The Kingdom of Fife in Scotland is a fantastic location for photography. Offering opportunities for wildlife, landscape, seascape, architecture and environmental photography it has something for everyone. Here I share my top 10 spots for photography in Fife.
At number 10 we have Hawkcraig point, Aberdour. This abandoned pier is perfect for long exposure photography. At low tide it is possible to get underneath the pier for an interesting perspective while at high tide a long exposure can have a very minimalistic feel. On a good day you can see across the Forth to Edinburgh and the Lothians.
At number 9 I have put Lundin Links. The standing stones on the ladies golf course are a recent discovery for me and I think they have great potential. I hope to use them as a backdrop for an image of the Northern Lights one day.
I have put Maspie Den in Falkland Estate as number 8. This is a lovely woodland walk up to a waterfall you can get behind (more of a spout than a waterfall really). On the way up the glen there are lots of opportunities for water shots as well as woodland and, if you're lucky, wildlife. In order to take full advantage of the scenery I would recommend wearing wellies for the inevitable paddle in the burn to get the best angles!
For number 7 I have gone with the Kinghorn 'Kissing Trees'. These must be the most photographed trees in Fife, if not Scotland. They are the only trees in the area, one either side of the road and they are often described as 'kissing'.
Number 6 is Tentsmuir, covering both the beach and forest. The beach is great for atmospheric shots in the mist or the views along the coast to St Andrews. The forest offers great opportunities for woodland shots, misty mornings or some of the old buildings that can be found (ex military buildings, ice houses etc).
First entry in the top 5 goes to Culross. A fantastic place for photographers with everything from palaces, market crosses, historic buildings, quaint cottages, piers, railways and many more interesting little neuks and crannies. Very easy to spend a full day here, bring plenty of memory cards and batteries!
Number 4 is Elie. This fantastic village in the East Neuk of Fife has a stunning lighthouse and a great rocky coastline. The Ladies Tower (just along from the lighthouse) is also very photogenic.
At number 3 is the Bunnet Stane. This is a short walk from Gateside up the lower slopes of the Lomond Hills. A very interesting rock formation that has a lot of potential for different types of image.
Number 2 has to be the Forth Bridges. So many great locations that these can be captured from and now there are 3 bridges to choose from, endless possibilities!
So finally my number 1 location for photography in Fife is the zig-zag pier in St Monans. I have been here many times and it always offers something new. It's a very popular spot so you are always likely to meet other photographers when visiting. Great in any weather and at any tide time. While here it is also worth going to the St Monans windmill which is also a great location. As this is so close to Anstruther it's also worth stopping in for a chippy on the way home!
So that's my top 10 favourite locations for photography in Fife. Of course there are many other locations, St Andrews, Falkland village, Dunfermline, Pitenweem to name a few but I always find myself going back to the 10 I've mentioned here. I'm sure not everyone will agree with my choices but all photographers will agree there are many great locations in the Kingdom of Fife and picking only 10 is no easy task!