Steve Roden Images - Stromness, Isles of Orkney

One can live in a place for a lifetime and be blissfully unaware of the beauty that is close by. I lived in England until I was twenty-five years old and managed to visit Scotland only once during that time. On a more recent trip to the UK I managed, with friends, to visit the Isles of Orkney. What a wonderful spectacle they turned out to be. Sitting above the northern most point of mainland Britain, they are a crown of jewels, resisting the usurping attempts of nature to blow them away, whilst holding sacred and revealing slowly, the wonders of times past.

The following images were taken at the end of June 2017, in and around the very attractive village of Stromness. Whilst not of any great artistic merit, they serve mainly to communicate the feel and history of the location, its architecture, use of warm local materials and a way of life both past and present.

Big anchor, small boat!

Magnificent paving of natural stone.

Sometimes I wish I could declutter a scene. It would have been good to remove the plastic bins and the satellite dishes!

Looking North down the main street. Pity about the roadworks!

Rich stonework and the very narrow main street.

A breeze on the water looking South-East.

Three gables facing the sea and the prevailing winds.

The cannon reputed to have been salvaged from the American Privateer ‘Liberty’ in 1813.

Well! It would be a better view without the white gantry right of centre.

I was captivated by the warm colours of the stonework and the near opulence of the doorway in this building.

Once used as a recruitment centre for the Hudson Bay Company; now a magnificent art gallery.

New and old side by side. Living in harmony.

Nature taking over the chimney top.

The business side of the harbour.

Graemsay lighthouse, captured in the late-afternoon sun.

Built in 1901, the Stromness Hotel is something of a landmark with its four storeys. A fine building serving fine food, wonderful ale and terrific local whiskey.

Arising early has its rewards! I was very pleased to capture these reflections.

Stitched panorama of the Stromness waterfront, looking towards the Isle of Hoy.

Corble stepped gables. Stromness Hotel

Early morning shadows along the main street.

This shot was taken in an attempt to show the length of day in mid-summer. The time was 2216 hrs.

Hand held. 1/5 sec @ F11. ISO 200. Fujifilm XT1. XF 18-135 lens.