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Photo by Mark Foster
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Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands, located off the northeastern coast of Scotland, are a photographer's paradise. With their rugged coastline, rolling hills, and ancient ruins, the islands offer a wealth of stunning landscapes and historic sites to capture on camera. From the standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar to the dramatic cliffs of Yesnaby, there are countless photography locations to explore. The islands are also home to a rich variety of wildlife, including seals, otters, and seabirds, making it an ideal destination for nature photographers.

Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar
by Mark Foster

Ring of Brodgar, Stenness, Orkney Islands. An ancient circle of Standing Stones.

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Neolithic Dusk
Ring of Brodgar

The Ring of Brodgar at sunset in the Orkney Islands. In the distance is the Loch of Harray.

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Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar

Sunset at the The Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic henge on the Orkney Islands.

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The Lightning Stone
Standing Stones of Stenness

The left most foreground standing stone in this photo of the Ring of Brodgar was struck by lightning on 5 June 1980, splitting it vertically. It's an...

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The Ring of Brodgar
Standing Stones of Stenness

The Ring of Brodgar on Orkney's main island is an incredible sight, sitting as it does on a spit of land surrounded by lochs and close by to the...

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The Italian Chapel
The chapel

The interior of the Italian Chapel on the small island of Lamb Holm. It was built by Italian POWs who where shipped to the Orkney Islands during...

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St Magnus Cathedral
St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral - The UK's most northerly Cathedral.

St Magnus Cathedral known as the 'Light in the North' was founded in 1137 by the Viking,...

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Defences
Defences

Defences - The Hackness Martello Tower on Hoy under a dramatic sunny summer's afternoon sky.

The Martello tower at Hackness, together with another...

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Nobody home
Nobody home

Nobody home - A long forgotten and abandoned croft sits under one of Orkney's famous big skies. One of many decaying farm buildings dotted around...

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The Old Man of Hoy
The Old Man of Hoy

Mamiya 6MF, Mamiya G 50mm F/4 L, Ektachrome E100SW, digitised by photographing the original 60mm transparency on a light pad; tethered capture and...

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Bedrock
Bedrock

Bedrock - A striking view over to the hills of Hoy with the red sandstone bedrock exposed on Warebeth Beach positively glowing in the afternoon...

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History is circular.
Ring of Brodgar

This is part of the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring Of Brodgar is on the largest of the Orkney islands, Mainland. It was built around 2500 - 2000 BC and is...

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Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar

Sunset at the The Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic henge on the Orkney Islands.

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Stones of Stenness
Standing Stones of Stenness

A moody wet and windy morning at the Neolithic stones monument on the Orkney Islands.

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Playing the long game.
Yesnaby Castle

This beautiful sea stack is called Yesnaby Castle. It is on the west coast of Mainland which is the largest of the Orkney islands. The Orkney islands...

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Standing tall and proud.
Yesnaby Castle

This beautiful sea stack is called Yesnaby Castle. It is on the west coast of Mainland which is the largest of the Orkney islands. The Orkney islands...

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The Rain Cometh
Ring of Brodgar

One of the last shots of the evening at the Ring of Brodgar before the heavens opened!

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St Magnus Cathedral
St Magnus Cathedral

Poppies: Weeping Window

14-18 NOW and Poppies Weeping Window.

St Magnus Cathedral was the first venue in Scotland to host Poppies: Weeping Window...

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Standing through time
Standing Stones of Stenness

Standing through time - The Standing Stones of Stenness that have been standing through time for over 5000 years.

Situated on Mainland Orkney on an...

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The chapel
The chapel

The chapel - Fisheye view of the interior of the highly ornate Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm on Orkney.

Built during World War II by Italian prisoners...

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Woodwick bluebells
Woodwick bluebells

The burn at Woodwick was handling more water than the last time I was there.

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Rackwick
Rackwick

Rackwick looking from the side of Moorfea hill, another Nokia N8 photo.

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An iron age mystery.
An iron age mystery.

This is Midhowe Broch on Rousay which is one of the Orkney islands off the north coast of the Scottish mainland. It is an Iron Age building and the...

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Space to breathe.
Space to breathe.

This is the bay of Skaill which is where Skara Brae is to be found on Mainland Orkney. A beautiful place totally exposed to the elements as the next...

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A neolithic profile.
Ring of Brodgar

This is part of the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring Of Brodgar is on the largest of the Orkney islands, Mainland. It was built around 2500 - 2000 BC and is...

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Neolithic Dusk
Ring of Brodgar

The Ring of Brodgar at sunset in the Orkney Islands. In the distance is the Loch of Harray.

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An ancient ring.
Ring of Brodgar

This is part of the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring Of Brodgar is on the largest of the Orkney islands, Mainland. It was built around 2500 - 2000 BC and is...

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Spiritual Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar

I actually took this as a "test" shot whilst waiting for some light to appear and then eventually rain as it turned out!

This had been sitting in my...

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Cathedral @ night
St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral,Kirkwall.

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Neolithic drama
Standing Stones of Stenness

Neolithic drama - A spectacular end to a day at the Heart of Neolithic Orkney with a sky laden with drama. The three largest remaining stones of the...

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The Italian Chapel
The chapel

The interior of the Italian Chapel on the small island of Lamb Holm. It was built by Italian POWs who where shipped to the Orkney Islands during...

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Broch of Gurness
Broch of Gurness

I took a trip to Gurness to satisfy my love of prehistory and also to fill in an afternoon waiting for sunset. So you'll have to forgive me for a...

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Dennis Head Old Beacon, North Ronaldsay
Dennis Head Old Beacon

Mamiya 6MF, Ektachrome E100SW, digitised by photographing the original 60mm transparency on a light pad; tethered capture and monochrome development...

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Time to wander.
Time to wander.

When I went to Orkney I spent a couple of days on one of the smaller islands, Rousay. On the first morning I explored Faraclett Head. It is a great...

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Marwick Head
Marwick Head

Rework of an old one - chopped some sky out amongst other things. Taken after 10pm at the RSPB reserve at Marwick Head on Orkney.

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