Heroes Not Zombies

I have lots of photos of Stirling Castle but this is one of my favourites. I was born and brought up in Stirling and, traditionally, that made me a “son of the rock”. My grandfather read me all of Walter Scott’s “Tales of a Grandfather” which was my introduction to Scottish history. Stirling, with its castle, and strategic bridge over the River Forth played an important part in many of those stories.

But even without that personal history and associates the castle never fails to impress. Actually, in France, where I live now, the popular associations people have with Scotland is castles, mists and ghosts! So this photo will no doubt further spread those connections.

I like that the castle isn’t quite “clear” in a literal sense in this photo. We bring our stories, our preconceptions and our imagination to all of our perceptions and experiences so when we aren’t overwhelmed with an image full of detail and colour, I find that imagination and memory have a chance to come to the fore.

In that sense I see the castle more clearly in a photo like this because I’m more aware of the connections, memories and imaginings which create my own, unique appreciation of it.

So what’s the clearer view? The one empty of association and imagination or the one full of it?