Queen Victoria

One of the highlights in Greenock's cruise ship calendar has to be a visit from Cunard.

Today Queen Victoria came to the Clydefor her first visit in three years.

Keeping up Cunard's tradition, she arrived over an hour earlier that scheduled, arriving slightly before 7am. She is due to depart at 5pm this evening.

Ruby Princess

My first pictures from 2014's ar of Ruby Princess as she sails past Gourock on her way to Greenock Ocean Terminal.

We have a busy schedule this year with many ships, including Ruby Princess, making repeat visits throughout the year.

Ruby Princess berthed at 8am to the sound of a piper on the quayside, and departed a few minutes past 7 in the evening, her next stop being Kirkwall.

Union of South Africa

The Forth Bridge is one of Scotland's most easily recognised icons. Up till today I had never photographed it.

When I saw that the Union of South Africa was scheduled to cross it on a circular tour of the Forth it was an opportunity which I could not resist.

I had a most enjoyable day capturing the A4 loco at various locations on the tour.

A4 class steam loco 6009 Union of South Africa

60009 passing alongside Culross coastal path

Union of South Africa passing under one of the Forth Bridge's arches

Union of South Africa at Culross

Stopped to take on water at Dalmeny

Approaching Polmont station

North Queensferry station

Evening pictures

Enjoying the improvement in the weather recently along with longer evenings, I came back home with these two pictures, both taken on separate days.

The first picture was taken at the last full moon earlier this month, when we had a beautiful clear evening with very little cloud in the sky. This was taken with a 500mm lens with the contrast and sharpness adjusted in Photoshop.

The view of Gourock from Lyle Hill is instantly recognisable but is still one of my favourites. For this sunset I took 3 exposures and combined them into a HDR image but I decided not to exaggerate the effect. A grey grad was used to stop the sky from being over exposed.

HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

After completing her role in the  NATO Joint Warrior exercise, the Norwegian Frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl spent some time in Glasgow.

She passed Greenock in the early morning sunshine on her way upriver.

MacBrayne's buses

At one time MacBrayne buses would have provided a vital link for the many residents in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

They were taken over by the Scottish Bus Group in the early seventies.

Some of their buses have been restored by enthusiasts and they are brought along to events and rallies throughout Scotland.

Two of these buses were at Glasgow's Riverside Museum and passengers were taken for a short trip through the west end of Glasgow.

Operation Joint Warrior 28/3/14

More ships arrived today to take part in the first Joint Warrior exercise of 2014.

Today's highlight was the arrival the US contingent, five of which went to Faslane with a sixth ship anchoring off Roseneath.

The last arrival of the day was the Danish Thetis class frigate, HDMS Triton.

CG72 USS Vella Gulf escorted by a police rib

Arleigh Burke class destroyer DDG95 USS James E William

FFG58 USS Samuel B Roberts escorted by SERCO tugs

CCG55 USS Leyte Gulf, a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser

DDG67 USS Cole, the second Arleigh Burke destroyer to arrive

Danish Thetis class frigate F358 HDMS Triton

L3007, RFA Lyme Bay anchored off Kilcreggan

DDG71 USS Ross anchored in the Clyde