monochrome

Black and White Turbines at Sea

Offshore wind turbine beneath dark skies with light rays breaking through the clouds, captured in monochrome.
Monochrome offshore wind turbine set against moody skies and the North Sea horizon.

The offshore wind farm takes on a different presence in black and white. Without colour, the turbines stand stark against the shifting tones of sea and sky. The heavy clouds and breaking light add a drama that colour often softens, leaving a raw sense of scale and isolation.

These iPhone images strip everything back, reducing the view to light, shadow, and structure — highlighting the resilience of the turbines set against the vastness of the North Sea.

These black and white studies show another side to offshore wind — stripped of colour but rich in atmosphere. See more from my Wind Industry portfolio.

TRNSMT Festival – Underworld

Festival-goer on train journey to TRNSMT Festival, photographed in black and white.
Festival-goer dancing with drink in hand at TRNSMT Festival under stage lighting.

Glasgow’s TRNSMT Festival always delivers on atmosphere. This year, the iconic electronic duo Underworld took to the King Tut’s Stage, and I caught the energy of their set through a series of quick iPhone shots.

Underworld performing live at TRNSMT Festival on the King Tut’s Stage with bright lights.
King Tut’s Stage at TRNSMT Festival with Underworld performing and crowd watching.

The photos show both sides of a live event — the performers under bright lights and the crowd lost in the moment. From stage silhouettes in heavy smoke to close-up festival moments, the black and white treatment keeps the focus on the emotion and movement rather than the distraction of colour.

This series is part of my ongoing documentation of people and events. For more, take a look at my People gallery or explore wider projects in Places.

Urban Seagulls.

Seagull

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.

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.

Everyday Scenes in Black and White

Not every photograph needs a dramatic location or a significant subject. These two images are about ordinary moments made graphic by the removal of colour.

The first isolates a pigeon in flight against a clear sky, with architectural detail in the background providing scale and context. It's the kind of shot that comes from slowing down and watching a familiar scene rather than looking for something new.

The second captures a lollipop man walking away from the camera, his shadow stretching long across the pavement. The high contrast and strong directional light reduce the scene to shape and tone — the figure becomes almost abstract, the shadow more present than the man himself.

Black and white street photography works best when it finds structure in the unremarkable. Both of these images are from everyday locations in Scotland, and neither required anything beyond patience and timing.

For more black and white work, visit the main portfolio or explore the Places gallery.

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.

Another trip up Blackpool tower.

Blackpool, Blackpool tower, monochrome, black white, reflection, Lancashire photographer, Lee Ramsden

Hello, id like to share some images from another trip working up Blackpool's tower, repairing the illumination lighting at great height. 

Blackpool council, worker, pressure washing, cleaning, sea front steps, golden mile, lee ramsden

Arrived to site early and so I walked the long way there. Was surprised to see early morning council worker cleaning the front. 

Blackpool tower, Wez, IRATA rope access, climbing, electrician

Ropes set, and decent underway. Always told "don't look down" but you have to in this game. 

Blackpool tower, abseiling, industrial worker, in orange ppe, LEE RAMSDEN
IRATA, rope access, level 3, Blackpool, worker, industrial photographer Lee Ramsden

Today repairs ongoing to the heart light. 

Blackpool tower heart light, illuminations
Blackpool illuminations electronics, control gear, electrician, technician

Sophisticated control gear, power the lighting on the Tower, helps it to change colour and be programmable.

blog, sea gull, blackpool, tower, colour, color, lee ramsden

A spectator while working at height. 


 

Thanks for viewing.

 

Lee

BP Miller, breaking containment

blog, breaking containment, breathing, aparatus, BA, compressed air, drilling, BP Miller, decommissioning, Petrofac, Saipem, Jose, Lee Ramsden, industrial photographer

Hello, 

Today id like to show some images of large task involved when safely decommissioning an oil and gas rig. The task is called breaking containment. 

breaking of containment, gas, h2s, drill, breathing aparatus, BA, oxygen bottle, safety equipment, RPE, industrial photographer, Lee Ramsden

Where pipework has to be cut or flanges opened, we have to prove what was inside the pipe work previously, to ensure that it is safe via a gas test.

breaking,containment, wearing, BA, breathing, saber, drager, aparatus, oxygen bottles, RPE, safety, offshore, oil and gas, Lee Ramsden

To prove that the pipe is safe to cut a gas test is required.  As the pipework has not yet been proven safe, all this is conducted under full breathing apparatus to protect the technicians drilling into the pipes from hazardous substances. 

Breaking containment, drilling, gas testing, breathing aparatus, BA, RPE, safety equipment, industrial, Photography, Lee Ramsden, Offshore, north sea, oil and gas industry
Breaking containment, drilling, gas testing, breathing aparatus, BA, RPE, safety equipment, industrial, Photography, Lee Ramsden, Offshore, north sea, oil and gas industry 02

Hello, long time no see...

Lee Ramsden, portrait, selfie, health and safety advisor, rope access supervisor, lancashire, professional, photographer, photography.

 

 

Well... Hello, its been a while. 

Lets catch up, 

Most will know, that my day job is working in the oil and gas industry.

Since January i have been involved with the decommissioning of a north sea oil and gas rig, called the BP Miller. 

The picture taking had to take a back seat. The next post will explain in more detail what the project entails. 

But stick around, i have uploaded lots of content which will be coming out on a weekly basis, a new post every Sunday. 

So please subscribe, and follow the story and images of life offshore in the oil and gas industry on a decommissioning project. 

Thanks

Lee

blog, Fire team, selfie, breathing aparatus, edited, stylised, torch, Lee Ramsden, photo of lee ramsden, monochrome.

Infrared Black and White. London

<img src="Black and white morelondon" alt="lack and white monochrome morelondon infrared hoya R72 filter The Shard vewing gallery town hall Lee Ramsden">

Nikon D800 f8 3min ISO400 24-70mm@28mm

 

Morning, 

Here is a Black and White processed infrared image of London's MoreLondon area, with the town hall and the Shard building. 

My next blog post on Monday i will be showing the out of camera file compared to the processed colour version. And explain why there is a visible hotspot in the centre, due to the choice of Lens. (This won't happen again, i am enjoying the learning curve with these.)

 

Thanks