I’m Daniel Long and I hope you enjoy my photos!
After a fraught morning of lost opportunities, I finally make it to where I intend to spend the day filming vlogs. I was planning on doing some landscape photography in the mountains enshrouded by fog and low clouds to create some ethereal and interesting landscape photography images. The results were more than I could expect and I had an amazing session of photography!
An early morning landscape photography excursion to photograph the old bridge in the centre of the village of Carrbridge in Scotland. That being the only subject around, I created this vlog showing the location, my editing process and finally I print the image to join my print collection. But I make a mistake . . .
Arriving at Loch an Eilean there was a tonne of people out enjoying the evening, I wasn’t deterred from my planned Landscape Photography. It was a spectacular evening full of golden light cast across the landscape and vibrant pink and orange colours in the sky. The first 2 images I captured were complicated images to process: an HDR and a Panorama. But the best images came from the setting sun!
Had a bit of a bad start to the morning with a very flat sunrise image but following the colours the golden light that lit the landscape was stunning! Loch Insh gave me 3 golden landscapes, illuminating the forests on the banks of the loch. But my favourite image was from Loch Alvie, the church and reflections in the golden light was perfect!
Another wet and dreary day in Scotland meant that I could enjoy exploring around the East Coast of Loch Ness. The heavy clouds creating an interesting view across the loch, but proving difficult conditions as the day went on. So I decided to show how I process my images, give an insight into how I like to do things, and print the resulting image!
An extremely wet and rainy day but that doesn’t mean landscape photography can’t be done! I went to one of my favourite rainy day locations, the Birks of Aberfeldy. A wonderful forest walk with a cascading river full of small rapids, a landscape photographer’s dream. Short of time and light and wanting to concentrate on photography, I filmed most of it from my point of view…
During Lockdown I discovered this little loch not too far from home. It was spring and the lilies were in full bloom. I knew then that I wanted to photograph this lily loch during a colourful sunrise. Fast forward a while and I return to the loch in the autumn to finally photograph it with a beautiful sunrise.
The last stop on my epic Moray Coast sunrise to sunset landscape photography expedition. I was fascinated by the sand dunes full of Marram grass, a landscape that doesn’t exist where I’m from, so I attempted to capture the majesty of them with different photographic styles. Before I changed subject and looked to the sea and the lighthouse.
Moving along the Moray Coast it was now the middle of the day but I was inspired to try different landscape photography styles in the various locations I visited along the coast. I explored detailed compositions of the rock formations and features of the beach, as well as a more traditional approach and ICM photography as well. A great day exploring the Moray Coast for landscape photography opportunities.
A very early morning spent on the Moray Coast, taking landscape photographs of the amazing Bow Fiddle Rock. I moved around the beach and cliffs to show how the position of a person can relate to the compositions of a single subject: Bow Fiddle. It worked well and although there were now sunrise colours in the sky, I still had a great morning and got some lovely images…
A beautiful sunny day does not easily lend itself to landscape photography, but I had a brainwave, the golden light of sunset ought to create heavy areas of contrast in the mountains and I could get some minimalist images. But when the clouds begin to block out the sun, I had to adapt my plans. ICM photography saved the evening and created some amazing images.
A new location for me up on the Moray Coast lent itself to wonderful forest and beach photography. This remote sandy beach was hidden through a large pine forest requiring a hike of several kilometres to arrive, and as the beach comes into view there is a dead forest that is so unique I had to photo it! Then great sunset colours appeared over the sea!
Whenever I go to photograph red grouse, I see these rocky outcrops and hills and I’ve always wondered whether they would be good for landscape photography? Curiosity finally got the better of me and an evening walk was in order. The weather was changing so much that it brought the landscape to life and I had to go handheld to photograph the changing conditions. An excellent day of photography!
A quiet and calming exploration of a forest with several lochs inspired me to try various different landscape photography techniques and styles. Painterly reflections, black and white intimate abstract reflection, ICM photography of the forest, and a classic viewpoint composition. A great day of Landscape Photography!
I decided on the spur of the moment to go wild camping for some landscape photography. On the way, at several points, I questioned whether I should continue as I was being battered by strong gale force winds that had not been predicted. After walking more than 10km I finally made it to destination, but I struggled to pitch my tent and knew that I needed to go home. 22Km in total and not a single photograph!
After trying to go to a location near to the last vlog, which turned out to be covered with campervans and families, I went to my back up location that was perfectly isolated and a joy to watch the sunset. It was horribly windy, making audio recording almost impossible, but the combination of light, clouds and sea created some brilliant minimalist compositions and a great evening of landscape photography!
Slowing down and exploring a sandy beach for detailed compositions. A wonderful day escaping the rain of the mountains and enjoying a day at the beach. I was looking for some detailed stone/sand patterns to photograph but all of the ones I could find had a foot/paw print cluttering the composition. Luckily I managed a couple images…
A whole day of photographing Red Grouse in purple flowering heather. After the first couple of encounters went awry, it was great to finally get close to some red grouse and get some cracking images that I’m really happy with! The red grouse look great surrounded by the purple and pink colours of the heather!
After discussing the pressure of photography and the feeling of burning out, Daniel manages to find a couple of compositions on the loch shores as he looked for detailed landscape photography compositions. A bit of a mixed day with some images that don’t work out, but taking the time and slowing down allowed for a contemplative and rejuvenating day.
Daniel talks about the struggles that he has been feeling trying to get the perfect photography, and building pressure on himself to produce the most amazing photos. This feeling of pressure leads to problems being creative and actually enjoying the photography. So he is going to try a new technique for his photography moving forward…
