Swift Films

31/03/2025

Scottish Nature Photography Awards

I was really thrilled to hear that a short video I made has won the ‘Scottish Nature Video Award 2024’. My video, '19th July 2022' is the culmination of a two and a half year journey that began on what was to become Scotland’s hottest ever day.

I remember standing in Princes Street in Edinburgh filming at 5pm on that day and the temperature was over 30 degrees celsius. It didn’t feel right. This is Scotland after all!

The experience left me feeling very concerned about the climate crisis and wanting to do more. Shortly after this, I learned that 15% of all of Scotland’s carbon emissions come from degraded peatlands, but restoring this land can greatly reduce this. I jumped at the chance to work with NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION team to help raise awareness of this vital work that helps combat the climate and nature crises. My short video documents this journey over the last two and a half years.

https://scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/2024_winners/index.html

10/03/2025

This is why you should never give up. 13 years ago I made a video where we had to light 1000 tea candles. Whilst it looked beautiful, the reality of producing this video caused a sudden combustion. The experience taught me a lot of valuable lessons. This is why you should never give up: https://youtu.be/zCl45WKbIhg?si=ySTxoVWNJmDBThBY

22/02/2025

The only thing that stopped me from infinite scrolling. There are five things that I now do using only a pen that I credit with stopping my crippling internet addiction. I summarised them here in this video:
https://youtu.be/Sr9yRqOZMYU?si=BZI3D25QWyB-QX26

23/01/2025

35 things you can do right now to change your life.

A new video that Rich has just made which is less than 175 seconds.

https://youtu.be/LK4dHjCMrOo

22/11/2024

There is a magical and mystical island in Scotland. It’s in the middle of a loch. I have always been intrigued by this island because there appears to be a castle on it. Throughout my childhood I always wondered why.

Now that I am fully grown adult, I can find out the answer for myself. Not by looking up the answer on the internet, but by purchasing a cheap inflatable boat and going out to visit the island for myself.

My latest video tells this story. It’s an excuse for me to answer one of the most pressing questions I had when I was a child - is this the world’s smallest island?

https://youtu.be/YAcozsVU2Dk?si=7u5Q4LWUaOMoGsnr

11/10/2024

My nine year old son Jack came home from school recently and told me that he had been too afraid to give a presentation to all of his classmates. This inspired me to make this video.

I wanted to tell Jack about the greatest lesson that I had learned in life and how I had discovered this. I found this out for myself when I was 10 years old and I was learning to dive.

The greatest lesson you will learn in life:

My nine year old son Jack came home from school recently and told me that he had been too afraid to give a presentation to all of his classmates. This inspir...

19/02/2024

I have never slept well, so I decided to film myself sleeping for seven nights to try and understand why. What I discovered makes me feel like I don’t myself anymore.

Link to watch the full video is in comments.

07/11/2023

I thought I would make a video about the tiny habits I do every day that only take a few minutes. Some of them literally only take a few seconds. I underestimated how powerful the repetition of these tiny habits can be when it comes to making lasting change.

Link to video is in the comments as Facebook is not a fan of YouTube links within posts!

05/09/2023

3 morning rituals for a natural high.

They say that as you get older you naturally wake up earlier. For me it’s already started. My transition from night owl to morning lark is complete.

Whilst this is both a blessing and a curse, what it has done is allow me to discover three morning rituals which I genuinely believe are the very best thing that you can do for your mind and body upon waking.

Unlike anything else I’ve ever done, these three rituals - when performed together - lead to a flow of endorphins which produce the ultimate natural high - thus creating the perfect morning routine.

3 morning rituals for a natural highThey say that as you get older you naturally wake up earlier. For me it’s already started. My transition from night owl t...

30/07/2023

Oh hi Facebook! It has been a while. Here's a short video I have just made about a really simple journaling habit that I have actually managed to make stick. Without being too dramatic about it, it has probably changed my life.

How to start with journaling and why you shouldFor many years I have dabbled with journaling. The benefits of doing it regularly sound impressive – reduced s...

17/11/2022

At the end of September I had the chance to take part in the amazing Pentland Peaks challenge - a 27 mile walk through the Edinburgh's Pentland Hills.

It was the most beautiful day I have ever experienced in the Pentlands. The walk itself was brutal though, but thoroughly memorable. The 10 minute film I made about the experience details all.

Edinburgh's toughest walk ruined me.I was fortunate enough to take part in the inaugural Artemis Pentland Peaks Challenge, a 27 mile endurance event in Edinb...

01/08/2022

It was a bit hot in July wasn't it? Here's a wee video I made on / about Scotland's hottest ever day (19th July 2022).

https://youtu.be/lF2Zphjt2nQ

On Tuesday 19th July 2022, Scotland recorded its hottest ever day with a temperature of 35.1 degrees celsius in Kelso in the Scottish borders. Sensing that t...