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...and now for something completely different. I don't just prowl the streets with my camera you know! On a lovely day out visiting Culzean Castle and the Ayrshire coastline, I couldn't be bothered to set up my tripod for multiple shots here to make a composite without people in the frame. Instead, I captured just this one shot and removed twelve people in Photoshop and even I cannot remember where they were! That software is too powerful!

Culzean Castle, the ancestral seat of Clan Kennedy, is said to be quite the haunted place and even featured in the TV series 'Most Haunted' but I didn't capture anything spooky through my lens. Enjoy!

Tags:   landscape garden orangery castle manor home ornate ornamental scenic widescreen outdoor sandstone green grass flora plants wall Culzean Castle Scottish clan Kennedy fortress national trust history historic ancient old building architecture tone texture detail depth natural light light shade blue sky clouds scene Canon Canon 5D Mk III 24mm wide angle EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM color colour Ayrshire Scotland UK Leanne Boulton

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© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

One half of The Kelpies was modelled on the Clydesdale called Duke, described as a heavy yet humble horse, who at the time pulled a dray through a park in Glasgow for his 'day job'.

I loved this perspective with the wide-angle distortion, for me it really gives a feeling of just how impressively imposing these 30m high sculptures are. The curves and tessellated pieces are simply beautiful. Enjoy!

Tags:   The Kelpies The Helix horse sculpture sky urban landscape abstract closeup isolation urban landscape art Andy Scott shape form face perspective point of view POV tone texture detail depth natural light outdoor light shade still life humanity culture Canon Canon 5D 5D Mk III wide angle 24mm EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM black white black&white b&w mono black and white monochrome Glasgow Scotland UK Leanne Boulton

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© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Urban landscape fragment taken in Glasgow, Scotland. I was really drawn to this show after seeing the 'Fashion Show' billboard and the concept of a perpetually moving catwalk - the fact that fashion trends are constantly changing but also cyclical like an escalator. Captured hand-held in low light and I also loved the graphic of the image. :)

Tags:   urban street fragment landscape cityscape abstract moiré pattern lines symmetry asymmetry composition angles angle diagonal escalator subway metro underground train station entrance tunnel catwalk fashion show leading perspective brick wall sign handrail tone texture detail depth details focus aperture natural lighting handheld light lights shade shadow shadows contrast reflection reflections city scene modern living Canon 400D wide Sigma lens black white black&white b&w monochrome mono blackandwhite bandw Queen Glasgow Scotland UK lkbphotographic

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© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Finding a low-down and creepy Hallowe'en angle at Cambusnethan House (or Priory) in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Some extreme editing (apologies for the 'banding' in the sky) but I hope that you enjoy this little bit of fun for a Happy Hallowe'en which I know is tomorrow but that most people will be partying for tonight. Stay safe!

Tags:   Leanne Boulton creepy Halloween nightmare darkness urban urbex rural haunted house priory derelict empty decrepit stone windows brooding moody atmosphere perspective processing spooky gothic neo-gothic architecture clouds fun tone texture detail depth of field bokeh natural light outdoors Canon Canon 5D Mk III 24mm wide angle EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM colour Scotland UK

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© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Just a random shot that caught my eye in late 2019 while out shooting street. The broken window and flat tyre really sum up my 2020. Broken and flat.

I ran headwind into the first lockdown fully prepared, stocked up from late January when the coronavirus first hit my radar and I had a gut feeling, that I trusted for once, that this was going to be the next major pandemic since 1918. I started out with the greatest of intentions to learn and practice more and new photography techniques from home but soon fell into depression and hopelessness - barely touching my camera for months at a time.

2019 had been an amazing year, fresh off the back of some great new contracts in 2018 and my Street Photography Workshops gathering pace, I found myself being flown to London for a major photoshoot assignment and was approached by Wex Photo Video to lead regular Street Photo-Walks for them. All was looking up and then 2020 happened.

I have, however, kept myself safe from the virus at home, as best as I can, following the very best science and knowledge from around the globe (and not trusting one single source ever!), but that has meant I have not worked all year. I received the equivalent of 3 weeks worth of income during the first lockdown and that was it - savings and money now depleted the immediate future looks bleak.

Luckily my partner is working from home full time and without that I would now be homeless for sure. I am thankful for much smaller things these days.

Anyhow... It has been a very tough year and has been much tougher for many more. Some homeless, some jobless and millions of grieving families around the world due to a pandemic which could have been prevented.

I raise a toast to my friends and my family, and that includes all of my Flickr friends of course. Stay safe, stay at home as much as you can, and we will see this through to brighter times.

Be strong and know that I care for you all.

Leanne

Tags:   Leanne Boulton broken 2020 bus urban street candid street photography candid street photography street life urban landscape faceless man male person empty public transport flat tyre window crash break down travel transport metaphor story mood atmosphere misery tone texture detail natural light outdoor city scene human life living humanity society culture people Canon Canon 5D Mk III 50mm prime prime lens EF 50mm f/1.4 USM black white black&white b&w mono black and white monochrome Glasgow Scotland UK

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