Flickr Scotland

River Etive Falls, originally uploaded by Brian Kerr Photography.

"Travelling through Glen Etive, you are given so many photographic opportunities

F16, 30mm, ISO100, Exposure 0.3 Second, Lee ND 0.9, Hitech Soft Grad 0.6"

I found you at last, originally uploaded by steverichard.

"I found this little cottage about 12 years ago and took a picture of it which now hangs on a relative's wall. The negative has long been lost and I'd never found the location again, until last weekend. It's on the road from Applecross to Sheildaig (mental note; write these things down and then you'll know).

This is one I took at the weekend. It's a pity the sun didn't come out but it's a breathtaking location. (such tiny windows on this side though)."

Cow Palace, originally uploaded by mendel9331.

"Coo Place on the road between Knockbrex and Borgue, a unique barn and a stunning coastal setting (if you look the other way)."

Nun with a Filthy Habit - Edinburgh Festival 2010, originally uploaded by idg.

"Nun with a Filthy Habit - Edinburgh Festival 2010 - apologies for the atrocious pun!"

Irish Law, originally uploaded by Rob_J_N.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_European_Airways_Flight_S200P

The Cliffs Edge 2, originally uploaded by Stewart 50.

"20 sec exposure from the cliffs at Holborn Head."

32 windows, originally uploaded by albireo2006.

"A façade in the Old Town in Edinburgh, Scotland."

Going Astern, originally uploaded by Sea Pigeon.

"Paddle Steamer Waverley going astern out of Millport Pier."

Goodbye Eddie, originally uploaded by Alex Boyd.

"On August 19th at the age of 90 Edwin Morgan, the national poet of Scotland passed away.

My first encounters with his work happened in the classrooms of my secondary school in Ayrshire where I was transfixed by poems which turned seemingly mundane events into compelling narratives with poems which ranged from dark to light, expressing thoughts in feelings in a way I never could.

When he later worked with one of my favourite bands Idlewild on the track Scottish Fiction, a new audience opened up to his work, with that song and poem combining to create one of most powerfull and moving expressions of music I've heard, something later matched by the song The Weight of Years, a track in which Morgan looks back over his life to his younger years.

As I've often mentioned it was his words which inspired me to not only look inwards, but to explore the world around me. His poets eye ranged across not only Scotland but beyond drawing together the many disporate strands of existence, always trying to make sense of the chaos. I looked at Scotland differently after I had read his words, and I actively sought out those places listed in his works from Schiehallion to the Quiraing.

In the last year I had the opportunity to work with Eddie on a selection of poems to be read from the 4th plinth in London, and later had the chance to make a series of portraits for his upcoming biography by his close friend Prof. James McGonigal.

Eddie was the inspiration behind my Sonnets series, and the opportunity to meet someone who has driven me to be creative was a daunting experience, and as Neale Smith will testify I was extrememly nervous - Eddie however was kind, polite, understanding and interested which certainly helped me overcome my nerves.

The last time I saw and spoke to him was at his 90th Birthday party where he looked happy, full of life and surrounded by friends and admirers.

This image of EM was taken at that nursing home portrait session and is I believe one of the last portraits taken of him, and shows him closing his eyes for a split second. I did not want to release it while he was still with us as I found it too upsetting, but now it seems in some respects to be quite a poignant image. I will however remember him like this with a huge smile on his face and that mischievous glint on his eye.

I will miss him terribly, however he will long live on through his words.

There will never be another like him. Goodbye Eddie.

20/8/10"

Edwin Morgan, originally uploaded by Alex Boyd.

A few months ago we blogged a wonderful B&W from Alex Boyd of Scotland's first Maker, Edwin Morgan who sadly died on Thursday. Alex's great shot now graces Edwin Morgans Wikipedia page

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Morgan_(poet)

In recognition of Edwin's wonderful poetry, and Alex's great photography, we have blogged another of Alex's - slightly cheeky - portraits of the first Scottish national poet: The Scots Makar.

""Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been."

-Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897."

Moray firth dolphin, originally uploaded by Ally.Kemp.

"Bottlenose dolphin in the Moray firth. Picture taken from the shore at Chanonry point, Black-isle, Scotland."

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2010, Simon Callow., originally uploaded by Definitive Picture.

"Simon Callow, one of the most respected actors of stage and screen at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, 16th August, 2010.
Picture:Scott Taylor Universal News And Sport (Europe) 16 August 2010

All pictures must be credited to www.universalnewsandsport.com. (Office)0844 884 51 22."

Night fire, originally uploaded by Kenny Muir.

"Two 7 minute exposures combined with the free star trails application. Although the sky was fairly dark to the naked eye the exposure has picked up and magnified any light pollution that was there. The colours are untouched and likely belong to the central belt of Scotland 50 miles away."

A Leap into the Dark, originally uploaded by Kenny Maths.

"Production shot of "Rhythm Drum & Dance" being performed at the EICC venue during the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe.

It was full of spectacle, great to shoot...and very enjoyable. :-)

You can see another shot from the show here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kennymathieson/4876880027/

My thanks are due to Freddie Rutz (the producer) for inviting me along to photograph the show.

You can buy tickets for the show here: http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/rhythm-drum-and-dance-the-drum-show-from-berlin"

Bass Rock from Tantallon, originally uploaded by PMMPhoto.

"From a day at tantallon castle with the kids. East Lothian, Scotland."

Last Cast of the Day [Explored], originally uploaded by *Julie Fraser*.

"lone fisherman on Loch Watten, Caithness fishing for a trout no doubt."

Kinnaird Head, originally uploaded by sahara13.

"Taken from the breakwater at Cairnbulg harbour."

Epic Storm Clouds Looming over the River Tay - Dundee View from Broughty Ferry, originally uploaded by idg.

Epic Storm Clouds Looming over the River Tay - Dundee View from Broughty Ferry

Elgol Evening light, originally uploaded by ouldm01.

"Late evening on Skye, looking from Elgol towards the Black Cullins... even at this position beside the water, the midges were ferocious... waited until the light faded, but it got no better than this...
"

Help Nessie!, originally uploaded by Help Nessie!.

"This is Nessie Loch Monster.

At the moment it's participating in a contest, that consists of create a creative (retouch) image related to Scotland.

The more voted image will be the winner, maybe this chance can be the last one for Nessie.

It is participating against a lot of young people, and all of its friends don't know how to use Internet even don't know what is a computer, actually it hasn't friends."

Secrets, originally uploaded by scott masterton.

"I'm only sharing this one if you promise not to tell anyone, if you can't do that then read no further.
You see the thing is I shouldn't really tell you this but around Scotland we have the most amazing sun kissed beaches,... sorry empty sun kissed beaches, with backdrops of majestic heather clad mountains. The only sounds you hear as you look out to the distant isles are the bees buzzing as they gather the nectar and the call of the eagles echoing down the glen.

We don't tell anyone for obvious reasons but just in case the secret gets out, we breed millions upon millions of tiny yet vicious biting insects called 'midgies' each year, which we let out if and when too many tourists stray onto our beaches.

A second inland reserve of midgies is kept in Glen Etive just off Rannoch Moor, this, if you've ever visited is probably one of the largest and most popular wild camping areas in Scotland and you regularly find scores of campers overnighting here because this is where we tell all the tourists to go and camp.

You only wild camp there once :o)

Finally, we monitor the airports for excessive tourists and when the numbers rise we turn on the rain using our rain machines.... oh, don't tell anyone about those either!

Anyway please don't tell anyone about our fantastically empty beaches and crystal clear water, just keep telling them about the midgies and rain, many thanks."