Hill walking

The Isles of Shetland.

Aberdeen airport flight shetland work business plane airoplane cold morning commute luggage workers construction travel air miles eastern airways flybe, british airways, run way, stand

iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO500

Working in the oil and gas industry I have spent my fair amount of time on the Isles of Shetland.

It has felt like a second home at times, and over the summer of 2014 I was spending more time there than at home.

St Ninians bay Shetland sea gull view landscape beautiful gorgeous rocks mountains tide

iPhone 4s 1/270 f.2.4 ISO50

I feel privileged to have had the chance to spend so much time on such a gorgeous island, even with the brutal weather for 9 months of the year, this does not bring the spirit of the local inhabitants down.

The local people that I encountered and worked with, were amazing, lovely people. They appear to have a different look on life and take things in their stride.

Living in such remoteness they have became resourceful with the weekend evening entertainment, with the party busses which tour round the island villages, visiting the bars on a pub crawl - fancy dress in mandatory!

They sell Puffin poo to tourists....it is a delicacy!!

Puffin poo shetland sweets tourists present gift tasty coconut unwanted lausy all i wanted

They breed miniature horses,

Shetland pony horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy Shetland home black and white

iPhone 4s 1/1700 f.2.4 ISO50

They dress up as Vikings and after spending a whole year, and thousands of pounds on building the most detailed / intricate wooden boat…. they set fire to it.

uphelia festival shetland Welcome to Shetland vikings Lerwick Festival of light local inhabitant dress history shield axe sword cow hide wings helmet

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The airport of Scatsta was closed for two days, as an employee was getting married and so all the airport personnel attended the wedding.

Shetland Scatsta airport Voe lower runway plane  airoplane oil gas industry workers industrial eastern airways commute passenger flight

iPhone 4s 1/20 f.2.4 ISO160

The island attracts many hill walking enthusiasts and photographers, but it is clear to see why.

With the unique landscapes,

(not a single tree to be seen though as it is too windy and the ground being peat),

migrating puffins, stunning beaches and many different festivals through out the year.

I could happily spend my days later in life, up on a hill, on the Shetland isle away from the problems, hustle and bustle of normal life, enjoying each day as it came.

St Ninians bay Shetland sun set walking photography natural cause way sand beach cold water sea view landscap tourist island swim cold windy visting

Fuji X-PRO1 1/600  f.5 ISO 200 at 14mm

Note - 

At the present moment in time, if you are looking to visit, I personally would recommend the Isle of Lewis or Skye, only because Shetland is currently having a gas plant being built, with another on the cards and so the main towns are bursting with contractors. If you were to hire a little cottage away from the towns then I am sure you wouldn’t even notice.

iPhone 4s images were taken with the standard camera app and so the meta data shown is not controlled by my self. All images edited using the in phone Snapseed app. 

Shetland Voe black white water rain drops path road bad weather window drissle drizzle telegraph pole peat

iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO50

Shetland Scalloway cloud wind farm fog golf course road tarmac valleys colourful sky sun rise

iPhone 4s 1/60 f2.4 ISO64

Dale Wilson HSE Petrofac Shetland Lerwick port fog bibby Stockholm accomodation barge workers construction gas plant fencing head lights grey

iPhone 4s 1/540 f2.4 ISO50

Shetland pony close up horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy

 iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

Shetland pony horse miniture little legs mane barbewire fencing sunset flare flair clouds warm windy Shetland home

iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50

Apache two 2 ii ship cable laying vessel docked lerwick technip boat working cable pipe laying sea industry industrial helideck bridge life boat night bad weather

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Apache two 2 ii bridge captain controls buttons screen directions gps navigation work pilot graph charts steer

 iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO400

A cold trip to Helvellyn.

Helvellyn Lake District cold morning Nikon D800 Lee Ramsden Cumbria tent camping night

Nikon D800 f8 1.5seconds ISO100 with various flash bursts around the scene.

 

Last week i headed out to try and take some pics up Helvellyn in the lakes. I was losing light as i didn't plan on the amount of weight i carried would slow me down so much, and so i pitched up here rather then planned for the evening. 

I awoke at 3am and the place was covered in snow. At first light there was an absolute white out, and was very thankful for carrying a GPS with me as navigating would of been near on impossible in zero visibility. 

So photo wise it was a failure but a good heavy load carry is a well received for a bit of Phys after the indulgent new year. 

Helvellyn, Lakes, Lake District,  Naked, walking boots, Tent, cold

Nikon D800 f5.6 1/50th ISO800

Brrrrrrr a fresh morning.....

Helvellyn Lake District Cumbria camping breakfast jetboil stove

Nikon D800 f2.8 1/50th ISO5000 Lit with red head light.

Breakfast for a king... 

 Thanks

Lee