? That’s the magic of family photography.

A simple light set up, with one key light strobe, camera left through a soft box

and a standing house light I found in my aunts house to the camera right for some separation rim lighting.

Start capturing your family’s unique story today. Share your favorite family photos and the stories behind them in the comments on Instagram @lee_ramsden

And if you’re looking for professional help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a photographer who can bring your family’s memories to life.

Thanks

Lee

Muay Thai fighter.

Good Morning,

Today id like to share some photos documenting a Thai Muay Thai fighter.

This gentleman is a trainer, spending 6 to 7 days a week teaching Muay Thai primarily to foreigners and travelers who want to experience authentic Muay Thai practices.

The majority of trainers come from a fighting background, where they will have from a very early age fought every 3-4 weeks. As a comparison in the rest of the world a fight would usually be 3-4 times a year.

They clock up literally hundreds and hundreds of professional fights. Once they are no longer on the professional circuit they take up coaching.

But due to the low wages they subsidise this with additional fights.

A lot of these fights are not as typically matched as what we would expect in a Western world, where we are in strict weight classes.

The elder Thai fighters, fight much heavier challengers who are young enough to be their grandchildren. But with the experience of professional fights clocking in their hundreds, this is merely another day in the office.

Prior to the fight, we all arrived at the stadium and the fighter took up a seat in the audience. Even with all the hustle bustle and loud Thai fight music, he managed to sleep. All the Western fighters were getting pumped up, headphones on, shadow boxing and trying to get into the zone.

When it was time, he emerged for a slumber, calm, and collected, changed into his shorts, donned a pair of gloves and set to work……

Manchester Airport.

Good Morning, 

As most are aware with my day job, i spend half my life at airports traveling. And so this time i brought my little Fuji X-T1 along for a ride, and took some shots while i was awaiting to board the plane. 

Thanks

Lee

Working in the oil and gas industry - Travel.

Fuji film X-T1  f8 1/80 ISO200

Morning, 

I thought that it has been awhile since i have brought this blog offshore with me, and so today i am posting some pictures of the largest part of working away... The travel. 

Next week's post is from the North sea oil platform. 

I hope that you enjoy.

Fuji film X-T1  f4.5 1/80 ISO200

Train one of four.

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/125 ISO400

My largest company expense is travel.

Each year the prices go up, and the service goes down....

Fuji film X-T1  f8 1/60 ISO200

Train two pulling into the station. 

Fuji film X-T1  f9 1/30 ISO200

Train number three

Fuji film X-T1  f18 1/15 ISO200

Unknown back packers. All aboard train four. 

Fuji film X-T1  f9 1/30 ISO200

Crossing the forth rail bridge. 

Fuji film X-T1  f7.1 1/125 ISO200

Trying to use my time productively and edit some wedding images. 

Fuji film X-T1  f4 1/125 ISO320

Arrived Aberdeen station. 

Fuji film X-T1  f4.5 1/125 ISO320

Aberdeen has the most expensive taxis in all of Europe. Where you can use the Jet bus, it is cheaper. 

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/125 ISO800

They said that the hotel is close to the airport.... they are not wrong. 

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/60 ISO500

Finally - 8 hours later, 4 trains and a bus i can get some sleep. 

And to be honest this is an easy journey. I spent 4 years where i had a train, 5 hours international flight, taxi and then a boat to get to the platform. 

Image courtesy google images

Please check next weeks post where i will display some images taken from the above platform.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks  

Hong Kong vacation.

Hello, 

Well it feels like a life time ago since i last made a post. But i have been a busy one with work and other commitments, so i am seriously playing catch up now, as have a large amount of images to work through. 

Here are some of the images from a recent trip to Hong Kong. 

A view from the highest point on the Island.

Market Stall.

On the beach, where you can see the double Shark nets.

                                                            Part of the 5.5km escalator. 

View from the 5.5km escalator.