The Photography of Dr. Jeffrey P. Harper

My friend Steve lives just south of Aberdeen and Stonehaven in the tiny Scottish seaside village of Catterline, Scotland.

One of my favorite places to eat is the Creel Inn, Catterline.  It's a 200 year old inn with great food and a fine selection of real ales.

After a significant conversation about literature, philosophy, and being-in-the-world, and after a fine lunch at the Creel Inn washed down with a winter ale, we set out on a walk down to Catterline Cove in a bitter, biting 33f degree driving wind.

The cold wind drove zephyrs across the cove.

Only a handful of fishing boats go out from Catterline Harbour any more . . . mostly to supply the tables of the Creel Inn.

The old Catterline Harbour jetty.

Bitingly cold, and blindingly beautiful.

A rugged North Sea coast spreads north from Catterline.

It was odd lighting: a dark cloud coming from the west, full of snow, darkened the foreground while an early setting winter sun lit tall clouds out across the North Sea.

A fisherman's cottage below the Catterline cliffs.

The old fisherman's cottage had a fine weathered red door.

Fisherman's cottage wall detail.

The old boat winch, lost in the weeds.

We walked back up the hill in the fading winter light.

Steve's old fisherman's cottage, up on the cliffs above the North Sea.

The second biggest event of the year at the Grampian Transport Museum grounds, in terms of participants, is the CycleFest.

Although I am not a 'biker,' I am still a 'motorhead.'  Many motorcycle manufacturers brought their complete product line for display and sales.  The supercharged Kawasaki was amazing. 

Made-in-Thailand Triumph had a big display.

But Ducati was without a doubt the most popular motorcycle brand on the grounds.

It was a perfect early September day in northeast Scotland, so most of the crowd rode in on their cycles.  I can't remember seeing so many people dressed in leather in my life.

There was every kind of motorcycle present, even classic Vespas.

But I have to admit, my favorite cycles at the Cyclefest were the antique motorcycles . . . like this early Harley-Davidson.

. . . and this Indian colonial-era Royal Enfield V-twin.  These made me feel that I might be better off shooting the event in Black and White . . . so I did.

That's better.

All of these antique bikes actually ran . . . in fact they all went out at once on the track for several parade laps . . . much to the enjoyment of the gathered motorcycle lovers.  I was working the event as a volunteer marshal, so I did not have much of a chance to watch the event or take many photographs.

There were only a few Harleys on grounds, and only a couple of choppers among those.  Harleys are not a Scottish thing . . . they prefer the high powered road bikes.

Men in Leather.  I haven't seen this many men in leather since my last Gay Pride Parade . . . but seriously.

The modern bikes do not take to the black & white photography quite the same.

It was a day of Scottish bikers enjoying their machines, some on-track racing, and each other -- on a rare sunny day.  I was so taken with these motorcycles that I ordered a classis/nostalgic leather jacket for myself . . . with classic racing stripes.

I joined a van full of co-workers for the 90 minute drive up the Deeside Valley to the hamlet of Braemar, famous for the Queen's summer residence and the annual Braemar Gathering and Highland Games.

The Braemar is a gathering of the Scottish Clans, (bag)pipe bands, and competitors in a variety of traditional Highland Games.

Pipe and drum bands from all over Scotland attended.

The sound of the bands marching in one-by-one into the games arena was fantastically moving.

It doesn't get more Scottish than this!

Each band reflected their clan affiliation through the wearing of the clan tartan.  Historians note a total of 89 main clans which have innumerous sub-clans or septs.

Pipe band members are not confined to men only.  There are many women and young people involved in pipe bands.

Pipe bands are a family affair.

All ages participate.

Loitering drummers waiting to enter the arena.

 Not all of the marching Highlanders were musicians.

There were also units of historic Highlander troops present as well.

The Scottish people have a strong sense of national identity . . . and pride in their heritage.

All the parts of a kilt have symbolic meaning.

I like that the piper bands are open to women members. Good on you Scots!

Lovely feathered head gear buffeted by the wind.  The bands had arrive . . . now for a walk around the old mountain village of Braemar.

Braemar is the nearest town to the Queen of Englands summer home, Balmoral Castle.

Most of the houses here are of the traditional Scottish construction: Aberdeen grey granite and slate roofs.

Iver Cottage in Braemar.  Sweet.

These wooden blocks spun in the wind . . . to scare birds from the garden.

I love how people here name their houses.  The name of the house is also it's address.  If you wanted to send a letter here you would only have to address it "Downfield, Braemar, UK."

I love exploring these small Scottish villages.  Here, a garden shed.

This garden gate tells the story of a very wet climate.

There is a small commercial district in Braemar where I encountered this old busker.

I dropped a pound coin in his cup and asked him if I could take some photographs . . . he nodded yes.

There were two churches in Braemar.

A wonderful old church door.

The back door of the church stood wide open . . . so I went right in.

Wonderful light spilled into this quiet space . . . far from the crowds at the Highland Games.

Quiet and serene.

The church interior was simple and beautiful.

After a so-so hot dog and crisps, I made my way back to my assigned seat in the grandstands.

Pipe bands took turns supplying the music in the main competition arena.

Each pipe band was led by a flamboyant drum major.

The games' security was provided by these kilted stewards.

Several Highlands games, and traditional dancing, went on at the same time in the arena.

The start of the 6 mile 'Hill Run' - a grueling race up the steep 'hill' that served as a backdrop to the games.

The hill runners had to run up a set path, but they could come down any way and on any route they chose.

The cut, scratched, and bruised returning hill runners returned to large applause in the arena.

The Tug-O-War event took place directly in front of or stands.

Tug-O-War is a very dramatic sport. 

The crowd cheered loudly at each pull.

Great human struggle.

A Tug-O-War is a very photogenic thing.

Several of the Tug-O-War teams represented military units.

The Caber Toss involves tossing a caber,made from a  "Larch tree and is typically 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 m) tall and weighs 175 pounds (79 kg)."

The Queen and Prince Charles arrived from their nearby castle at mid afternoon.

The Royals took their place in the Royal Shed.  The crowd around me was abuzz because The Queen was not in her traditional pastel colors, but a bold, primary red! OMG!

The Royals stood to review the entering massed pipe band and Highland military units.

. . . and in marched the massed pipe band . . . amazing!

Hundreds of bag pipes playing together is a sound that cannot be described.

In addition to the fantastic sound of it, the visual spectacle is impressive.

Impressive indeed!

Many Highland military units marched in as well.

The Queen seemed to enjoy the day.

Beautiful regimental flag.

The last event was a sack race for the children, of course.

You've got to admire the Scot's respect and reverence for tradition.

Famous Dunnottar Castle along the Aberdeenshire coast with the North Sea.

An ever-changing sunrise.

Morning flowers near Dunnottar Castle.

New bloom.

A nice hedge bloom.

The thistle is the symbol of Scotland.

This was a good time of the year to see the thistle in full bloom.

Wonderful thistle.

Scottish thistle.

A snail in the underbrush.

Morning light on the way.

Amazing Dunnottar Castle.

Another new day.

A beautiful Sunday in northeast Scotland.  Time to get out of the house and see something . . . like Castle Fraser.

With such a nice day, we decided to go and see Castle Fraser, not far from our Aberdeen home. These are the garden walls of Castle Fraser.

It is late summer in Aberdeenshire now and the cows graze in golden fields that surround Castle Fraser.

Even if there were no castle or gardens to gawk at, the walk from the car park was beautiful on this clear day.

Castle Fraser, for may centuries the ancestral clan home of the a Fraser Clan built in 1575.  Magnificent.

The staff buildings of Castle Fraser.

The castle gate leading to the the workshops.  We had a fine lunch at the cafe here.

We enjoyed walking around the castle and gasping at it's grandeur . . . but I was also curious about the garden.

The garden was held within high brick walls, and behind tall hedges within the wall.

The center of the garden held a formal plan, with the flower and vegetable beds arranged around it.

The sun was so bright and clear, perfect for photographing the luscious flowers.

Lovely flowers everywhere.

As it is late summer, some of the flowers had already been in bloom and left their beautiful seed pods.

I could not help but smile at this happy flower bed.

A puff of white filament.

Many kinds of vines and climbing plants were arrayed around the garden walls.

Flowers and a climbing apple tree.

This is the first climbing apple tree I have ever seen.

While browsing the flower beds my eye caught these BLACK flowers!  Incredible!  What are they?

It was so bright and they were so dark . . . it was impossible to find the right camera settings.

I suppose I could have put on my polarizing filter . . .

I enjoyed shooting the various flowers from various angles to catch the various lighting effects.

We spent a wonderful couple of hours at Castle Fraser, even though we never went into the actual castle itself . . . next time.  COSTCO was beckoning!