Calendar update - posting starting this week

Sorry for the lack of updates but I’ve been up to my eyes in it getting the prints printed ready for delivery with the calendars.

So a quick update and my pitiful excuses lol.

I’ve changed the paper type I’m printing your image on as I felt the matte paper wasn’t doing justice to the images I selected so instead I’ve opted for a pearl finish and I’m so happy with how the images came out. This was the 1st delay, sorry.

Unfortunately my printer has 8 different ink cartridges, 4 dealing with the blacks. 1 of the black cartridges is for matte paper, another is for gloss. And because I switched paper type I ran out of ink after 5 prints lol. Delay 2.

So I’m sorry for the delay folks but now I’ve got a stack of images printed, the calendars are stacked ready to get packaged and the next few weeks will be spent getting your calendar and print out to you.

International orders are my priority, and then I’ll be getting through the list starting at the earliest pre order. All UK orders will be posted Royal Mail tracked, International orders will be posted Royal Mail International.

Any questions, just drop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you.

As you can see I’ve had prints everywhere drying lol

The bridge to nowhere

It was worth the 3 hour wait

29th Sept 2024

I heard some rumours of a possible dance in the sky but cloud cover was looking a bit dodgy for me, East Coast looked my best chance. Cloudy to start with but I might get a break. I can only hope lol.

I jump in the car, set the SatNav for Belhaven Beach although I’m not exactly 100% confident that the light pollution won’t stop me seeing Her dance, off I head. It doesn’t help my mate is in Iceland the now and has been sending me some amazing displays of the Aurora over there. I’m not jealous much lol.

I get parked up in the car park next to the beach, already dark so I’m a bit blind as to what to expect. Last time I was in Dunbar it was daylight and I had my mate as a guide. I’ll figure something compositional wise out. It’s a beach, there’s always cool stuff on beaches.

The bridge to nowhere, Belhaven Beach - the clouds are hiding a party as the Aurora dances behind them

It’s looking promising, She is dancing behind the gaps in the clouds, just need the clouds to shift and I’ll be a happy chap. But the clouds don’t shift and by the time they do the Aurora has stopped dancing. The up’s and down’s of chasing Her. For context the image above was the first image I captured at around 10.35pm.

For the next 2 1/2 hours I scout the beach looking for a sweet composition hoping She starts to dance again. There is a faint diffuse glow but nothing that the stats would indicate. I’m wondering if the light pollution is just too much. Also I almost get soaked 3 times as the tide comes in and ruins my perfect spot lol. Lesson learned, always know what way you need to run to get out the way of the incoming tide lol. It’s not turning out to be the best night but I have to keep hope lol.

Belhaven Beach - waiting on the clouds to clear

Still waiting on the clouds to clear but the Aurora is fading

Loving the compositions I'm finding but I get about 5 minutes then I have to move as the tide comes in lol

Really like this one, but guess what. Yup the tide took this view from me as well

It’s getting to 1am, and I’m tired and a bit fed up to be honest. Stats look good enough that I should be seeing her dance but just not anything to get excited about. Think it might be time to head home and get some sleep before work.

And then I spot a small beam. Is it tiredness playing tricks on me lol. Nope, She is starting to dance and I have almost totally clear skies. How a night can change in seconds lol (I say this every time I go Aurora chasing lol).

On the path alongside the beach now and the Aurora dances for me again 

Aurora reflections at Belhaven Beach, Dunbar

The Bridge to nowhere under the Aurora

Northern Lights in Scotland, Dunbar

As the clouds start to drift in, reflections of the Aurora dancing with the bridge to nowhere in the background

This is why I love a wander in Scotland

And the clouds finally made me call it a night

A little timelapse of the awesome display I was fortunate enough to witness. It always is a humbling experience full of despair and joy. I hope you enjoy my blogs and I’ve love to hear from you in the comments.

The Northern Lights aka Aurora dancing over the bridge to nowhere, Belhaven Beach in Dunbar Scotland.

If there is anything you really like and would love a print to hang on your wall, just let me know. All my images are for sale I just need to get things added to my website but it takes time and I keep going wanders lol, if there is anything in particular just give me a shout.

Kilchurn Castle under the stars

24th Sept 2024

4.30am and my alarm goes off, time to get up for the first of my shifts for the next 5 days. It’s going to be a long week but it pays a little for me to live the dream - wander about creating images that I can hang on my wall.

Fast forward a few hours and I’m home, absolutely done in - early shifts are my nemesis lol, I’m definately a night owl sort of guy. Think it’s gonna be an early night for me ready for another shift tomorrow, back shift though so I get a wee lie in which will be so good.

Then my plans for an early night are thrown up in the air as I get a little update that the Aurora might be dancing tonight, and there is a lot of clear sky up to the north west of me. Do I take the chance of the 4 hour round trip drive, 4 hours sleep, and then another long shift tomorrow that She will show? Can I live on 4 hours sleep tomorrow lol? This is why I hate chasing the Northern Lights at times, She never wants to dance when I’m off the next day lol.

But we are in Solar Maximum and I’ve got to chance it - I’m taking it as every time I see Her dance is a bonus and I have to make the most of today, she might not show tomorrow. So I jump in the car and head off.

I always love the drive to Kilchurn Castle, some of the scenery along the way is just awesome and the West Coast is one of my favourite places to wander. It’s just so rugged and wild looking.

I arrive about 11pm and it’s nice and dark, I’ve been here a few times so I sort of know my way around in the dark. The sheep still make me jump a little when they appear out of nowhere and bolt about. There is something relaxing about the darkness, but also something a bit spooky lol.

Quick check of the stats and things are looking not too bad so I get to the beach opposite Kilchurn Castle and get set up, first photograph taken - and I see nothing. No colour whatsoever. Right try again, and nope not seeing anything. What’s going on, I should at least be seeing some diffuse Aurora. I mean there is a bit of moon but nothing that should be totally killing the colour. Reports are showing folk are seeing it in Scotland as well, what am I doing wrong lol.

So I try every variation, tip and trick I know and still nothing. Absolutely dejected and feeling totally miserable I kick off another sequence of captures on my camera while I contemplate just packing up and heading home, accepting defeat. At least I’ll get 6 or 7 hours sleep.

And then I happen to notice some movement in the sky and I can see Her dance, faint colour and all, with my naked eye. Seeing the colour only lasted a few minutes for me, but I got such a chill down my spine (and it wasn’t from the 0 degree temperature lol). From absolute despair to utter awesomeness in the space of seconds. This is why I love chasing the Aurora and appreciate just how special it is to see Her dance.

Game on now.

For the next few hours I spent keeping an eye on the sky as She came and went a few times. The mist also made an awesome appearance, and on I was lucky enough to capture a meteorite as well, the only thing that would have made me happier would have been some beams with the meteorite but we can’t always get everything we want lol.