Urban Seagulls.

Urban Seagulls

Seagulls are so familiar in coastal towns that they're easy to overlook photographically. These two black and white images take a closer look at how they occupy man-made environments — not as visitors to the urban landscape, but as permanent residents entirely at home in it.

The first shows a gull perched against a backdrop of concrete and steel, the hard geometry of the structure contrasting with the softness of the bird's plumage. The second places one near a fairground ride — an unlikely combination that works because both belong to the same seaside world.

Shooting in monochrome suits this subject well. Without colour, the focus shifts to form, texture, and the relationship between the bird and its surroundings. Gulls are bold, adaptable, and largely indifferent to people, which makes them easier to photograph candidly than most wildlife.

Both images were taken in the Angus and Aberdeenshire area of Scotland — locations where the boundary between town and coast is never far away.

For more wildlife and coastal photography, explore the Places gallery.

Arbirlot Walks – Fields, Waterfalls and Woodland

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.

Glamis Castle. Highland games.

Glamis Castle. Highland Games.

The Strathmore Highland Games are held annually in the grounds of Glamis Castle in Angus, and they're one of the more distinctive events in the Scottish calendar. The castle itself provides an extraordinary backdrop — a working historic estate with a history stretching back to the fourteenth century, most closely associated with the Lyon family and later the Bowes-Lyon family, including Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who grew up there.

The games follow a traditional format — heavy athletics including the caber toss and hammer throw, pipe bands, dancing, and the kind of food and atmosphere that makes it worth the journey. These images, shot in black and white, focus on the people, the movement, and the setting rather than the spectacle.

Angus is well placed for this kind of event — Glamis sits just a few miles from Forfar, and the wider Strathmore valley has a long connection to Highland culture and rural Scots tradition. If you're in the area in summer, the games are worth adding to the itinerary.

Black and White Gym Photography – Weightlifting Event in Arbroath

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.

The Importance of Revisiting a Site – Photography Practice in Scotland

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.

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.