This image was taken a few years ago at an event facility.  This facility, now used for weddings, receptions, and other events, was created out of an old bank.  

The gears and other items pictured are part of what used to be the bank's safe.  The safe sitll remains and all of the inner workings of the locking mechanism, picutred above, are visible through a panel of glass, a remnant of the building's past.  

Thisimage remains one of my favorites as I love the many lines and shapes hidden within.

In 2023, I visited the Harford Fly-in, an event featuring a wide variety of planes, helicopters, and other aircraft as well as demonstrations  and flight displays.  The aircraft pictured was an Army helicopter, but I never was able to figure out a model or type.  

This abstract image was created by focusing on just the helicopter's windshield and nose, cutting out the arms and other features, giving it almost a face-likek appearance.  Sometimes just altering the corp on an image can lead you to find a vastly different image than you originally intended.  

Back in April of 2023, I was attending a photo seminar hosted by the Harford County Photography Group (www.HCPhotoGroup.org) in Havre de Grace, Maryland.  

The group met in the morning underneath a railroad track that crossed over the river next to the town.  As we set out to shoot, I happened to look up at the bridge and noticed the cacophny of wires, steel, and other assorted materials comprising the track and birdge and, it intrigued me to see so many different patterns and lines.

I snapped a phot and ended up loving the result as it is a chaotic mix of lines, patterns, and an illusion of symmetry even though the image is not truly symmetrical.

In 2024 I was fortunate enough to embark on a two week tour of Scotland.  In our travels, we visited the battlefield of Culloden.  

The Battle of Culloden was fought on April 16, 1746 and was the final decisive clash of the 1746 Jacobite uprising, where roughly 5,000 Highland Jacobites under Bonnie Prince Charlie were defeated in under an hour by the British goverbment's troops, led bythe Duke of Cumberland.. It was the last pitched battle on British soil, resulting in heavy losses (roughly 1,500 Jacobites), marking the end of the Stuart, or Jacobite, cause.

Located in the center of the battlefield, this 20-foot cairn bears the inscription: "The Battle of Culloden was fought on this moor 16th April, 1746. The graves of the Gallant Highlanders who fought for Scotland and Prince Charlie are marked by the names of their clans".

In 2024, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks touring through Scotland.  During our tours, we spend time traveling across the Isle of Skye, home of some of the ancient clans as well as great deal of folklore.

One site we visited was the Old Sligachan Bridge, built between 1810 and 1818 by Thomas Telford.  The waters that run beneath the bridge are the subject of much old Scottish folklore and are said to carry enchantments.

Many years ago, on the Isle of Skye, there lived the greatest warrior woman of Scotland, Scáthach. Word of her greatness spread everywhere and it soon reached the ears of the greatest warrior of Ireland, Cúchulainn. A renowned warrior himself, Cúchulainn knew that he must go and fight this warrior woman of Scotland to prove that he is better. So he set sail for the Isle of Skye.

Arriving on Skye, Cúchulainn came across a protogé of Scáthach and demanded that her mistress should come and face him. Scáthach came to meet him to battle and each hoping to prove themselves over the other.   Their battle raged across the whole valley, shaking the earth, creating the valleys and mountains of Skye. Animals fled before them.  As they battled Scáthachs daughter ran down to the river and cried, as she was terrified as she could not see how her mother could possibly win.

Scottish myth claims that water allows a gateway between the faerie world and our world. The faeries heard the cries of Scáthachs daughter, came to her and  told her to wash her face in the water of the river. She obeyed and washed her face in the waters.  Once she had done this, she was filled with the knowledge of how to stop the battle.

She ran back home to the lodge where her mother lived, gathering herbs and nuts along the way.  Arriving at the lodge, she threw the nuts and herbs in onto the fire and fanned the smoke into the valley. Upon smelling the scent both warriors realised just how tired and hungry they were from the fighting. So they decided to stop for a bit, they laid down their weapons and headed to the lodge.

Arriving at the lodge they were greeted by Scáthachs daughter. She had prepared a meal worthy of the two mighty warriors. As Cúchulainn ate under the roof of Scáthach, this meant that he became her guest, meaning they could do each other no harm.

The legend of Sligachan states that if you dip your face in the river water by the Sligachan Bridge, you will be granted eternal beauty.

After getting to the river bank by the Sligachan bridge, washing your face is not a simple as it sounds. You must dip your face in the water, not bring the water up to your face. To do this you must get on your hands and knees at the water’s edge and fully submerge your face for seven seconds.  Once you've dipped your face, you can not wipe the water off.  You must instead allow your face to dry naturally.

     In 2024, I was fortunate enough to visit Scotland, home of my ancestors.   During our tour, we were able to visit Inveraray Castle, seat of the Clan Campbell since 1450.  The current building was begun in 1746 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll, replacing a medieval stronghold.

     On the first floor of this medieval castle sits the MacArthur room, scene of a grisly murder and legendary hauntings.  

This tale is grisly and involves murder.   If this upsets you, please stop reading.

    The legend goes that in 1644, the Duke of Argyll fled his castle to escape capture from the Marquess of Montrose. When he fled, he left behind a young Irish boy who had been in who worked as a harpist. Upon being discovered by Montrose’s men, the boy  probably wished that he had fled alongside his master. The Marquess had sent  Irish mercenaries who, outraged that a fellow countryman could be working for their sworn enemy, slaughtered the boy, leaving his dismembered body on the duke’s bed.

Despite this gruesome murder having taken place in the old castle,  the boy issaid to have become  so attached to the bed, he traveled with it when it was moved to the modern castle. It is said when a member of the family is about to die in the castle, harp music can be heard coming from the room. The last report of harp music was when the 10th Duke died in 1949.

  This was one of the eeriest stories we heard in Scotland, and the room itself gave off a strong sense of forboding and ill omen.  Many visitors and staff say that the room fills them with dread.

In May of 2024, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks touring castles in Scotland, home of my ancestors.  As we traveled through the Highlands, we had a chance to tour Eilean Donan (pronounced 'eye lee-uhn doh nun'), a castle situated by the picturesque village of Dornie on the main tourist route to the Isle of Skye.

It served as a stronghold for the Clan Mackenzie and their allies, the Clan MacRae, before its destruction by government ships in 1719. The castle was later restored between 1912 and 1932 by Lt. Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap, which transformed it into a popular and iconic visitor attraction.   It is considered to be the most photographed castle in Scotland.

Our tour was guided by the gentleman in the picture Ian, and his friendly gruff demeanor was quite wonderful, even though he had a habit of forgetting dates of the events as he lectured.  After the tour, we were permitted to wander freely through most parts of the castle and, as I wandered,  I came across a steep set of stairs leading to the upper part of the castle's exterior.  Peeking out of a door on a landing halfway up the stairs was Ian, watching the tourists explore the castle below.  Loving the composition, I asked if he would mind if I snapped his picture and, after a quick glance around, he respoonded with a gruff "Aye, but make it quick."  Without pausing to check my settings, I quickly snapped the photo, thanked him and went on my way.

It remains one of my favorite photos from our trip and I will always remember his gruff yet friendly response to my request for a photo.