Night on the Pots?

Night on the Pots?, originally uploaded by North Light.

Another bright and frosty morning, we have now had a few days of good winter weather, I was able to take advantage of this yesterday, and spent some time out with the camera, but the days are very short now, sunrise was at 9.00 am, and sunset at 3.14 pm, just over six hours of full daylight! Still the shortest day is nearly here, and we then have spring to look forward to.

Weather Forecast

Golden Sand, originally uploaded by North Light.

Thinking about taking photographs, the weather this week has been pretty good, but have been in the hotel office during daylight hours, frustrating!
The forecast for Sunday looks good though, so subject to the accuracy of the forecast it's a photography day tomorrow. Something to keep me motivated for the rest of the day?

Castlehill harbour...2

Castlehill harbour...2, originally uploaded by North Light.

Published. I am pleased that this and one other photograph were published in "amateur Photographer" magazine this week. The email from the publishers asking permission to use the two images came as a total surprise as these were part of a portfolio submitted nearly two years ago, the cynical side of me thinks that they were obviously short of suitable photos, so had to resort to the filing system!
On a more positive note, the portfolio was submitted to three publications, two of which have published, the third, which will of course remain nameless rejected the portfolio, two out of three is not bad!
I guess that this indicates that I really should do more with my photographs, a "New Years Resolution" perhaps?

Sunday Morning Walk

Sunday Morning Walk, originally uploaded by North Light.

Another week begins, the festive season is creeping up! More functions in the Hotel at the end of this week, next week is then busy, less time for photography!
Got out yesterday with Bev, a walk on Dunnet beach, although there was no direct sunlight the sky was superb, lots of clouds in just about every shade of grey which has I hope produced some interesting images.

Winter Weather

Low Tide, originally uploaded by North Light.

Slipped down to Inverness yesterday, a spot of unsuccessful Christmas shopping, no inspiration.
A really strange day for weather, sleet in the rain on the way down, particularly as we were crossing the Causeymire, and at the Ord of Caithness. Outside temperature gauge on the car was reading 3°C, as we were leaving Inverness in the early afternoon the Car was registering 14°C, it was still 12°C when we got back to Thurso late afternoon, Summer's back!
Stooped on the way back at Dornoch for a quick walk on the beach, and a couple of quick photographs, I always find this an inspiring spot.

Thurso Surf

Thurso Surf, originally uploaded by North Light.

This was taken yesterday morning, I was able to get out with the camera just before dawn, not too difficult as sunrise was just after 8:30 am. A cold morning, frost on the ground and the odd patch of ice.
It was obviously a good morning for surf as there must have been about ten people in the water in Thurso Bay, COLD, and when I left about an hour later this had probably increased to twenty or so.
These were my first attempts at taking pictures of surfers, I really needed to use a longer lens, but I am not unhappy with some of the results.

Winter Blues

Red on Grey, originally uploaded by North Light.

I guess that this should really read "Winter Greys", but its been another week with no photography, had to resort to working on images from the back catalogue!
I should not be negative about this, I have a lot of images I like, and in many cases re-working them is very positive, and I hope that they are benefiting from a little bit more experience!
I received a email from the submissions department of a well known weekly UK Photographic magazine yesterday, some of a portfolio I submitted nearly two years ago is being published in the magazine in December, quietly pleased with this. This will mean that of the three magazines I submitted portfolios to, two will have published photographs from the portfolio. Not a bed hit rate!
On a completely different subject, the forecast for tomorrow looks good, so the plan for Sunday involves photography, and not much else. This is of course subject to the vagaries of the weather.