Royal Deeside : Photography

Royal Deeside is a wonderful place for those who enjoy photography. Not only is there a wide choice of subjects but the scenes constantly change with time of day and with season. Photographs also bring to life the changing social life and it is no wonder that one of the first exercises undertaken by the new Ballater Local History Group has been to create an archive of old photographs.

As webmaster I am used to taking photographs to illustrate many of the articles that appear on this site and possibly half or more of the photographs displayed were taken by me. My feeble efforts help me to appreciate the work of both professional and amateur photographers who take far better pictures.

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Sunrise at Broad Cairn

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.

Westward view across Lairig Ghru

One photographer whose work features Royal Deeside and which can be bought some local galleries is Paul Mackie, four 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.”

Queen Victoria's cottage at Glas allt Shiel, Loch Muick

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.

Royal Deeside on a summer's evening: view of Lochnagar from near Ballater

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Introduction	Cairngorms National Park	Glenshee Ski Centre	Golf in Royal Deeside	Ballater Boules
Walking in Royal Deeside	History with Boots On	Walking near Ballater	Dalmochie Lumberjack's Trail	Tarland Walks
	Munros near Braemar	Aboyne Rugby	Photography in Royal Deeside

This website is maintained for the benefit of the residents of Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland by
Ballater (RD) Ltd, a charitable company limited by Guarantee.