Copyright

Although the ethic of this website is to share, it does not extend to the unauthorised useage of any of my images. These are my intellectual property and all rights are reserved.

ANY BREACH OF MY COPYRIGHT WILL BE DEALT WITH TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.

If you want to own on a print of one of my images or use of it for any reason, then contact me. It doesn't cost anything for an initial e-mail.

Colour Management

Although I do make every effort to use calibrated equipment and to ensure any prints that I procure match as near as possible, I cannot guarantee that it will match exactly that of everyones monitors that they use.

Design Of This Site

I have designed this site for a fast internet connection (i.e. Fast Speed Broadband, etc.) in mind. However, if you are viewing on dial-up or other slower connections, I do apologise and appreciate your patience as each page loads. I have taken steps to reduce the file sizes of the images but these might take some time to load - sorry. Also, the tabs of the applicable pages are set up for viewing with ActiveX turned on.

IMAGES PAGES

The image pages themselves are very much designed to compliment the scenes portrayed. I have tried to keep the pages simple and clean as it is about the subject after all. Obviously, they have tabs like this Site Statement which gives you, the viewer, more information and narration. One tab also gives you more images in that collection.

The wee narratives are there to "compliment" each image. This may sound strange to provide this but I thought it would add to the viewing experience and to share more of the moment of capture, so to speak.

Also, I've included some of the technical information to share what equipment and settings I used. Sometimes the EXIF data is very useful when understanding how an image is created in camera.

I have also received a lot of feedback on my inclusion of the Map Links. It's quite nice to know that it has helped knowing where I had actually stood when I tripped the shutter. These are Map links which connect to Streetmap.co.uk

THE JOURNEY

I always describe my time doing photography as a "Journey". As you look back at something that has been a considerable part of your life for quite a while, you can identify milestones of achievements, turning points, inspirational times, and experiences associated with it and leads you to this particular point in time.

For me, it is a journey that never ceases to amaze and gives pleasure that outweighs the effort that I put into it. Not many folk can say that about something that they do - maybe I'm wrong.

In this way, this website is like a diary. This is why these works are called "Journals" - as it is a story, or memoir, of a "Journey".

Although this site is for the images of the Land and I do give you narratives, etc of each, I do want to share the "Journey" with you. The link called "The Journey" is more of a Blog really and plots timelines of experiences and key milestones along the path that I have travelled. Hopefully, you find it intersting - well more intersting than reading this site statement anyway!

It is more of personal account than anything else but I hope you enjoy it too.

MY PHOTOGRAPHY

I first picked up a camera back in 2003 and decided to give it a try. Well before that, I think I was like most folk who had an instant camera or polariod for holidays, parties, etc. - basically, just for fun.

I had given up Golf as a bad idea. I swung a club like a broken toilet door and had thrown my back out so many times that made it simply no fun anymore. So I sold the Clubs and then, wondered what I would do to fill the void in my life - something less frustrating and less painful!.

It was then that I found Photography.............

Well, this is not truly accurate. It was then that I found how much I loved the land that I lived in. I think, like most folk, we travel from place to place and going about our daily lives without truly looking at what is around us. Sometimes it does need to be pointed out that we do live in a beautiful world and that it is not all bad news and catasphrophes. All you need to do is stop and take a look around sometimes to remind yourself of that. I'm just lucky to live in a land that almost no matter where you go, you can stop and drink in that beauty.

So, for me, it is the Land first and Photography second. Photography is just a vehicle that allows me to share with you, the viewer, what I have seen at any given moment. To be able to share a partial remnant of a sense, an emotion or to even attempt to translate that ineffable quality of the atmosphere within a scene is what it is all about.

Sometimes this is lost within Photography. It is always worth remembering that as it is always about the subject - not the camera or even the person that it is pressing the button. 

A friend of mine, who sadly is no longer with us but was such a fantastic photographer himself, gave me the best piece of advice that I have ever received: "Capture what made you stop and look." It is something that underpins my images to this day (and I think has served me well).

As with everyone, I have my favourite subjects and preferences but my main passions are of the land and the Black & White medium. When you put them together, there is an irresistible quality and presence that a colour image sometimes just cannot achieve, but maybe that I'm just biased. Most folk that know me and my work are well aware that my few colour images are, what I call, "Failed Black & White's". I will try everything I know to make an image work in mono before I will give up and concede to colour. It is the B&W's that I look for when I'm out and about so it is hardly surprising that I would not give in without a fight!

At the end of the day and when I look at the final view of my monitor, what is important is the Land. When I have finished an image, it needs to have done the scene justice and captured as much of the essence of feeling that I had at the time. It is easy for me to experience because I was there and can associate that with just looking at a picture but the hardest thing to do is translate that to you: the viewer. That is the real craft of photography - in that way, it is symbiotic.

When all is done, I'm just a simple guy who wants to share the sights and experiences of what he has seen while travelling along his "Photographic Journey". It has been a hugely rewarding and enjoyable one so far. So to be able to share that "Journey" with anyone who wishes, or cares, to view is just an added gift - a gift that I'm only too happy to share.

ABOUT ME

Over the past couple of years, folk have asked for a bit more information about me. I don't know why anyone would want to know as I'm quite a boring and simple person that loves his surroundings but I'd better bow to wishes of the public! So here goes....

As the name of the site suggests, my name is Kevin Skinner.

I live in one of the most beautiful, diverse, atmospheric and inspiring parts of the world: Scotland. At present, I'm fortunate enough that my work takes me all over corners, and everywhere inbetween, of this wonderful country. I'm lucky enough to see aspects of this country that most either never see, miss, take for granted or all three. Irrespective of the reasons, I always find it a privilege just to be here in this wonderfully captivating land.

Now here's a tipbit for you: A number of folk have always commented about my water images whether they're of the sea or the wee lochans nestling within a glen. It is, then, always a surprise when they find out that I'm quite Aquaphobic! Large bodies of water, whether they're the ocean, a loch or a river, do make me uneasy to say the least. However, when I'm looking through the lens, all that changes. Don't ask me why because I haven't a clue.

That's really me in a nutshell - not much to tell that is relevant to this site and my love of the land.

First thing to say is "WELCOME!"

Thank you for visiting my wee site and I hope you enjoy your stay whilst looking around. Hopefully, you'll like it so much that you will come back again to see what's new. If you're a return visitor, welcome back and I am truly delighted that you did. I must be doing something right!

There are several tabs just above for this Site Statement and they give you a wee bit more information about me, my photography and this site in general.

When I set out to build a site for my photography, I wanted it to not only a place to show my images but to share my experiences of what I call "The Journey" and any of the wee nuggets of what I have learnt along the way (basically, so you don't make the same mistakes that I have!).

This is, probably, the sixth redesign and rebuild of this site (to be honest, I've lost count!) with its ultimate aim to be as viewer friendly as it could be. Truth being that I'm never happy with it!

Anyway, have a look around. It is nice that you've taken the time to come in and stay for a while.

Enjoy.