Brian Smith 📷
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ibriphoto.com
Brian Smith 📷
@ibriphoto.com
510 followers 670 following 390 posts
Working in education. Photography, Graphic Design, Mac. But, mostly the photography bit just now.

[No DMs - UK Safety Bill nonsense]

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Forgetting what the sunshine looks like this month so looked out my sunglasses to revisit this year's catalogue before archiving it all for 2025.

Antidote to the Scottish December dreich.☀️

#LandscapePhotography #FromTheArchive
A still summer shot taken post-sunset over the River Forth and Alloa Inch - August 2025 Looking over freshly harvested fields to Orchard Farm, as a line of skewed telegraph poles lead the eye towards the Wallace Monument pointing directly at the setting sun, as it casts crepuscular rays skywards into the gathering clouds - August 2025 The hazy view at sunset from Clackmannan Tower over Alloa in early Spring. Leafless trees (one no longer standing due to an autumn storm) are silhouetted in the frame. March 2025 A large circular setting sun sits centre of the frame, silhouetting the a tree lined golf course and the distinctive outline of Stirling Castle beyond. September 2025
December 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
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Watching a sliver of a sunset down by the water. Camera wasn't ready to catch the seal that came by and snorted its indifference at me, but appreciated a few moments of #Twixmas calm down at the old harbour.

#Scotland #Sunset #RiverForth #WellNotWealthy
December 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
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The day after, and time to dial it all down a notch or six.

#BoxingDay #LandscapePhotography #WinterSunset #Clackmannanshire
Sunset on the River Forth at Alloa, Scotland. A Boxing Day sunset sets across the opposite bank, lighting up the winter sky and silhouetting a group of tall electricity pylons. A gull glides over the single fishing boat anchored on a still River Forth, off the river bank of the industrial end of Alloa, Scotland. The tall structures of the nearby glass factory reach into the winter sky just after sunset. In the distance, a sliver of orange highlights the City of Stirling Sunset on the River Forth at Alloa, Scotland. A Boxing Day sunset sets across the opposite bank, spectacularly lighting up the winter sky and silhouetting a group of tall electricity pylons. On a nearby buoy a solitary gull rests up. A single fishing boat anchored on a still River Forth, off the river bank of the industrial end of Alloa, Scotland. In the distance, a sliver of orange winter sunset highlights the City of Stirling as the Mountain Ben Lomond loses its summit to the clouds.
December 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM
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Monday morning, and December kicks off misty, moody and minimal around this way, taking a long time to unwrap itself from its comfortable duvet.

#LandscapePhotography #MoodyMonday #Minimal #Stirling
A minimal style photograph of a partly visible Stirling Castle, its perch on top of the Castle Hill fading and being enveloped in mist.. Mostly white, soft and low contrast with a sliver of detail running across the middle, the Great Hall with it's beige walls the only colour showing. A minimal style photograph of a partly visible Wallace Monument, enveloped in mist and under a blanket of white cloud. Mostly white and low contrast with a sliver of detail running across the middle - The blanketed Ochil Hills lining the north of The Forth Valley and the monument itself piercing through the thick blanket of mist and fog.
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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Contrasts; The pastoral and peaceful area around the outskirts of our local town at sunset, interrupted by the construction noise for the nearby leisure complex build. But that's all good.

#LandscapePhotography #Urban #Rural #DJIGlobal #Clackmannanshire
A single tree standing in a crop-less field at sunset. Orange colour surrounds the scene that include more bare late autumn trees and cozy farm buildings. A high elevation drone panorama of the town of Alloa, Scotland on the banks of the River Forth which shows lazily winding through the scene. All under a post sunset clear sky with the distinctive pinkish glow of the phenomenon known as 'The Belt of Venus' clearly visible.
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
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"So good to get out" said the Top-of-the Town. And I wholeheartedly agreed.

#Winter #LandscapePhotography #Fog #Stirling #StirlingCastle #Scotland #DJIGlobal
A drone shot taken above the fog layer just before sunset. Looking towards the City of Stirling, Stirling Castle and the buildings on the historic area of Castle Hill appear in sharp contrast to the soft layer of fog. The Gargunnock Hills cross the frame horizontally behind te city skyline and separate the cloud textured sky from the hidden landscape below.
November 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
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October. Done ✅

It's been a month of moody sunrises and creeping darkness. Think I even saw the first dusting of snow on the nearby mountains this week too.

#Photography #AutumnVibes #WinterIsComing
Drone panoramic shot of an early morning sunrise over Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. Mist and fog envelope the town and the ancient ruins of the Abbey in the foreground A blue hour photograph of Tynemouth's promenade with the last of the sunset's afterglow fading on the horizon and the natural light being replaced by the man-made street lights. A double decker bus passes and its own lights are stretched out during the long exposure shot. The graffiti sprayed and long abandoned Admiralty Crane on a derelict and rickety wooden pier sits silently on the bank of the River Forth in Clackmannanshire as the sun rise into an orange sky over the town of Alloa on the other side of the river A first quarter moon sits directly above Castle Rock and Stirling Castle in a darkening blue sky, as the sun leaves a purple tinged colour in the clouds to the right of the image. The bends of the slow flowing River Forth here hold the city tight to the base of the Castle, as the houses of the well known area of 'The Raploch' light up as the darkness descends.
November 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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This fishing boat is always a draw for a camera due it to sitting anchored here in isolation and looking to the sunset. Looks even more lonely with this effect added.

Very much the same vibe as sailing the social media waters just now. 🫤

#LandscapePhotography #Sunset #Clackmannanshire
A small fishing boat bathed in the evening light at sunset. Sharply focused and facing the centre of the frame, against a dream-like motion blurred effect of the water and sky that shows little distinction between river, land or sky.
October 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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A nice start to the work week and an early morning nature encounter as a seal appeared through the mist and slowly made its way along the River Forth. Can just about make out its wake as it swam slowly off for the relative safety just a bit up river.

#Scotland #UrbanWildlife #AutumnWatch
A misty morning view over the Kildean Loop section of the River Forth. Warm golden hour light is diffused in the mist over the still water, its surface broken in the distance by the wake of a seal as it surfaces. In the distance the Ochil Hills and Wallace Monument are partly obscured in mist A mist clearing golden hour lit river view is punctuated by ripples that lead to the dark, small head of a seal as it surfaces for breath. Under a clearing mist on the River Forth a seal slowly swims through the frame, head low on the water and whiskers glinting in the golden light, as a goosander takes little notice and swims in the opposite direction nearer the river bank. A closer view of the seal as it raises its snout for a deep breath just before disappearing below the gold and mist bathed surface of the River Forth in Stirling, Scotland
September 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
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Scouting out and about for another arboreal subject to point a camera at every now and again, as another often snapped one has quite literally snapped. Accompanied by two faithful and patient dog 'togs who take no interest in anything photographic.

#LandscapePhotography
The sun heads near the horizon at sunset and illuminates a tree that sits on its own in the middle of a recently harvested field in a high contrast and colourful landscape photograph with the trees and distant farm buildings heavily silhouetted. In amongst a small copse of trees a single tree with a crooked, almost 90 degree angled trunk lies fallen after a recent storm took its toll on its weakened state. A group of kids are seen clambering over its sricken form and are silhouetted against a post sunset cloudy sky. In the distance, over the town of Alloa's rooftops, Stirling castle and Ben Lomond can be seen and, to the right of that, the National Wallace Monument can just about be made out in the developing twilight. Two Lhasa Apso dogs sit patiently together on the grassy verge of a single track farm road, bathed in the warm light of a sunset's afterglow. A camera bag and camera paraphernalia lie near them as they ignore the sunset and look intently on as the noise of the train to Glasgow passing in the near distance distracts them
September 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
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Quite gutted to discover this favourite photographic subject didn't survive a recent storm. I'm sure most photographers have their own 'one tree' that they return to; this one has very much been a regular and recurring feature for me. Even printed and framed a few versions. 😕

#LandscapePhotgraphy
An autumn view over the Forth Valley, taken from a hilltop above the town of Alloa. A single bowed and bent tree dominates the foreground, resplendent in bright orange autumn leaves and pointing towards a distinctly Scottish view. A hazy sunset view over the Forth Valley, taken from a hilltop above the town of Alloa. A single bowed and bent tree dominates the foreground, leafless in the midst of winter and points towards a distinctly Scottish view. A copse of bare branched winter trees are silhouetted against a blue sky. In amongst them is an ancient fortified tower that once formed part of a much larger structure. The tree closest to the camera is bent at almost ninety degrees, and slots in to the space made by the other trees almost intentionally and with purpose. A triptych of images framed and mounted on a wall
September 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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View from the office.

#Autumn
This photograph captures a striking autumnal landscape featuring a vivid rainbow arching across a dramatic sky. The scene shows the Wallace Monument, a tall, tower-like structure standing prominently on a wooded hill in the distance. The monument is partially illuminated, contrasting against dark, brooding clouds that dominate the upper part of the image. The rainbow’s bright colours—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—stand out sharply against the grey sky, creating a vivid focal point. Below, a calm river reflects the muted tones of the sky and the green foliage lining its banks. The landscape includes rolling hills and fields with patches of sunlight breaking through the clouds, casting a dynamic range of light and shadow across the scene.
September 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
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Struggling to shake the US centric nature on here - No regionalisation or localisation option on this as far as I can tell.

So, posting an album of images from one of my very local #photography bolt holes that rarely fails to produce a photo or two.

#Scotland

ibriphoto.com/the-shore
A photo grid of 30 thumbnail riverscape photographs. I think the earliest photo in here was taken back in 2011. It's from the day an absolute local legend asked if my son and I would like a trip out on his boat 'The Three Sisters'. Of course we jumped at that, and I've been heading back here with a camera ever since. Still surprises me to this day that I show some of these to local folks and they go "Where's this about?" The views along the river to Stirling and the Trossachs, at any time of year are fantastic. Down river towards Grangemouth is a bit more industrial, but that's not necessarily a negative.
September 8, 2025 at 9:04 AM
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Back to basics, adding some #photography to my long neglected website instead of tumble-weeding on the other places. Unlikely to make any difference, but at least it's all under my control there.

I've a lot to get through - this one going back to April 2025 to start.

ibriphoto.com/stay-on-the-...
Phot collage - Taken as a distraction on the always subdued hotel to airport transfer along the SS145 route from Sorrento to Naples. All shot from my seat on the bus and all mostly shot on the move as the bus tackled the always congested route.
September 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
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Autumn has been successfully installed. Cool mornings, damp dewy starts and lazy garden spiders showing off their bed heads. Bring it on.

#AutumnVibes #MacroPhotography
An extreme close up photograph of a garden spider on a wooden fence. The camera is positioned in front of the spider, looking through it's spiky fore-legs. It's dark black pin-pointed eyes connect directly with the camera. It sits slightly dishevelled with its limbs at oddly different angles. Early morning dew drops sit as perfect spheres all over the spider's body.
September 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
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A sunset.
This photograph captures a breathtaking sunset over the Wallace Monument, silhouetted against a vivid orange and pink sky. The sun is positioned perfectly behind the monument, creating a striking halo effect that outlines the monument's crown. Rays of sunlight burst through scattered clouds, casting a warm glow across the sky. In the foreground, a dark silhouette of rolling hills and flat fields stretches out, adding contrast to the bright hues above. A solitary bird is seen flying against the radiant backdrop, enhancing the serene and timeless quality of the scene.
August 15, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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Need to try and find some different local subjects as we start to think of the most photogenic of seasons to come. A while away yet, so time to purge the castles, mountains and monuments.

#LandscapePhotography #Scotland #Stirling #Clackmannanshire #MultipleExposure #ICM #WipeTheSlateClean
A bright sunset panoramic image with oranges in top half and shadows and highlights in bottom half. View is across the River Forth towards an abandoned munitions warehouse complex with a derelict crane visible on a very rickety and old wooden pier. Beyond is the skyline of Stirling and Stirling Castle as it lights up for twilight. The distinct triangular shaped mountain of Ben Lomond juts sharply into the citrus orange sky. Multiple exposure technique and Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) combined to create an abstract horizontal blend effect with the subjects described being brought into more clear detail.
August 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
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The sight of so many Hercules aircraft from different countries here this morning is surely a good sign? 🤞

#Gaza #FlightRadar
A screen grab from FlightRadar tracking software showing five Hercules aircraft form a number of different countries' airforces (Jordan, Spain, France, Germany & UAE, circling off the coast of Gaza and conducting low passes inland.
August 1, 2025 at 9:01 AM
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Distraction incoming. Hope he’s ready for a gid auld Scottish welcome.

#Trump #Scotland
July 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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Bug bothering for some colour on a dreich summer's Sunday morning. Marmalade hover flies all over, but difficult to capture (for focus stacking anyhow) as close up. Quite like the glitch effect though.

#MacroPhotography
This is a close-up, high-resolution photograph of a marmalade hoverfly perched on a vibrant orange-red flower. The hoverfly has distinct black and yellow-orange striped markings on its abdomen, resembling those of a wasp. Its transparent wings are delicately veined, with fine details visible due to the macro photography. The hoverfly's large, compound eyes are a deep reddish-brown, and its fuzzy thorax is highlighted with fine hairs. The background is a rich, blurred blend of orange and red hues, created by the petals and stamens of the flower, enhancing the sharpness of the hoverfly in the foreground. This is a highly detailed, close-up (macro) photograph of a marmalade hoverfly perched on a cluster of small white flowers. The focus stack method and the tiny movements of the insect have caused a glitch effect that makes the hoverfly look like it's vibrating. Its body is slender with distinct bright orange and black stripes on its abdomen, resembling a wasp's warning colours. Its large, dark reddish compound eyes dominate its head, and its translucent wings are slightly blurred, suggesting motion. Tiny hair-like structures cover its body, especially around the head and thorax. The white flowers beneath it have small, delicate petals with yellowish centres, adding contrast to the dark, unfocused background, which makes the hoverfly stand out sharply.
July 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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A couple of pre-amble panoramic photos taken on a short climb up on to the hillside for a better view of last week's full moon rise. An interesting looking roll cloud was stretched over the Forth Valley and hanging near the horizon where the moon would appear, threatening to spoil it all.
Panoramic post-sunset view from the lower slopes of the Ochil Hills and looking towards Stirling. Farmland gives way to the slopes of the Abbey Craig topped with the Wallace Monument, and on over the city skyline to Stirling Castle. The Campsie and Gargunnock hills catch the last of the sun's rays below a golden yellow sky. Looking for a high vantage point over the Hillfoots village of Menstrie in Clackmannanshire for a good view of last week's full 'buck' moon rise, a long, narrow, slightly exotic and slightly other-worldly looking roll cloud was hanging out over the area south of the River Forth, threatening to spoil the clear horizon moon rise. The rural landscape over the Forth Valley is bathed in the warm orange glow of a summer sunset. A panoramic photograph of the Buck Moon rising above the industrial complex of Grangemouth on the Forth of Forth. Partly obscured and enveloped by soft horizontal clouds the full moon glows bright orange above the myriad of lights across the area and gives way to dark blues of night with residential buildings lighting up in the twilight in the foreground.
July 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
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Buck Moon.

Was a beautiful night for it. The view from the Ochil Hills and out over the Forth Valley as the full moon rose above the partly mothballed industry at Grangemouth.

📍Myreton Hill, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
📅 10 July 2025

#FullMoon #Moonrise #LandscapePhotography
A scenic night-time photograph taken from Clackmannanshire, showing the Buck Moon rising on the horizon. The full moon glows with an orange hue, partially veiled by thin clouds, casting a soft light across the distant landscape. Below, the town is illuminated with streetlights and building lights, surrounded by green fields and rolling hills. The photo captures a peaceful blend of natural beauty and urban life, with grassy slopes and rugged rocks in the foreground. A bright, golden Buck Moon rises in the night sky above Clackmannanshire, casting a warm glow through thin clouds. Below, the landscape features a mix of green fields, scattered houses, and a town illuminated by streetlights. In the distance, the industrial area and port of Grangemouth shine with numerous lights, while dark hills form the horizon. A telephoto image captures the Buck Moon, large and glowing, rising above the industrial complex of Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth, as seen from Clackmannanshire. The moon's bright, full face contrasts with the silhouetted chimneys and structures below.
July 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
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Whilst the UK* basked in a heatwave and hit the highest temperature of the summer so far, I took a wander in light rain and under cloud filled skies to this little copse of trees on the Ochil Hills that have always intrigued me.

*UK = London

#LandscapePhotography #Scotland #Heatwave
A small copse of pine trees on the summit of a low hill - Law Hill - in the Ochil Hills above the town of Dollar, Clackmannanshire. A fenced grass path leads from the bottom of the frame towards the plantation. Summer time, but a cool grey clouded sky hangs over the landscape. A small copse of pine trees on the summit of a low hill - Law Hill - in the Ochil Hills above the town of Dollar, Clackmannanshire. A small flock of sheep graze the field around the trees. Summer time, but a cool grey clouded sky hangs over the landscape. A views from the copse of fir trees. Tall trees frame the view along the hillfoots in Clackmannanshire towards Stirling. There is a wooden bench placed to take in and admire the views over the rooftops of the small town of Dollar and beyond. This photo depicts a dense forest with tall, straight trees planted in perfect rows, creating a symmetrical, tunnel-like effect. The trees are closely spaced, with bare lower branches and trunks covered in patches of moss. The forest floor is carpeted with dry, brown pine needles, fallen twigs, and small tree stumps forming a line down the centre, suggesting recent tree cutting. Light filters in from the distant end of the tunnel, creating a bright, inviting focal point amid the darker, shadowy trees.
July 2, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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Wriggly nest full of baby nursery web spiders. Both parents nearby too, but the male was a bit of a wuss and hiding under a big leaf, leaving the female to face me down. Which she did admirably.

#MacroPhotography #Scotland #NurseryWebSpider #Sigma105Macro #Raynox250
This is a close-up, detailed macro photograph of a nursery web spider, showcasing the intricate textures of its body and legs. The spider is light brown with a slightly darker, elongated oval-shaped abdomen that tapers towards the end. Its body and legs are covered in fine, short hairs, with some longer spines visible on the legs. The spider's multiple small, dark eyes are clustered at the front of its head, contrasting with the lighter colouring around them. The background is a soft blur of green, likely foliage, which makes the spider stand out sharply in focus. This is a close-up, detailed macro photograph of a nursery web spider, showcasing the intricate textures of its body and legs. The spider is light brown with a slightly darker, elongated oval-shaped abdomen that tapers towards the end. Its body and legs are covered in fine, short hairs, with some longer spines visible on the legs. The spider's multiple small, dark eyes are clustered at the front of its head, contrasting with the lighter colouring around them. The background is a soft blur of green, likely foliage, which makes the spider stand out sharply in focus. This photo shows a dense cluster of baby nursery web spiders huddled together within a thick, intricate web structure. The web appears as a network of fine, white silk threads, creating a protective enclosure. The tiny spiders have brownish bodies with darker markings and are closely packed, some venturing slightly away from the group. The background is blurred with greenish hues, suggesting surrounding foliage, which contrasts with the spiders' brown tones, drawing focus to their detailed bodies and the delicate web. This photo shows a dense cluster of baby nursery web spiders huddled together within a thick, intricate web structure. The web appears as a network of fine, white silk threads, creating a protective enclosure. The tiny spiders have brownish bodies with darker markings and are closely packed, some venturing slightly away from the group. The background is blurred with greenish hues, suggesting surrounding foliage, which contrasts with the spiders' brown tones, drawing focus to their detailed bodies and the delicate web.
July 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
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I'm guessing Hans Christian Andersen hadn't seen any Coot chicks when he wrote 'The Ugly Duckling'. Or maybe there's not a direct translation of 'ginger scrote' in Danish?

Poor wee thing - at least they'll grow out of it soon.

#UrbanWildlife #PondLife
A young coot chick is swimming in dark, rippling water surrounded by floating green leaves. The chick has black, fluffy down covering its body, with bright orange and yellow wispy feathers around its neck and head. Its beak is a striking red, and its face has a patch of red skin, giving it a vivid contrast against the darker water and greenery. A close-up photo of a fluffy, light grey cygnet (young swan) floating on water. The cygnet has a dark beak and is holding a long, green blade of grass in its mouth. The background shows rippling water with green aquatic plants.
June 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM