As part of our 2023 photography competition, ASPC asked local photographers to submit their best shots of the local area capturing the North-East of Scotland through their lens. Each successful image will feature on our website home page, for a month.

This month’s captivating photo was submitted by Elizabeth Hamilton. I was instantly taken with this because it is simply beautiful. If you were asked to show why this is a great place to live, this photograph would be one to illustrate the point.

A sweeping vista of the North East coastal plain, with its rich agricultural land, leads to an iconic landmark – Bennachie, and all under a big sky. Agriculture has always been a major part of our local economy, and the rolling farmland shown here, vividly illustrates the importance of farming to our area. There is a poignant touch, too, in the remains of the “wee hoose” in the foreground – a reminder of the days when farming was less intensive than it has to be, nowadays.

The long, low, Bennachie massif is a much-loved symbol of Aberdeenshire. The summit of the Mither Tap, at the eastern end is a distinctive shape, visible from nearly all areas of the shire. There is evidence to suggest that the area of the summit was a settlement in the iron age. I like to think our ancestors admired the view, from time to time, despite the rigours of their hard lives.

I felt that while this was a beautiful picture, it had something else, too. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the ancient hill fort and the intensively farmed agricultural land, together with the small, now abandoned, dwelling that made me reflect on the length of time people have inhabited this land.If you’re interested in learning more about each one of our images as part of our photography competition, then why not take a look at one of our previous submissions, here.