Imagekind Gallery Landscapes

Loched in?

The majestic Eilean Donan castle lies on the West coast of Scotland, and sits at the join of three lochs; Loch Long, Loch Alsh and Loch Duich. Eilean Donan literally translates as "The island of Donan". There have been buildings on this site for around 900 years, although the current form of the castle only dates back to the 1930's when it was restored from ruins.

The tree of life

Throughout the ages trees have held an almost mystical sway over us, perhaps due to their longevity, maybe due to the way that deciduous trees appear to die and be reborn each year. Whatever the real reasons, I think trees can be one of the finest spectacles of the natural world. In this image we're looking up the trunk of a European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) as autumn takes hold and the fall colors are at their finest.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney harbour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful arrangements of architecture in the world, and I was lucky to capture this sunset there. I realised just how amazing the view was, and sat there with my tripod until the light was just right. On the left is the Sydney Opera House, in the middle Circular Quay, and on the right the majesty of the Sydney Harbour Bridge; colloquially known as the coathangar. The area near where I took the panorama was also bordering on the location of governor of Australia's residence. I was stopped by security; apparently they thought I was paparazzi trying to get in over the fence, whereas in actual fact I didn't even realise he lived anywhere near! They partially accepted that I was a landscape photographer desperately trying to find a good angle for the harbour, didn't stop them from following me around for a while though ;)

A load of junk?

Hong Kong is a fascinating mix of the old orient and an international commercial hub. Here we see a traditional style Chinese "Junk" plying the waters in front of the highrise skyline of Hong Kong's Central district. The warmth of the lighting from the sunset behind the towers completes the scene. In reality the boat is part of the burgeoning tourist industry and does harbour cruises, but you wouldn't know from first glance; and that's part of the charm of HK.

Spine of the world

The dunes in desert of Morocco near Merzouga are spectacular; even more so in the first light of dawn, as the reds creep across the landscape. The colours then progress across the landscape, the warm colours gradually shifting towards yellow/white as the sun approaches the zenith. The wavelike patterns in the sand caused by the wind provide a fascinating contrast to footprints in the sand. Why does everyone walk along the top? You'll know the answer to that as soon as you try walking along the side ;)

Time to chill

This is Kicking Horse River as it winds it's way; or rather bores it's way through Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Taken at -18°C/0°F; The bizarre blue colour of the water is caused by all the ice being suspended in it. Only the amount of water pouring through the chasm is keeping it flowing; without the flow it would freeze almost instantly!

Desert calm

No, it's not a tiramisu; that would be dessert calm ;) This is the edge of the Sahara Desert at Merzouga in Morocco. Erg Chebbi is the famous dune in the region, but to be honest the whole landscape is impressive. Here you see a Bedouin (or more likely a fake Bedouin) guiding some tourist camels through the desert just after dawn; the early morning light gives the sand a vivid orange glow.

Surfin' the mist

Allans Beach is situated on the Otago Peninsula, near Dunedin. The region is most famous for its wildlife - penguins and albatrosses are the main attractions of the area. As you know penguins are creatures of the antarctic region, which should give you an idea of the temperature of the sea here :) I went for a walk to see if I could spot some wildlife, but before I could see anything else I spotted this lone surfer coming back in from the waves. I love the misty feeling evoked by the harsh light and the spray...

Lava; flow

Molten pahoehoe lava spilling down the side of Mount Kilauea. Molten basalt is only 2000°F (~1100°C) or so; it's so warm that I had to keep turning away to let my face cool down whilst I photographed it. I also melted the soles of my shoes! This lava forms part of the Kalapana Lava Flow on the tropical island of Hawai'i.

Fall colors

The autumnal colours of the Sugar Maple are amazing; this shot was captured in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada. If you get the opportunity to visit Nova Scotia/Quebec during the autumn don't forget to time it so that the colours are at their best! This shot was taken in late September, but the exact date the foliage is at it's prime varies from year to year.

Golden Buddha

The Giant Tian Tan Buddha of Lantau Island, Hong Kong cuts an imposing figure sitting on the mountain top at Ngong Ping. The halo effect is caused by the sun being behind Buddha's head. The golden glow is caused by the sun filtering through the mist late in the evening.