Tom Langlands Photography Blog

Traction Kiting Despite being fooled by a few days of unusually warm temperatures, it is Autumn. It's an interesting season for photographers and the challenge is to find new ways of making something that has been photographed a million times before look new. However, sometimes something completely new comes along just because you happen to be in the right place at the right time. That is exactly what happened to me on a windy autumn day a couple of years back and it has resulted in new friendships and new photographic opportunities I was walking along the dunes close to a large expanse of sandy beach in western Galloway with my camera. There was a bit of an autumn breeze blowing and I was looking for inspiration in the waving dune grasses and the drifting sand. It's always worth commenting again, even although it's been said a hundred times before, that cameras do not like salt water or sand! I was being extremely careful. Lone Kiter Over the top of the d...

To the north of the busy market town of Castle Douglas in southwest Scotland is beautiful Loch Ken. This sliver of water ten miles (sixteen kilometres) long is part of the River Dee system providing some of the finest scenery in Dumfries and Galloway. Today, Loch Ken is well known for sailing and fishing. Perhaps less well known is the important role that the loch and surrounding area play in protecting and enhancing the nation’s wildlife. It is a role that presents many challenges and although some struggles lie ahead, history bears testimony to the fact that in this part of Scotland challenges and struggles come with the territory. Around Loch Ken lie several attractive villages including New Galloway to the north and Parton and Crossmichael to the east. High on the green slopes to the west is the old church at Balmaghie. It is in the graveyard of this small country church that evidence of darker times can be found.  The old church at Balmaghie In the late 1630s ...

Thistle:  National Flower of Scotland Sometimes when I look at the work of other photographers I marvel at the location.  I think how much easier and exciting photography must be in locations where the sky is always blue and the water crystal clear. In these places the flora and fauna also seem so much more colourful and exciting. Yet, such a simplistic view is to undervalue the challenge of good photography. Even in great light and with wonderful subject matter the challenge is always how to make that picture more than just a snapshot. It's about mood, atmosphere, interpretation and of course the creativity of the photographer. It's also about that sense of 'place', wherever in the world that may be.  I'm Scottish and proud of my nationality but for years I have bemoaned the grey mist that all too often envelopes the landscape and the rain that some weeks just won't stop. If I am being honest that is still the case if I am trying to do a particular wea...

Firstly, a big THANK YOU to all of you who have followed my photography for several years now. You know who you are and you are scattered across many countries of the world. For those of you who are also photographers I have loved following your work too and will continue to do so. I received so many positive comments on my images and associated ramblings on various sites along with suggestions that I should set up a blog that I eventually took the plunge and here it is. I have also created Facebook and Twitter pages all linked to this blog, my website and my Flickr photostream. That in itself has been a massive learning curve of ‘links’, ‘badges’, ‘gadgets’, ‘profiles’, ‘URL codes’ and a load of other stuff that I’m only beginning to understand. So, whilst I think I have everything up and running I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I’ve got something wrong. Time will tell. In the meantime I hope that you enjoy this and my other sites. Having set the blog page up the next qu...