The Photography of Dr. Jeffrey P. Harper

Although I have left Scotland and am living back in Bangkok now, I am still going through photos I took on my many photographic rambles.  This entry is of a three day ramble (mostly the northeast of Scotland) I took when my good friend John Stiles visited me.  I took many, many photos on this ramble, so it will take some time for me to complete it. These are 'The Best of John's Visit.'  Enjoy.

A North Sea sunrise along the Aberdeen Esplanade. Just above freezing.

First Light.  North Sea.

A church along an Aberdeenshire rural road.

Stunning November weather for northeast Scotland.

I the middle of the Aberdeen city centre is a wonderful church and cemetery.

When an old friend visits that you haven't seen in a while, and it's Halloween, and you are in an old graveyard . . . you must play!

After that stunning sunrise at the Aberdeen Esplanade, our day one ramble took us up the coast to the little fishing berg of Baddam where the hulls of the beached trawlers provided extraordinary abstract studies in decay and color.

The lighthouse at Baddam.

Exposed rocks near Baddam harbour.

The austere old section of Baddam village.

All along our small road route, we were continually 'discovering' fantastically beautiful scenes.

The stunning Fyvie Castle.

Gorgeous autumn scenes all around the grounds of Fyvie Castle.

Superb Fall colors reflected in the castle goose pond.

For three glorious days we rambled about the small roads of northeast Scotland.  My AWD Juke NISMO was the perfect car for the narrow, winding, wet-leaf-covered country lanes.

Castles and castle ruins everywhere in Aberdeenshire.

The Aberdeenshire roads would alternately suddenly diving into the deep shade of small forests . . .

. . . and back out onto the bright, stone wall lined country roads.

We were always up for a quick stop at an old country cemetery.

There is so much to see in the old cemeteries: colors, textures, old surfaces . . . . and . . . .

. . .  and the occasional Class III freefloating spirit vapour.

Autumn in a Scottish cemetery can be very beautiful.

No trip to Aberdeenshire would be complete without a stop at New Slaines Castle . . . a photographer's paradise.

A stairwell in the ruins of New Slains Castle.

Some of the views from inside the castle ruins onto the North Sea were stunning.

North Sea view from New Slaines Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

John and I spent several hours wandering around inside the ruins of New Slaines Castle enjoying the play of light and shadow on the deserted halls and rooms . . . . . . as well as making portraits of each other among the ruins.

The castle on the North Sea cliffs, New Slaines.

The Benholme Kirke, built on the site of a 9th century hermitage.

Although we interrupted the Benholm Kirke bookkeeper . . . but he obliged with a tour and short history of this interesting place.

Benholm Kirke had a fine old 'kirkegaard' as well.

Moss and lichen-covered grave stone and ancient cottage slate roof . . .

We sometimes consulted the GPS as to any 'points of interest' . . . and discovered this old mill.

The sluice and water wheel were still there and still intact.

Down by the Old Mill Stream . . . A photographer's dream!

The opportunities for still life studies of mill paraphernalia was incredible.  I enter only a few of the many beautiful photographs I took here.

An old mill stone.

An old mill stone made of several stone segments.

The wood-shimed center bearing of an old mill stone.

One morning we drove south on the old coastal road to the fishing village of Johnshaven.

The Johnshaven townsfolk had quite the sense of humor!

Johnshaven was a grey and austere village (like many Scottish villages) but with a splash of color here and there.

The fine old stone harbour jetty of Johnshaven.

Johnshaven is a fishing village with many great nautical-themed photos to be had.

Old anchors in the boatyards.

Low tide along the Johnshaven sea wall.

The only bad weather we saw during three days.  A stormy North Sea.

Near Montrose there were signs of a recent flood of the River Esk.

Whenever we would see magic light on an old stone building we would stop and take photographs.

We stopped for coffee one late afternoon in the old market town of Montrose.

Yes, more ghoulish fun . . . in the Montrose Cemetery.

Montrose had some fine statues in the town square . . . here a good Samaritan was honored.

Montrose is typical of many Scottish towns.

OK, maybe Montrose is not so typical after all.

But what I will remember most about Montrose was the most incredible sunset of my life playing over us across the estuary bridge!

From beginning to end . . . we were completely enthralled.

Another day along the small country lanes above the North Sea.

Old farm houses along a strand of the North Sea.

A wild North Sea below the cliffs of Aberdeenshire.

North Sea hay bales.

We saw so much and did so much in those short three days . . . and this blog entry represents only a small part of it all.  I may elaborate more on this entry at a later date, but for now, that is all.

It's always great to have visitors come and stay . . . especially if they are a photographer.  We were up early every morning and out on the small roads of northeast Scotland on grand photo shoots.  Here, a sunrise along the North Sea at the Aberdeen Esplanade.

I love giving tours to visitors:  I get to explore my own town and pay attention to the visual richness.  Downtown Aberdeen church.

My friend John arrived on October 31, so we had to skulk the local graveyard for some Halloween fun!

We found some wonderful light and shadow in the graveyard.

Lovely Aberdeen architecture . . . Castle Street.

Union Street, Aberdeen.

Castle Square, Aberdeen.  Typical Aberdeen granite buildings.

There are many dark corners and mysterious scenes around Aberdeen at night.

Statue commemorating the Gordon Highlanders who hail from Aberdeenshire.

Robert The Bruce in front of the amazing Aberdeen City Hall.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION !

Check back for more entries.

About 30 yards from my front door a path leads out from the street to follow the Burn of Rubislaw 1 1/2 miles to Hazlehead Park.

The path is well developed and well-maintained.  It is not uusual to pass middle aged couples on mountain bikes riding along . . . and always saying hello.

The trail sksirts man-made Walker Dam, and its many ducks and ducklings.

In this early Spring (late Spring everywhere else in the UK!), the leaves are still young and fresh . . . and at their greenest.

The more-or-less rare sunny day . . . beautiful light through the green and yellow tree tops.

The Burn of Rubislaw with the path along side.

Sections of the path go along boggy ground.

Immediately before entering the park I pass my favorite tree . . .  tall and majestic.

I was greeted with a flash of yellow a gainst the deep blue sky as I entered Hazlehead Park.

I have not been to the park at this exact time of Spring . . . and realized I have not seen these particular trees in yellow leaf.

Hazlehead Park is very popular with famalies and old folk, like me.  Fortunately, it is big enough to swollow all the people easliy and still leave enough space for verybody.

In fact, there must be miles of paths through the flowering shrubberies.

Magnifiscent color!

I never had to wait to get a clear photo wthout people in them.

I love flowers.

Picture Post Card, as they say.

I planned by departure from the park to make sure I passed by one of my favorite pieces of public sculpture.

Mechanical man.  I see some vandal stole his middle spoon.

Then I was off down the path, under the trees, beside the Burn of Rubislaw, back to my Aberdeen home.  A good couple of hours of exercise.

I ordered the 1.6 Fuji extension tube for my X-Ti and it came yesterday  Using the excellent Fuji 56 f1.2 lens I went out in the yard late in the day.  Hand-held, low light macro photography is not easy and necessitates a very shallow depth of field approach.

I'm happy I ordered that extension tube.  Macro photography can be very rewarding.

It was just too nice out to stay inside.  The light was magnificent, the bumble bees were workingb the rhodies in my back yard.

Pink flower light and shadow.

Small worlds of beauty.

Perfect light for flower photography.  I had grabbed the small Fuji X-E1 and pancake (27mm) lens when I went out the door.

So much of the natural world was bursting out in bright colors.

Sine I had spent the entire day inside ironing clothes! There was still a little last minute sunshine left in the day.  Fortunately, there is an award winning park right round the corner, Johnston Gardens, with the trees showing a wisp of new budding leaves.

The light came into the park at a steep angle.

This the light that photographers love: magic light, golden light, golden hour light.

Many bushes and trees were in new bloom or colorful bud.  Mmmmm.

It didn't matter which way I shot the park, it was just as beautiful.

The sharp golden light illuminated the tangle of limbs and branches of the flowering bushes near the blue Japanese bridge.

There were ducks feeding on the pond as the sun slowly set.

Flowering plants were in all stages of budation and flowing.

Hard woody buds.

My camera started flashing a red battery image.  In my haste I left the house without checking the battery. I had to move fast now.

I started shooting flowers just to record their beauty.

I decided to come back the next day to savor the color and beauty . . . .

. . . but Scotland would not cooperate!  A sleet and snow storm arrived the following day!