Land, Sea and Sky

In 2015 I visited Shetland to photograph the RSPB’s storm petrel surveys on the small island of Mousa. Whilst camping on the island, I had the great luxury of time to explore and photograph the local environment. The island’s Iron Age Broch, or roundhouse, is the tallest surviving example of its kind. The island is home to several species of seabirds in the spring and summer. I kept a weather eye on the great skuas, or bonxies as they are locally known, which would swoop on any walker straying into their territory with alarming speed. On the same trip, I also had some time to explore the Mainland. My view of the place, its dramatic scenery and natural phenomena, was brief, though it strongly appealed to my love of wide open spaces, moors, rocky coasts and sandy beaches, watching birds and walking outdoors. It's important to say that I knew then, and still know, very little about life in Shetland. For what they're worth, these are the images I made whilst exploring Mousa and the Mainland, of the land, sea, sky, flora and fauna of Shetland.