While the coldest and most inhospitable winter conditions for years swept across Britain between mid-December and February, countless landscape photographers were presented with opportunities galore to capture some tremendous images of the unique artistic compositions that snow and ice can present to us. I have already seen some fantastic shots; many of the younger members of the UK population have probably never witnessed such scenes in their short lifetimes and simply revelled in it. While yours truly did his very best to get the classic winter “wow” image, I was frustrated on several occasions either by bad luck or poor weather forecasting; I was either in the right place but had the wrong overhead conditions, or had brilliant light but not the forecast snowfall during the preceding night to produce the magic formula across my chosen destination!
These things happen, however, and there are still two or three cracking pictures “in the bag” for 2011 and onwards. A fourth trip to Sleat, Skye’s most southerly peninsula, was expected to yield what, in my opinion at least, is one of the finest views northwards to the Cuillin Ridge. It was a pretty hairy journey on not-too-brilliant road surfaces, but looked - just before sunrise - as if it was going to prove fourth time lucky. A band of cloud, stretching in a straight line from south-east to south-west, however, stubbornly refused to yield and the low winter sun could not escape its grasp to light up one of Scotland’s greatest mountain ranges. So near - yet so far - AGAIN!
There were compensations, mind you. On our fifth annual NewYear break to Ballater, my wife and I were treated to some two feet of snow over three days. The area was spectacular - from the snow-swamped hump of Craigendarroch, along the banks of the River Dee, upwards through an impassable Glen Muick and around Lochnagar, but just as beautifully ( though expensively for the Treasurer and Professional at Ballater Golf Club ) across the tees, fairways and greens on the course. It made a quite awesome picture and needed but a few rays of sun to light it up. Alas…..there was no sign of the cloud breaking to allow such opportunities to develop for eager photographers!
Nevertheless, it will be a major surprise if, come late summer, the range of 2011 calendars does not display a succession of wonderful images from all parts of Scotland, revealing ( for the first time in many years, granted) the stunning transformation of a bleak, grey landscape into a magical, white panorama of fields, trees, hills, river banks and - yes - seashores; stand by for some sensational images!
CALENDERS AND PUBLICATIONS
February always brings much excitement to the office, as the selection of images for the next year’s range of calendars is eventually concluded and these go off to the printer for origination. A wonderful finish to picture-taking in 2009 yielded a few quite breathtaking images for both landscape and golf calendars and regular customers may therefore stand by ( hopefully!) for some of the most uplifting and exciting pictures that I have been privileged to capture in close on twenty years of professional photography. It is, for example, beyond much doubt that the November shot of Aberfeldy is the most exceptional and gloriously exciting shot I have ever captured. It was sheer luck, lasted but a few brief minutes, but provided me with the most breathtaking landscape I have witnessed while out on location with my camera. Doubtless, the younger, fitter and much more venturesome photographer will have had such pleasure on numerous occasions. When the human body begins to renege on steep, night-time climbs to capture cloud or temperature inversions just as the sun rises, however, the chances of such happening are seriously reduced and I thus have to accept the inevitable. A lifetime of sport involving fairly physical body contact will always take its toll - such is now the case!
Of equal excitement, of course, is the near-completion of my new book on the Open Championship Courses of the United Kingdom ( see the link opposite). The untold pleasures of visiting the likes of Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham, Royal St. George’s, Royal Portrush - and the other ten venues used over one hundred and fifty years of Open golf - are enormous and I will never forget the joys of being on the hallowed turf of each. The pictorial results are, I think, quite outstanding and I hope the finished product ( which is already more than halfway towards final proofing ) will yield as much pleasure to golfing customers or enthusiasts who acquire a copy as I myself had in undertaking the adventures to get to, then capture on film, each location.
OTHER PLANS FOR 2010
The programme for 2010 is finished - indeed a wonderful February trip to the west coast ( from Connel southwards to Crinan, then back up the eastern banks of Loch Awe to Dalmally) - yielded at least two glorious pictures for consideration in next year’s calendar selection. The Solway Firth, the Kyles of Bute, Glen Affric, Wester Ross, Broughton Heights, North Berwick Law and the East Lothian coast are all on the list of “possible”, as are the islands of Mull, Iona, Raasay and Lismore. Of course, the list is entirely weather and light dependant, but fingers are crossed that the success of 2009 picture-taking can be equalled as this year progresses.
On the golfing front, a visit to the new course at Castle Stuart, near Inverness, is a “must”. Tain, Golspie and Nairn are also pencilled in from that part of the country, while I am REALLY excited at the prospect of re-visiting Millport, on Cumbrae, Rothesay on Bute, Tobermory ( one of the most beautifully-located golf courses in Scotland, without doubt), Eyemouth, Minto and Hawick in Border country - as well as some old favourites such as Mortonhall, Buchanan Castle, Kingussie, Gullane, North Berwick, Eyemouth and Newton Stewart. What ultimately finishes up in print, mind you, might be a totally different matter!
In the meantime, may I again pass sincere thanks to all customers - of both a corporate and private nature - for your continuing support of my photographic work during 2009. Web business exceeded all previous records and while corporate business, not unexpectedly, took a bit of a hit from the extremely turbulent financial downturn, orders remained at an excellent level and better times, surely, now lie ahead. I will keep MY fingers crossed for you - please keep YOURS crossed for me!
DONALD FORD
Donald Ford Images: Scottish Landscape Photography
Scotland's landscape abounds with opportunities and surprises for the photographer. Donald Ford has established himself as one of Scotland's leading photographers, through his books, calendars and other publications which are distributed each year throughout the world. His photographs are also available for purchase online from the gallery. The image shown on this page is Donald Ford's Image of the Month: Photograph of Eyemouth Harbour.
Range of Calendars for 2011
Donald's images for his 2011 calendar selections once again strive to reflect many of the stunning atmospheric and visual characteristics from around Scotland and reproduce them in wall and desk format. In spite of several frustrating encounters with adverse weather in 2009, he still enjoyed a superb year with his camera and some truly exceptional images will find their way onto office walls around the world next year as a result. The continuing excellent feedback from customers at home and abroad indicates that the publications provide much pleasure, although the delight of capturing both landscape and golf course images has again ALL been his. The hope is that the 365 days during which his wonderful photographs of Scotland are simply a glance away - on walls or desks - will bring the ultimate satisfaction to both our corporate and private clients.
Click here for full range of 2011 calendars.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC CELEBRATION OF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUES
In 2010 St. Andrews will host the 139th Open Golf Championship, no less than one hundred and fifty years after the first one was held at Prestwick. To celebrate this remarkable milestone in British golf,
Donald has visited and photographed all 14 courses which have hosted the tournament. His new book, to be published in August 2010, contains more than one hundred of his magnificent images from the venues,
accompanied by comprehensive editorials on the history of each, the characters, incidents, adventures and, of course, leading final scores from every Championship. Not to be missed, this wonderful publication
on the greatest golf tournament in the world will be available in August 2010.
Click here for sample images and further details.
The Carnoustie Story
After a lifetime’s association with the town, Donald’s publication of this long-overdue account of the remarkable evolution
of Scotland's finest links golf course – together with the establishment of a charismatic community around it -
was an outstanding success, a reprint was thus required and 750 copies are now in stock.
Beautifully illustrated, by both old black and white images and his own magnificent photographs of the courses at Carnoustie,
the B5 size, 128-page book has received excellent feedback from many of the customers who bought it.
Click here for further details of The Carnoustie Story.
The film of the Carnoustie story is now available on DVD.
Address Book - Volume II
The success of the second edition of our hugely popular Address Book means that fewer than 150 remain in stock at the time of writing.
Don't be disappointed – order NOW!
Click here for further address book details.
We can always be reached by email at sales@donaldfordimages.com if you have an enquiry about any Donald Ford Images products.
In welcoming visitors to the website we hope that the selection of photographs available here encourages you to ask for more. If you cannot find your special Scottish place using the search features or category listings on this site, or if you are having problems using the site, then please contact us - Donald's portfolio of golfing and landscape photography runs to several thousand images and only a small selection is on view here!
