Main Drones

24/06/2024

Ok, I definitely have a problem with procrastination. I am very easily distracted, particularly if there's something I'm putting off. I'm supposed to be going through my drives to put together a portfolio of architectural/property shots as there's a few jobs I'd like to apply for. I really need to get the applications in sharpish. However, I keep stumbling across archived stuff that I haven't looked at since the day I pressed the shutter, and I'm finding myself quite drawn to them. It's a bit like when a new song comes out and the radio plays it to death so you begin to hate it, then 3 years later you hear it in the background and think "hmmm...not too bad". I feel the same way about these shots from Burnmouth.

20/06/2024

Quick one today, seemed apt to put this sunrise shot of Dirleton up from 2020 as I'm heading in that direction to help my pal Tina Orourke c/o Ezee Riders get set up to take a handful of lucky guests from Marine North Berwick on what I believe to be the best tour East Lothian has to offer!

18/06/2024

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a morning person. On occasion I do like being up early to get a head start on the day. I do my best to organise things the night before but wake up very groggy, put two socks on one foot, fumble around trying to find car keys and in my attempts to stay quiet end up making far more racket bumping into things. Still, a good sunrise makes it pretty worthwhile and a hundred horses couldn't drag me there if I didn't want to be.

17/06/2024

Peaking over the shoulders of giants.

People often say in times of desperation that they will move mountains (to make the other person happy or achieve a goal). I ask who the hell wants to move mountains? they're fine where they are!.... I guess I can apply this to my life's situation, it is what it is and harbouring the desperate hope for some kind of improvement to my circumstances is probably the reason for it not happening and undoubtedly creating and fuelling anguish.

One thing I love about mountains is that they not only dominate the landscape but to quote Joe Rogan- they "don't give a f*ck!" . They create perspective just by their sheer presence. They've been here for hundreds of millions of years, and they'll be here long after I'm pushing up daisies. When I'm in the hills I begin to feel at peace and imagine them rumbling to one another- "Get a load of this daft wee c**t!" 😂

15/06/2024

Being happy with your lot, or content with what you have is often used as an insult to others, a backhanded way of telling someone that is unhappy that they are ungrateful and hence undeserving of life and love. I'm sure at some stage we have all had a variation of this thrown at us. I have only really grasped the true meaning of this from listening to lectures from philosophers, gurus, and spiritual teachers, and the like. To me it's that if you cannot find happiness in the present moment and you are looking for an external source for this, like a new house, car, better job, higher salary- when that time comes you will enjoy it only briefly. You will eventually live your whole life unhappy because rather than living, you are constantly searching, grasping, hoping for a better deal. This is the context I give to this picture of an abandoned house on a Fife estate. There was no war or natural disaster, but a beautifully built house with ornate stonework that the intended owner simply didn't like and left to ruin. I'd probably understand if they found God, renounced their riches, and lived in a cave or a tin hut, but I seriously doubt that was the case. Still, the photo turned out ok!

14/06/2024

Looking straight down at Bangley Quarry at blue hour (before sunrise).
I get asked a lot about how I got into drone work, I could list off the practical side of things and rationale, but I think what really drew me to it was that I see things from a different point of view. Not just images but life and the universe in general. It is often a blow to my ego when I meet likeminded people, especially as they often can put words and meaning to something in a far more eloquent way than this "mindful meat-head"! Much as I love nature, this biogas plant looks pretty cool, especially with LED floodlights breaking through twilight.

12/06/2024

You could say I'm easily distracted, the truth is I was supposed to be getting sunrise shots of another place, but the light was better here and the joys of being up at sunrise is nobody is looking over my shoulder. Luckily, being up at the crack of dawn means that nobody is around to interfere, constantly looking over your shoulder. The funny thing about working with people who cannot get over their own ego is that rather than trusting people with the responsibility to deliver their best work, they spit out their dummies and feel all disrespected if one shows the slightest initiative. Instead of being a part of something great, they would rather be the captain of a sinking ship. Sticking with the naval metaphor, people like that can kiss my canon or polish my mast!

How about the best Naval euphemism gets a smiley face like? 😊

30/05/2024

I was once called a run of the mill drone pilot by a business advisor. On reflection it was fair, I don't have £100k worth of gear, I have no real contacts in the creative industry that can help me get more work. SKY, BBC, and Nat Geo aren't calling anytime soon. But I don't know any run of the mill drone guys that go to the lengths I do, not that I see it as effort because it never is when you do something you love.

21/05/2024

I've been reading some photography captions in journals and competition entries recently. The photographers always seem to paint themselves as selfless artists or eco warriors. They give long descriptions about trekking for ten days in the jungle to shoot a butterfly, or go into detail about the fragile beauty of the animal that required hours of standing still, a telephoto lens, and list the aperture, focal length, shutter, and iso and so on...

I don't have much to say about this shot. OK, I matched the trusses of the bridge with the intersections of the upper thirds, I shot with slow enough shutter to capture light but just high enough to stabilise and reduce motion blur, it was taken at sunrise looking direct into the sun to create layering, but really- I was in the right place at the right time and I like to think it looks nice!

18/05/2024

Tina's bike tours are awesome and I highly recommend them to anyone in East Lothian, both visitors and locals!

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀

I am thrilled to announce that from the 11th of June 2024, my business will be moving from Castleton Farm to the beautiful Archerfield Walled Garden, just outside Direlton! 🌸🌿 This stunning new location is perfectly situated on the John Muir Way, offering cyclists the choice to journey towards Edinburgh or Dunbar in either direction. 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

I will continue to hire and run my popular tours, and I'll also be able to deliver to the surrounding areas. I can't wait to welcome you all to this fantastic new spot and share the incredible cycling routes that Archerfield and its surrounding area has to offer.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you at Archerfield Walled Garden! 🏞️

22/04/2024

Every day is Earth Day.

16/02/2024

The time seems right for a mindful reel, no doubt facebook's algorithms will bin it for being longer than 30 minutes and not featuring bunny girls, cats falling off tables, or whatever.
If one person in the group enjoys even a small part of this then it has served its purpose. Thanks for watching.

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas! Be sure to enjoy your sprouts in moderation or you may find yourself banned from public airspace!