G Dan Mitchell Photography

“The Naked Emperor” — An Aberdeen wall, featuring “The Naked Emperor,” by Edward von Lõngus.

I photographed this instance of “The Naked Emperor” in Aberdeen, Scotland, but I understand that the figure can be found in many European cities. The artist signs his work, “Edward von Lõngus,” though I understand that this is a pseudonym meant to hide his real identity, in the Ba...

“Marsco and Waterfall” — The peak of Marsco towers over a waterfall, Eas a’ Bhradain, Isle of Skye.

In case you haven’t heard, it is wet in Scotland. I knew this, having been there before, but coming from the relatively dry climate of California, it is still quite a contrast. One thing that still takes me by surprise at first is the size of the streams and rivers that can...

“A young Scottish “Back-Scratching Hairy Coo Calf” — highlands “hairy coo” uses its horn to scratch its back.

Like the brochures say, no visit to Scotland is complete without seeing the hairy highland coos. While coos (or, in American English, “cows”) are not my usual subject, the critters were there, I had a camera, so I made some photographs. In this case, a small herd ...

“Netherkirkgate” — Aman on a ladder in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Our recent travels to the British Isles began (aside from a very brief stopover in London) with a lengthy visit to Skye and the northwest of Scotland. After that first adventure we returned to Inverness and took a train to Aberdeen for a few days. After more than a week in the wild open spaces of northwest Scotlan...

“Looking Toward Skye” — View over a mountain loch toward the Isle of Skye, seen from the road to Applecross Pass.

While Scotland’s Isle of Skye is, with great reason, a very popular place, you can find great views of the Isle along the less-populated western coast. After our visit to Skye we headed further north to Ullapool, and from there did a long driving loop out to t...