When the conditions are right there is nothing better than heading out with the camera locally. I happened to look out of my window at around 10pm to see a bright moon but low lying fog. Time to head down to the river and capture the river and fog in the sidelight of a 85% full moon!

Sometimes you can only capture those special images with a special effort. Myself and Leia decided to wild camp on the shoulder of Lochnagar in the Cairngorms in the hope of sunset and sunrise images. The morning saw us waking to temperatures close to freezing (in July!) but rewarded us with cloud pouring over the ridge creating this waterfall of cloud. Well worth the effort I think.

To look at this image you would not believe it was taken in the few short hours between converging weather fronts with driving rain and winds of up to 70mph lashing the island. As is often the case these short periods of calm in stormy weather can provide wonderful light. This is a shot from the shores of Loch Slapin looking south towards Rum and Eigg. A wonderful magical Island with light to match.

This shot was taken almost as far east in Scotland as you can get, just to the North of Wick. This is all that remains of the steam Trawler “Jean Stephens”. She ran ashore in a force 11 gale and snowstorm in 1958. We where fortunate on our trip to arrive with wonderful golden light as the sun set in the west and the blue sea was crying out for a long exposure. This was a twenty second exposure giving the water a smooth finish and showing off the golden light as it hit the barnacle covered boiler. A long trip but worth the visit.

The Durham Coast has been heavily scarred by heavy industry over the years. Chemical beach gets its name from a chemical plant that resided here in the 1860’s. These old cast iron wheels are a photographers favourite. I love this shot as its a little different from most I’ve seen. The shot was taken at sunset so in the opposite direction to this east facing beach. Add to that the dramatic wave action rather than the flat calm often seen and it really adds drama to the shot. I have to say we did have to battle the occasional thigh high wave to get the shot!

This is a an image taken from a recent trip into the Galloway Forest in Scotland. The River Doon runs through an amazing ravine called the Ness Glen. In places the ravine is over one hundred feet deep with steep moss and fern covered sides. You can feel like your in another world. I took this image when the river was at a reasonably low level and how this plant manages to survive when the river is in flood is anyone’s guess. A real homage to the power of water and the power of life to survive!

We often forget that our rivers not only provide a place to enjoy a leisurely wander down the bank on a summers evening or fish for a day. They have also served industry over hundreds of years. This includes the present day, and this gantry allows gravel from the many quarries in the lower reaches of the river to be dropped by conveyor onto barges that will then take it down river. This was hot on a frosty morning and as is often the case a heavy mist had lifted off the water . With a thirty second exposure it provided this serene yet ghostly scene.

Sometimes it can be easy to pack up and go home when the expected weather does not materialise. I always try and come up with a plan be when this happens and this shot is the result of one such occasion. We had gone to the gorge expecting some fog which we wanted to capture in the ancient woodland bu this did not materialise. So, we switched our attention to the wonderful stream running through the gorge. I just love the contrast between the green mosses and the yellowing leaves in this image. As always your comments and questions are welocome

I have to say, we where not expecting to see water lilies in full bloom floating on a Lakeland Tarn. Needless to say it was a nice surprise and the clouds taken with a fifteen second exposure provided some wonderful lines into the shot. I also wanted the clouds reflection on the water and by splitting the image in half it gives a nice symmetry to the image.

As a Nottinghamshire photographer my mission has always been to highlight the wonderful landscapes we have around the UK. However, when I can I do like to bring you images of my home county which is sadly very under-represented. Go on I dare you to google Nottinghamshire landscape images!

Never more is it so clear that water shapes our landscape than when a great river like the Trent is in flood. I simply love the cloud reflections in this image as they remind me of the old paint butterflies we used to do as kids. You can just make out Carlton on Trent church on the horizon.

Nothing signifies being in the mountains like this shot. The weather really was changing by the second and I really had to be careful that the wind didn’t shake the 400mm lens I shot this with. One minute I was enveloped in cloud before the sun burst through and illuminated the distant mountains. Well worth the climb!

In Norse it is the white mountain and I was lucky enough to capture a blood moon rising from behind its rocky outcrop. Conditions also helped in that the sun had not yet set behind me, however, a helpful bank of thick black cloud completely obscured it leaving only a faint hint of pink amongst the blue of the coming night.

Canisp stands alone while other mountains lurk out of this image, the mighty Quinag off to the right. Located on the North West Coast of Scotland in an area known as Assynt.

Another shot from my intentional camera movement series. The title just represents what I see in the image, but the beauty of it is that we may all see something different. I will continue to do more work with this method of photography because I have found that it is the sort of image that works well in a business reception area where clients waiting for meetings tend to be intrigued by the questions it raises.

I know that this type of image really splits photographers down the middle, but if you look at photography as an art form then an image that makes someone stop and look is of great value, however you came by the result.

Sometimes you can wonder why you are trekking to a location and this was one such occasion. Climbing up the side of the Quiraing in darkness and high winds it soon became apparent that if we climbed to the top the northerly wind would make it impossible to set up a tripod. The decision was made to hunker down on the southern slopes about three quarters of the way up in a cutting conveniently shaped by hundreds of sheep over the years. For over an hour the light was dull, the sun came up behind a bank of cloud and we thought our chance of a decent shot had gone. Then in an instant the sun started to break through and we could see the light moving across the land towards Cleat and Dun Dubh. Then came a frantic amazing ten minutes of light. Suddenly the climb and conditions didn’t matter! Stunning!

I had wanted to take this image for more years than I can remember. This old barn has stood there looking at me not ten miles from my home but conditions had never been right. It was always one of those shots but never planned and so when I passed by chance along the road a different crop was in the field or the light wasn’t right. On this occasion I was actually on my way to shoot something else and casually glanced to my left. Finally everything seemed to come together! And I never did get to that other shoot.

The remains of a 7th century Christian monastery which was later a benedictine abbey that went into disuse during the dissolution of the monastery’s during Henry 8th rule.

The famous and infamous Whitby Abbey has to be one of my favourite locations immortalised in literature. For it is on the rocks below the abbey that the Russian ship the Demeter meets her end the Captain strapped to the wheel and a large dog bounds up the 199 steps to the church of St Mary and the abbey beyond. Count Dracula has reached our shores.

Bram Stoker used the locations at Whitby after coming here to stay in 1890 and being so captivated by the stunningly rugged coastline. Can there be a story more adapted and re-adapted over the years? And if you haven’t read the original novel please do, then pay Whitby a visit. Perhaps it would be best to leave it to a grey November afternoon as the sun is setting low over the sea, just be wary if you notice a large dog running with purpose or perhaps laying eyes on you for longer than it should.

Sometimes it is amazing to stand with breath almost held in anticipation of the scene developing before you. This image was all that and more. I had planned this image, it was the image I wanted. It was taken on the outskirts of my own village at about 4am. What you can’t see is the stunning shot that was also unfolding behind me as the sun arose behind my back. For many agonising minutes my shot looked dull with the mist completely obscuring the windmill and the river, it took all my nerve not to abandon the shot in favour of a rushed composition that had already presented itself behind me. Then suddenly the sun began to hit and break the mist. For a few fleeting minutes the shot began to unfold before the sun had its way with the mist and the new day arrived.

We had warnings of potential thunder and lightening, but I was sceptical so didn’t set up my camera ready for the event. At two thirty the following morning I was treated to perhaps the most dramatic electrical storm I have ever seen. My failure to set up did cause me to end up with sub par fork lightening images but surprisingly this shot of sheet lightening lit up the clouds from above and rapidly made me forget my error with the other images. You really could believe that a battle was taking place in the skies with sheet lightening every few seconds punctuated with thunder and fork lightening.

I am really pleased with the way this image has come out. It was taken about fifteen minutes away from my home and although it feels pretty dark it would not be classed as a dark site. This is a view of St George the Martyr church which serves the parishes of North and South Clifton. It just so happens that we got our calculations correct on this occasion and the milky way put on a fantastic display above the tower. To the right of the tower and above is one of our solar system giants Saturn. Taken with my Sony A7ii and Samyang 14mm F2.8.

I love visiting new areas of the British Isles and Dumfries and Galloway is an area we had often driven through on our way further north. I have to say that the countryside is simply stunning and very undiscovered. I think we could probably have spent all week around the ruins of this castle, in fact we visited on at least three occasions. This shot was taken on our only night when we could see some of the stars in this area renowned for its dark sky.

The shot was taken with my Sony A7ii and Zeiss 24-70 lens ISO was at 3200 and wide open at F4. This was a 20 second exposure. We where disappointed with the thin cloud at first but I really think it adds something to the image. As always let me know what you think in the comments section.

As a photographer you soon realise that lighting conditions can change in an instant. This image is really testament to that fact. I had wild camped at Alport Castles to catch the sunrise and also hoped to get an image of the milky way as the weather had given clear skies. At midnight cloud had moved in so I abandoned the attempt in favour of some sleep. I soon regretted my decision not to take a sleeping matt and was back up at 2am. This was the scene that greeted me. Low cloud or mist had moved into the valley but a thin veil of cloud was also obscuring the moon. So much so that it was allowing some moonlight to fall into the valley and give a hint of features yet also allowing me to take images of the moon while leaving details of the moons surface. One of my favourite images this year.

A very common bird in the UK but my favourite raptor. After years of persecution these are now our most common bird of prey. In my experience very wary and this has to be my favourite shot, really made by the quality of the light coming through this young birds feathers

One of my favourite images of the last couple of years, simply because of the amount of work that went into achieving it.This was shot 25 miles from the city of Aberdeen, over 400 miles from my home address. It was made possible when my daughter moved to Aberdeen and gave me a base in the North! The full story of this image is told through a series of films on my Youtube channel so for the full story just type Scott Tilley photography in Youtube. As with most images the story behind it really makes it stand out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I was extremely happy to bump into this short-eared owl while out filming barn owls. With those piercing eyes it has to be my favourite UK owl.

A shot from my local patch. One of those days when a thick mist had descended on the Trent Valley. Also an instance where I just saw the deer before she saw me, enabling me to get down in a crouched position. The movement had obviously aroused her suspicion and she spent a few minutes moving in-between these branches trying to suss me out. Lucky for me I got a shot as they made a perfect frame and the conditions screamed monochrome!

I was so happy to get this image. I stumbled across this litter (she has at least seven!) while coming back from a badger sett. It was almost dark so the images where shot at high ISO. It took another three attempts to get this shot which also allowed me to spend some time with this playful family group. Those eyes!!

This has been a difficult location for photography in recent years. The sett is so large that the badgers tend to be in different areas every year and its very difficult to predict where they will appear. A handful of peanuts encouraged this badger to raise his head to get the treat!

I shot this Roe deer fawn just as some amazing dawn light broke over the nature reserve. The fawn was just curious enough to hang around as it obviously didn’t quite realise I was there. A beautiful encounter to brighten any day.

We had a short trip up to the North Pennines this weekend and I was very pleased to get some images of Golden Plover. Perhaps what is not so evident however is the destruction of an ecosystem for the sake of Grouse shooting. I am currently writing my next blog on this theme so for the minute I hope you enjoy the image!

I encountered this Mink on Holiday on the Isle of Mull while fishing from an abandoned pier. It was amusing to note a little face watching me from a gap in the wall of the pier as I cast out. As always I had my camera with me and spent a while with this curious creature.

I encountered this owl on the Moorland called Bleaklow in the Peak District. Because it was a grey day I decided to process this one in monochrome. I really love the Angel like appearance of this image. One of my recent favourites!

I took this shot on Big Moor just outside the city of Sheffield. He was obviously curious as to what was hiding behind a camera and lens at the edge of his territory. The contrast in the image works really well in monochrome.

I have photographed this fox for a couple of years now and to be honest it has always been a battle of wills. A battle that I generally lose! This is one of my few good shot of this very clever mother. As you can see from the stare, she has spotted me again. On one occasion she appeared at the edge of the wood gazing out across the field. I was well hidden and downwind, she did not even look at me but suddenly disappeared back into the wood. I was sure I hadn’t been seen so waited eyes trained on the spot in the woodland she had just turned back into. I had that feeling of eyes on me so glanced to my right, and there she was staring right at me. This clever lady had obviously sensed something and had circled through the wood to approach me from the side. To be honest I don’t mind being ”out-foxed” and look forward to it continuing.

Sometimes taking an image of any wildlife can be the icing on top of the cake and I suppose this image typifies that. This was another occasion when I had gone out to shoot a landscape shot. After I had finished I began the walk back to the car but because I also shoot wildlife I always find myself walking very quietly and slowly, never walking out into a crossroad of paths without first glancing around to see what may be coming down the other way. This is exactly what happened with this shot. I spotted the deer about 100 metres away he was feeding on the hedge and then walking closer a few steps before fighting with the grass, the hedge etc! Because of this I managed to fit my long lens and lay down at the edge of the path. For an hour he came gradually closer until he was just a few metres away and obviously curious about what was in front of him. Finally nerves overcame him and he slowly retreated and disappeared into the crops. A wonderful hour spent with this beautiful wild animal, but very late for tea!

A Humpback Whale gets ready to dive off the coast of Iceland.

This remains one of my favourite images of the Brown Hare over the many years I have been taking pictures of them. And as with most photography it’s all about the quality of the light. On this occasion the sun had just come up behind me at the precise moment the Hare noticed something strange (me) lying in the field, giving me this wonderful pose in the golden light.

This did not start out as a wildlife shoot. In fact I had gone up to the Yorkshire Dales for a day to do some landscape photography and was just coming down off the moors at the end of the day. Then started one of the strangest wildlife encounters I have ever had. Walking down the track I noticed a single tree that had the potential for a good image. Unfortunately the tree must have been in this little guys territory. For the next fifteen minutes he physically attacked me. So much so that I forgot about the tree and proceeded to at least take the opportunity of getting a shot of my assailant. (obviously not to pass on to the authorities). I actually shot this while trying to hold the little chap at bay with one of the legs of my tripod, while shooting with a 50mm lens. I hastily beat a retreat, neither of us worse the wear for the encounter.

I really love this shot. I think the reason I like it so much is the fact that unfortunately for me the deer appeared before the sun had given me enough light to shoot with and I was forced to improvise. The result was this silhouette shot in muted colours with perhaps just a glint of his eye visible.

My favourite British mammal and one i see far to infrequently. I think my fascination with these creatures began in 2010 when I witnessed one take out a fully grown rabbit and proceed to drag it under cover. The rabbit must have been six times its weight. A scene I have never forgotten. I can now call these towards me with a bit of luck as I did here. A wild encounter I always look forward to.

I hadn’t expected this shot to come out as well as it did because of the very bland skies but to be honest I quite like the stark white background. A kestel doing what it does best.

Sometimes wildlife encounters can be really unexpected. This was one such occasion when I was disturbed by a strange noise as I walked through some local woodland. Looking to my right I found the source of the noise as this little fellow chastised me.

Sadly these are not as common as they once were in the UK. I had noticed a pair nesting in an old abandoned building and was luck enough on this occasion top catch him walking along the ridge of the building, as always with that angry expression!

Not many will recognise the song lyric. As a photographer you really do have to learn to be opportunistic. This image is a case in point. A day when I had gone out specifically on a wildlife shoot close to my home. A fog descended and effectively put paid to any wildlife shots. I only had the sigma 100-400 lens so shot this image hand held across a fog bound pool. In the end the shot came out far better than I expected, I really could have been on the edge of time.

Although I shot mainly wildlife images on our short trip into the Scottish borders this landscape shot of the boat house on Loch Ettrick turned out to be my favourite of the trip. Shot on a dull day with constant misty rain. I used my Sony A6400, Sony 18-135 and a ten stop filter. This wasn’t the shot I went for, but I ended up liking this dark shot best, really giving that “I wouldn’t like to be alone here” feel. I hope you like it too.

This is a pre-dawn shot of the river Trent with thick freezing fog in the air. I love the minimalist feel to this shot with a single light on the far bank providing interest and mystery.

An image from one of my Youtube Video’s. This was shot with a 35mm film camera and Rollei 400 ISO Infrared film. A red filter was also used. I know what story this image tells me but what does this fallen angel in a long forgotten cemetery clutching a child tell you? One of my favourite forms of photography and inspired by the work of the late great Simon Marsden.

Fog and mist has a way of transforming what can be a fairly ordinary scene. This shot of Fledborough Viaduct was shot on an extremely foggy morning. This often happens here due to the close proximity to the river Trent. I often curse the pilons in this location as they are everywhere as this was once the site of the High Marnham power station. They can often get in the way of a conventional landscape shot. In this instance I decided to use the pilon and wires, and the fog really reminded me of the the creatures/machines from the war of the worlds. A simple but effective image.

Fog and mist can often transform a scene but to be honest this secluded castle really doesn’t need much help. I shot it in various conditions over a week but this particular day began completely still with mist that clung to the cold water. I can recommend a visit to this castle if you are ever in Dumfries and Galloway, the sense of history clings to it much as the mist does.

Woodland can be particularly difficult to photograph due to its general chaotic nature. I always try to look for things that stand out and then work a composition from there. This old tree certainly did stand out as it stood alone among the pines that surrounded it. I shot low and wide to give the feeling of the tree being enclosed by its subjects and used black and white to further enhance the dark branches against the much paler pine.

To say a Cemetery is a wonderful place to visit may seem strange. However, when I want to create images that try to unsettle and I suppose have the look of the early black and white horror film genre they can be perfect. Not just any cemetery will do however and I had to search for a while to find the Sheffield General Cemetery. This is a wonderful place. No longer in use and largely overgrown but located in the heart of Sheffield. Shot in infrared which adds to a feeling of unease and on the hottest of summer days.

Strangely enough for a place of death the place was buzzing with the sounds of wildlife and humanity going about its business on the busy streets of Sheffield that enclose it.

Another shot from my day in this wonderful place. Again shot in Infrared I was helped by the sunlight falling on the grave stones and the white flowers of the Bindweed leading to the cross at the centre of the image. The darker underside of the canopy provides a suitable frame.

I’m always keen to experiment with my photography and sometimes I will enhance an image to create an effect I’’m looking for. (if an image is manipulated I will always indicate this to the viewer) This is one such image. Clearly the fungi in the front of the image have had the colour enhanced. I love the contrast with the greens in the background which lift this from a nice record shot to a piece of art.

The temptation, once you begin macro photography is to get as close to your subject as possible. I find myself doing this a lot of the time but I also like to place my subject in its environment and give the image the same treatment I would with a landscape shot. This small skipper had come to rest as the evening sun set. The light was changing by the second from golden to this wonderful pale light which I think suited the subject well.

A shot from our recent trip to Dumfries and Galloway. Although we had some massive landscapes around its always good to look at what is close at hand. I really love the water droplets on this image and to be honest they where not obvious when taking the image. An added bonus when it came to editing them!

I really love the light in this image. The golden light you get just before the sun sinks below the horizon. I shot this at the end of spring as this butterfly can clearly attest to, its wings ragged and well past there best but once again beautiful in the gold of sunset.

I was really pleased with this image as I managed to take it in the middle of the day when butterflies are very active and don’t tend to stay still for too long. Not only that but she had landed at an angle which gave me a really nice clear background. Manually focused with my old Sigma 105 macro.

There are a number of species of these in the UK. I spotted this one in a local nature reserve and to be honest it really shows how the environment can enhance an image. I really love the spider and the background i managed to isolate him on.

This really was a lucky capture, and even luckier for the greenfly that this spider was pre-occupied carrying around its egg sack. If you look closely you can almost see those eyes staring at the greenfly!