Why the Fife Peninsula Offers Amazing Opportunities to Photographers

The Kingdom of Fife, as it’s officially known, offers a whole host of wonderful scenery for the amateur or professional photographer looking to get some great landscape shots of a diverse range of countryside. With no less than 48 conservation areas and nearly 5,000 listed buildings, the county has some outstanding natural beauty as well as architectural works of art, some of which date back to the 12th century.

The craggy coastline gives some stunning vistas over the North Sea while inland, great bodies of water such as volcanic Loch Lomond and the rolling hills and countryside offer an incredible variety of places to capture the natural beauty of Scotland.

Stately homes and castles

Fife’s large number of laird’s castles and stately homes makes it an ideal place for photographers with an interest in the evolution of architecture over the centuries, or even just those with an eye for beauty in buildings.

One such location is Dunfermline Palace, whose castle was once the home to Scottish monarchs and with a history dating back to the 11th century. The weathered stone, angular windows and towering spires of the castle provide many interesting vistas for the photographer to capture the beauty in the building and its surrounding grounds.

A number of the great structures in Fife are some of the most important ecclesiastical landmarks in Scotland. Amongst them is the cathedral looking out over the bay at St Andrews. The oldest, largest and most important medieval church in Scotland, the site has been used for worship since the 10th century with the erection of the breath-taking St Rule’s Tower.

The cathedral offers not only amazing Middle Ages architecture, it also has fantastic views over the bay and out to sea. The proximity of the water also gives the light an amazing quality that makes it a perfect place to take pictures of the cathedral and the surrounding area.

Loch Lomond and the hills
In the inland areas of Fife, there are areas of outstanding natural beauty that are an absolute dream for any photographer to get some fabulous shots in amazing scenery.

Loch Lomond is one of the most visited places in Fife, and with good reason. The combination of the volcanic hills and the water right at the boundary between central Scotland and the Highlands, there are innumerable photo opportunities for the keen photographer of the incredible beauty of the area.

Stunning views over the Lomond Hills

 

As with many parts of Scotland, the colours in the landscape at Loch Lomond and across the Lomond Hills are what draw the photographer’s eye. There’s something different to be seen in every season, with the snow-capped mountains and low light in winter replaced with glittering waters and amazing sunsets in the summer. The longer days in summertime, some half an hour or so longer than in the south of the UK, gives photographers a different kind of light to play with as the sun goes down over the lake and surrounding countryside.

Conclusion

The many beautiful destinations in Fife are a photographer’s dream and allow those with an interest in creating art through still images to indulge their passion in so many different ways. The variety of different subjects on offer, the light and the expanse of countryside, coast and hills means that every photographer can find something completely unique to capture in their pictures. Add to that the changes in the countryside through the changing of the seasons and you have something truly special for every photographer to enjoy.

Image Credits: Wikipedia