Royal Deeside : Photography

Lochnagar at Sunrise

Royal Deeside is a place of wonder, intrigue, community spirit and great beauty. From Aberdeen to Braemar there are many tranquil villages and constantly changing scenery including low land, rivers and trees to great glens, lochs and majestic mountain ranges.

For decades travelers, locals and professional photographers alike have without rest clicked those shutters to bring us all some of the magic of our area. In the Victorian era a fine collection of photographs was compiled by George Washington Wilson. This collection is now maintained by Aberdeen University. Because of the many visitors to Royal Deeside there were until mid 20th Century numerous local photographers who would take holiday portraits and picture for postcards. Royalty were also a favorite topic and there are many photographs of members of the royal family arriving at Ballater Station on route to Balmoral Castle. Now, the process is even more special for it is possible take part in a photography course held at Balmoral.

One photographer whose work features Royal Deeside and which can be bought some local galleries is Paul Mackie, two of whose photographs appear on this page. Paul lives in Aberdeen and travels to Deeside every week to not only get that ever sought after photograph but to just be there. He describes the pleasure he derives, “ I have spent most of my life in the Deeside area and I still find a new place to pitch the tent and gaze in awe and disbelief. I dearly love it here and over the past few years have tried to capture the essence of it all, not always the big panoramas and the high drama but some of the ruins, bothy’s and the gems that are hidden in the glens.”

"Endless Ice" : Braemar, Royal Deeside

This joy of taking photographs in Royal Deeside has been shared by many others in the last century and a half and will be shared by many more to come.