It has been, in all honesty, a busy three months. Nevertheless, it has been remiss of me not to have updated our many visitors to the website with news of picture-taking adventures during a splendid late summer and autumn around Scotland. The wet months of May, June and July were almost forgotten as a lovely August and warm September, followed by an autumn of glorious colour, allowed us to forgive Mother Nature for the inordinate amount of rain she had thrown down on us earlier!
Photographically, that allowed many of the postponed adventures from the summer, even in the wrong season for some, to proceed. In particular, a September trip to Harris and Lewis turned out to be quite spectacular, although for a time it had looked as if the weather forecasts from Heather, Gayle and Peter at BBC Scotland were going to be over-optimistic. All came good, however, and an excellent clutch of new images of these fascinating Hebridean islands should keep that far-flung corner of Scotland to the forefront of the calendar selections - for the next couple of years, at least.
The journey through Skye ( needed to get the ferry to Harris from Uig ) on the outward trip, was just superb. The Cuillins were at their radiant best, as was most of the “island’s” south-western coastline. Time pressures prevented too much stopping on the way up, although the return journey three days later proved eminently rewarding. The added bonus of Kintail, looking resplendent in its early autumn garb, simply put icing on the cake after the excitement of the southward return trip through Skye was over.
The star of the show on Harris and Lewis was the amazing, rock-strewn coast around Mangersta, some thirty miles south-west of Stornoway. It never fails to amaze me how, in spite of copious studying of maps, editorial and pictures before you visit a place for the first time, it unceasingly holds surprises. Such was Mangersta; remote, regularly battered by huge Atlantic waves but – in the right light and mood, as on this occasion – quite stunning. Those of you who have still to venture that far - put it on your list right away!
That trip over, autumn soon gathered pace; Perthshire ( Scotland’s “Autumn Capital” as I unashamedly call it ) was magnificent, but it was a trip to Banffshire which thrilled me most. I had visited the valley of the Deveron a couple of times, picked out a cracking location for lovely shots – but the light or season would not meet my needs. No such misfortune on the third visit, however, as a broad spectrum of autumn colours around the river banks at Mayen and Glennie, near Aberchirder, did exactly what I had anticipated – AND the sun came out!
The shortening November days soon gave way to December and, already, midwinter is upon us. It will be more than interesting to observe how global warming affects this winter’s delivery of frost and snow. An early visit to Montrose for sunrise behind the lighthouse at Scurdie Ness, mind you, had to be endured in temperatures of minus three, so perhaps a harder couple of months of REAL winter weather lie ahead. Time will tell.......
PUBLICATIONS
The transfer of the corporate marketing of my 2008 calendars to Golf Galleries, just outside of Edinburgh, appears to have been a great success. It is early days, granted, but the team admirably handled all the orders ( as well as, inevitably, a few hiccups and one or two difficult situations ). At the time of writing, it appears that close to 38,000 calendars have been distributed this year around Scottish companies – for a small business in a highly competitive market that is a terrific – and humbling – achievement.
I have to thank our corporate customers, therefore, for their continuing support of my photography. Without it, thousands of office walls around the country would not carry the message of just how magnificent the landscapes, seascapes and golf courses of Scotland are to behold. Mind you, that thought doesn’t half put pressure on you-know-who to ensure that the same standards – or better – are going to be required for the 2009 publications. For the meantime, let us just enjoy the fruits of a fine year’s work, from Golf Galleries, from our printers ( Nevisprint, Fort William ) right down to the couriers who ensured that the orders reached their destinations safely. There is work to do before we perfect it, of course, but that is the aim for 2008 – fingers crossed!
The other potential development for 2008 is an eagerly-awaited publication date for a sumptuous coffee-table sized book to celebrate the amazing light and colour which I have been lucky enough to capture on camera over the past three years or so all over Scotland. Currently I am seeking sponsorship for it – size, specification and presentation mean that it will NOT be cheap – but if all goes well it should be available for sale by the middle of the year. I promise that the quality of the vast majority of the pictures is just fantastic – when reproduced in a publication prepared and printed in the most fastidious fashion, it HAS to be a mouth-watering prospect.
It would be remiss of me, finally, were I not to thank EVERY customer – big or small – for the tremendous support you have given my work in 2007. Our website visits continue to expand, month on month, while private sales were again some 20% up on 2006. Of course, it is not possible to please all of the people all of the time, but I hope that those who acquired a Donald Ford publication – of whatever shape or size – in 2007, will continue to derive enjoyment from it in the years ahead. As long as my legs are capable of carrying me around this magnificent country, the continuing search for new, exciting images will carry on unabated. I look forward with unmitigated excitement to what 2008 holds in store for me – and my camera – as the journey begins again.
With best wishes,
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 Berriedale, Caithness.
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 2009 Range of Calendars
After yet another increase in calendar sales during 2007 (the tenth in ten years!) it is daunting to think that a further uplift in quantities could follow as the 2009 range of publications is now being put together. Mind you, the decision to move the marketing and administration of the corporate calendars to Golf Galleries Ltd appears to have been a great success. With feedback from clients very positive again, fingers are crossed that the superb performance of 2007 could even yet be surpassed.
From a personal angle, the switch in marketing allowed much more photography between August and December, a time when concentration on orders, proofing and delivery had built up to such an extent that the need to be out and about with the camera was relegated to second or third place. From the aspect of Golf Galleries, the hope is that it has opened up a new market place for their own superb products to be appreciated by a much wider audience around Scotland.
The marketing of any business – large or small – remains fundamental to remaining one step ahead of the competition in the modern commercial world. Testimonials from many clients indicate that the high standards of our publications are still earning them plaudits. Our aspirations, therefore, are that the photographs – currently in course of selection – for the 2009 range of wall and desk calendars will once more live up to expectations. That doesn't half put pressure on the photographer to perform!
Please note: All 2008 Calendars have now sold out.
Click here for full range of calendars.
Address Book - Volume II
The success of the second edition of our hugely popular Address Book means that fewer than 800 remain in stock at the time of writing.
Don't be disappointed – order NOW!
Click here for further address book details.
Scotland's Golfing Treasures
Another highly successful golfing publication, this pocket-sized book featuring 72 Scottish courses continues to be in great demand at home and abroad.
Click here for further details on golfing treasures.
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!
