Welcome to Natural Scotland
ABOUT THE
NAIRN BASED PHOTOGRAPHER & AUTHOR – MARK GILES
Natural Scotland Landscape & Wildlife Photography is the culmination of a photographic career now focused purely on landscapes & wildlife, as well as being a portal for other photographic genres and published works. I’ve been a passionate photographer since the age of four when I first used a Kodak Brownie 127; progressing to 35mm SLRs at the age of eleven, and latterly medium format film cameras in my twenties. Since the early 2000s I have balanced film photography with digital.
My areas of personal interest have always been landscape & wildlife photography but somewhere in my twenties I was seduced by the dark side and spent many decades shooting weddings, portraits, commercial and event photography, culminating in my registered brand of Funtography ™.
Our Green Screen Merchandising contracts, under the Funtography Trade Mark, included:
The UK experiences: ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ and the ‘BBC Walking with Dinosaurs Arena Tour’, the latter also taking us across the whole of Europe. We also operated in the USA, with the Apollo 11, 50th Anniversary Show.
Throughout this time I have taught photography through my involvement in photographic clubs as well as privately, usually on a 1-2-1 basis, spreading my knowledge and passion to those both starting out in their photographic endeavours and those wishing to expand their knowledge.
As a photographer & author
I certify that all my photography and writing is 100% organic and AI free.
Now retired, I am fortunate to live in the Highlands where my focus has returned to photographing landscapes and wildlife. I still teach and provide talks to camera clubs and individuals, when available, on a donation basis. In 2024 I went back to shooting medium format film using a Bronica SQA-i, alongside my Nikon digital gear. I am the current President of Nairn Photographic Society as well as holding memberships of the Royal Photographic Society and the Disabled Photographers Society.
Why ‘NaturalScotland’?
In a digital world I truly believe the magic and art of photography has been lost. Many ‘photographers’ spend hours sitting in front of computers using untold software applications to produce works of art. In my humble opinion these people are not ‘photographers’ but instead are ‘digital artists’. There is nothing wrong with this, but I prefer to distinguish between:
- A photographer – someone who manipulates light through an understanding of photographic principles to create an image in-camera that is either a true representation of the world or one that reflects the photographers interpretation.
- A digital artist – someone who uses a camera to create an image with the intention, through post production software manipulation, to represent their interpretation of the world.
Both have their place in modern photography, I however choose to call myself a photographer and following my definition as such. Yes I have spent many hours enhancing and fabricating images as a professional photographer for clients; but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. As a landscape and wildlife photographer I now minimise any digital post production to what I would have been able to achieve when shooting film and spending time in a darkroom; this relates to cropping and minor adjustments….I still occasionally do a bit more but I refuse to use one-click software solutions that removes the creative decision process away from the photographer. Every image on my website has been produced with this approach, concentrating on getting the image correct in camera and only once in a while using extended post processing – usually to lift a flat or dull lit day (or to use the Scottish term a ‘dreich’ day).
I would love to teach you how to photograph the world around you by spending more time behind your camera and less time in front of a computer screen.
Mark Giles the Author
With a long held interest in science fiction, my first novel Paradoxical was published by Vanguard Press on 28th November 2019. The long awaited sequel, Pandemonium was published on 14th December 2024. The final book in the trilogy, Panjandrums, is currently in work. A collection of short stories, Life, the Universe, and Every Cliché In-between was also published in December 2024.
I am also working on an alternative photography book…
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
Welcome to Natural Scotland
Natural Scotland Landscape & Wildlife Photography is the culmination of a photographic career now focused purely on landscapes & wildlife, as well as being a portal for other photographic genres and published works. I’ve been a passionate photographer since the age of four when I first used a Kodak Brownie 127; progressing to 35mm SLRs at the age of eleven, and latterly medium format film cameras in my twenties. Since the early 2000s I have balanced film photography with digital.
My areas of personal interest have always been landscape & wildlife photography but somewhere in my twenties I was seduced by the dark side and spent many decades shooting weddings, portraits, commercial and event photography, culminating in my registered brand of Funtography ™.
ABOUT THE
NAIRN BASED PHOTOGRAPHER & AUTHOR MARK GILES
As a Photographer & Author
I certify that all my photography
and writing is 100% organic
and AI free.
Our Green Screen Merchandising contracts, under the Funtography Trade Mark, included:
The UK experiences: ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ and the ‘BBC Walking with Dinosaurs Arena Tour’, the latter also taking us across the whole of Europe. We also operated in the USA, with the Apollo 11, 50th Anniversary Show.
Throughout this time I have taught photography through my involvement in photographic clubs as well as privately, usually on a 1-2-1 basis, spreading my knowledge and passion to those both starting out in their photographic endeavours and those wishing to expand their knowledge.
Now retired, I am fortunate to live in the Highlands where my focus has returned to photographing landscapes and wildlife. I still teach and provide talks to camera clubs and individuals, when available, on a donation basis. In 2024 I went back to shooting medium format film using a Bronica SQA-i, alongside my Nikon digital gear. I am the current President of Nairn Photographic Society as well as holding memberships of the Royal Photographic Society and the Disabled Photographers Society.
Why ‘NaturalScotland’?
In a digital world I truly believe the magic and art of photography has been lost. Many ‘photographers’ spend hours sitting in front of computers using untold software applications to produce works of art. In my humble opinion these people are not ‘photographers’ but instead are ‘digital artists’. There is nothing wrong with this, but I prefer to distinguish between:
- A photographer – someone who manipulates light through an understanding of photographic principles to create an image in-camera that is either a true representation of the world or one that reflects the photographers interpretation.
- A digital artist – someone who uses a camera to create an image with the intention, through post production software manipulation, to represent their interpretation of the world.
Both have their place in modern photography, I however choose to call myself a photographer and following my definition as such. Yes I have spent many hours enhancing and fabricating images as a professional photographer for clients; but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. As a landscape and wildlife photographer I now minimise any digital post production to what I would have been able to achieve when shooting film and spending time in a darkroom; this relates to cropping and minor adjustments….I still occasionally do a bit more but I refuse to use one-click software solutions that removes the creative decision process away from the photographer. Every image on my website has been produced with this approach, concentrating on getting the image correct in camera and only once in a while using extended post processing – usually to lift a flat or dull lit day (or to use the Scottish term a ‘dreich’ day).
I would love to teach you how to photograph the world around you by spending more time behind your camera and less time in front of a computer screen.
Mark Giles the Author
With a long held interest in science fiction, my first novel Paradoxical was published by Vanguard Press on 28th November 2019. The long awaited sequel, Pandemonium was published on 14th December 2024. The final book in the trilogy, Panjandrums, is currently in work. A collection of short stories, Life, the Universe, and Every Cliché In-between was also published in December 2024.
I am also working on an alternative photography book…
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES
Landscape Courses
Landscape courses can be tailored to meet your needs and experience level. Courses can cover studio based tuition for novice levels followed by on-location tuition. Or if you are a more experienced photographer looking to improve your composition or general techniques I can help you here too.
Wildlife Courses
Depending on your level of expertise, equipment and preferred subjects I can offer a tailored experience to include studio based tuition, if required, before going on location. Areas covered include: the use of Macro and telephoto lenses for subjects ranging from insects to birds and mammals.
In addition, if you are just after the opportunity to use hides and baited areas we can facilite you here too. Please contact me to discuss your requirements and I will endeavour to meet your needs.
Welcome to
Natural Scotland
ABOUT THE NAIRN BASED PHOTOGRAPHER & AUTHOR MARK GILES
Natural Scotland Landscape & Wildlife Photography is the culmination of a photographic career now focused purely on landscapes & wildlife, as well as being a portal for other photographic genres and published works. I’ve been a passionate photographer since the age of four when I first used a Kodak Brownie 127; progressing to 35mm SLRs at the age of eleven, and latterly medium format film cameras in my twenties. Since the early 2000s I have balanced film photography with digital.
My areas of personal interest have always been landscape & wildlife photography but somewhere in my twenties I was seduced by the dark side and spent many decades shooting weddings, portraits, commercial and event photography, culminating in my registered brand of
Funtography ™.
Now retired, I am fortunate to live in the Highlands where my focus has returned to photographing landscapes and wildlife. I still teach and provide talks to camera clubs and individuals, when available, on a donation basis. In 2024 I went back to shooting medium format film using a Bronica SQA-i, alongside my Nikon digital gear. I am the current President of Nairn Photographic Society as well as holding memberships of the Royal Photographic Society and the Disabled Photographers Society.
Why ‘NaturalScotland’?
In a digital world I truly believe the magic and art of photography has been lost. Many ‘photographers’ spend hours sitting in front of computers using untold software applications to produce works of art. In my humble opinion these people are not ‘photographers’ but instead are ‘digital artists’. There is nothing wrong with this, but I prefer to distinguish between:
- A photographer – someone who manipulates light through an understanding of photographic principles to create an image in-camera that is either a true representation of the world or one that reflects the photographers interpretation.
- A digital artist – someone who uses a camera to create an image with the intention, through post production software manipulation, to represent their interpretation of the world.
Both have their place in modern photography, I however choose to call myself a photographer and following my definition as such. Yes I have spent many hours enhancing and fabricating images as a professional photographer for clients; but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. As a landscape and wildlife photographer I now minimise any digital post production to what I would have been able to achieve when shooting film and spending time in a darkroom; this relates to cropping and minor adjustments….I still occasionally do a bit more but I refuse to use one-click software solutions that removes the creative decision process away from the photographer. Every image on my website has been produced with this approach, concentrating on getting the image correct in camera and only once in a while using extended post processing – usually to lift a flat or dull lit day (or to use the Scottish term a ‘dreich’ day).
I would love to teach you how to photograph the world around you by spending more time behind your camera and less time in front of a computer screen.
Mark Giles the Author
With a long held interest in science fiction, my first novel Paradoxical was published by Vanguard Press on 28th November 2019. The long awaited sequel, Pandemonium was published on 14th December 2024. The final book in the trilogy, Panjandrums, is currently in work. A collection of short stories, Life, the Universe, and Every Cliché In-between was also published in December 2024.
I am also working on an alternative photography book…
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES
Landscape Courses
Landscape courses can be tailored to meet your needs and experience level. Courses can cover studio based tuition for novice levels followed by on-location tuition. Or if you are a more experienced photographer looking to improve your composition or general techniques I can help you here too.
Wildlife Courses
Depending on your level of expertise, equipment and preferred subjects I can offer a tailored experience to include studio based tuition, if required, before going on location. Areas covered include: the use of Macro and telephoto lenses for subjects ranging from insects to birds and mammals.
In addition, if you are just after the opportunity to use hides and baited areas we can facilite you here too. Please contact me to discuss your requirements and I will endeavour to meet your needs.