Flickr Scotland

Celtic Sundown, originally uploaded by maxblackphotos.

"Looking out to Ailsa Craig (again)...still processing 1st day of my hols."

Sunset - Moray Firth, originally uploaded by angus clyne.

"FP Explore ;) Thanks !

Big fat rain storm blocking out the setting sun. This is technically the most challenging picture I've processed to date. "

Sunset - Moray Firth, originally uploaded by angus clyne.

"FP Explore ;) Thanks !

Big fat rain storm blocking out the setting sun. This is technically the most challenging picture I've processed to date. "

Stand Fast, originally uploaded by Fraser Ross.

"A re enactment of a Battle in Inverness Scotland at the Marymass Fair.

Nikon D80
Hand Held
Nikon 70-300mm at 190mm
f4.8 for 1/250s
ISO 100

RAW file opened in ACR and some recovery and fill light adjustments

Into CS3 and Topaz adjust plug in applied

Back into CS3 and High Pass Filter sharpening applied."

Edwin Morgan, originally uploaded by Alex Boyd.

"Professor Edwin Morgan OBE is a well known face in Scotland as he is the nation's first Makar (Poet Laureate).

The Glaswegian-born poet will celebrate his 90th Birthday in April, and last week I had the chance to take his portrait for an upcoming biography "Beyond the Last Dragon" by fellow poet and former Glasgow University lecturer James McGonigal.

It is hard for me to articulate how much of a fan of Edwin Morgan's work I am, and as I've often mentioned many times the "Sonnet's from Scotland" photography project is named after one of his early collections of poetry. His words had a profound effect on my understanding of what it means to belong to this part of the world, and I've spent many happy hours sitting quietly reading through his numerous collections of poetry, not to mention his translations of classics such as Beowulf.

This is the first of many images from what was a very quick shoot. Assistance, teaching, expert knowledge (and equipment!) provided by Neale Smith, who kept me right as my nerves started to get a hold of me.

This photo is an early edit, and was inspired by two shots - this photograph of Edwin Morgan in his younger days and this image of Thomas Carlyle."

Puffin bookends, originally uploaded by Rainbirder.

"Taken on a dull day this would have been a better image if light levels were better as I struggled to compromise shutter speed & depth of field."

8 - Frosted Silhouette, originally uploaded by North Light.

"I couldn't resist this one!

Café Tempest, Thurso Harbour, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland."

, originally uploaded by StephenMcleod - SOOC sucks..

"One of the most important things that a photographer has to remember when they're taking pictures at an event, be that a wedding, nightclub or otherwise.. is that they're meant to be there.

Of course, there are plenty of photographers who act like they should be somewhere; swanning about as if they own the place.. but more often than not, they just think that they should be there. To the rest of us that are not as naturally arrogant or single-minded, it's difficult to put ourselves in positions purely to get 'the shot', when we're over-aware of getting in the way or blocking other people's view.

I'm down to do a wedding in the next couple of weeks, which throws a whole lot of things up - I've shyed away from doing very many, as I've wanted to make sure that when I did do them, that I could take some really awesome pictures, and not just the 400-relatives-in-front-of-a-building type that's so prevalent amongst the so-called professionals that you see advertised everywhere.

Of course, it means taking on the attitude of you're meant to be there, and more than that..

When your feelings, your passion and your whole life is taken up and fuelled by your obsession and awe at people and their interactions and expressions, then surely a job where you are invited into other people's lives at a milestone to capture and be involved in all of that should be the greatest job of all.

Enough of placing weddings on pedestals - this is what photographers are meant to do best. This is what I'm meant to love doing. A whole bunch of people in a room with a bag-full of film. "

, originally uploaded by darkartsphotography.

Highland cattle.

Typhoon Display, Perth Air Show, originally uploaded by wwshack.

"The final minute of the Typhoon's display at Perth Air Show."

Still Smokin'., originally uploaded by stonefaction.

"Swift glider still putting out smoke from the wingtip cannisters after a rather impressive display at the Heart of Scotland airshow 2010."

Henna Stall, originally uploaded by Alistair2008.

"A few images from the Southside Festival in Glasgow in May 2010."

Dee-pee-one-oh-three, originally uploaded by dougiebeck.

Near Gruids, Sutherland

cove bay pebbles, originally uploaded by uniB.

"Chamonix 045N-2, Fuji Astia, Fujinon 180mm. Processed in Kodak E6 chems."

DIY SOS, originally uploaded by Mac ind Óg.

"An interestingly decorated barn or byre in Mellon Udrigle, Wester Ross."

Loch Ba, originally uploaded by Peter1297.

"We stopped to capture this photograph as we passed through Rannoch Moor heading for the Grey Corries."