About Kenny Muir
Firstly thank you for stopping to take a look. I am an amateur landscape and nature photographer based in the Highlands of Scotland. With a longstanding love of the natural world, I have always been drawn to the wilder locations in Scotland, and since 2018 my focus has been on capturing the beauty of our ancient Caledonian forest. This ecologically rich woodland once covered much of the land, but is now confined to only small precious fragments. These fragments offer a glimpse of how Scotland once may have looked. By returning again and again , I aim to convey the magic and atmosphere of these woodlands through my photography.
Nature first
We are fortunate to have the 'Right to Roam' in Scotland as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. This allows greater access to nature than many parts of the world, although doesn’t lessen the importance in taking care of the landscape.
I am a proud member of Nature First, which is built on a set of core principles to allow us to enjoy nature photography responsibly. These principles are are as follows:
Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
Use discretion if sharing locations.
Know and follow rules and regulations.
Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them.
Actively promote and educate others about these principles.
Equipment
My first SLR camera was the Minolta Dynax 5D, a 6 megapixel digital body which I acquired in 2006. Technology has advanced greatly over the last 20 years, to the point that it no longer really matters what brand you use, unless you have specialist requirements. I currently shoot with the Sony full frame mirrorless camera, usually paired with either the Sony 24-105 mm or the Tamron 150-500mm. Working largely at longer focal lengths I find a high quality tripod essential for much of my work. In the summer months I am never without a midge headnet, for both fashion, and functionality.
Processing
With the ubiquity of AI generated images online, it is becoming increasingly challenging to determine what is actually real. Every photograph on my website represents a unique moment in time I have witnessed in the field. None of my photos are perfect, and I don't wish them to be, as nature isn't perfect. I do undertake some post-processing, starting with the RAW file, which firstly allows me to fine tune the exposure and white balance. Most of the other adjustments are global (e.g. contrast, levels, sharpening), with the aim of reproducing the scene as close to how I witnessed it as possible. I do sometimes use focus stacking, a more advanced technique to ensure more of the photograph is in focus. I try to avoid it as it is time consuming, but it can minimise differences between the lens and the human eye in certain situations with regards to depth of field.
Sales
Photography for me is primarily about spending time in nature, and escapism from the stresses of working life. I have worked full time as a hospital doctor in the NHS for over 20 years (which I very much enjoy), but it leaves very little time to focus on the commercial side of photography. While things may change in the future, I do not currently sell prints from the website. If you do wish to get in touch please contact me via the contact page on the menu.
A few achievements/awards
Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2026 - ‘Project’ category runner-up with ‘Caledonian Winter’
Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2025 - 'Woodlands' category winner
Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2023 - Highly commended portfolio in 'Photographer of the Year' section (final 6)
Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2021 - 'Mountain' category winner, final 8 in 'Photographer of the Year' combined portfolio.
Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2019 - overall title winner, four seasons prize (summer), and John Muir Trust winner.
Photography exhibition - Eden Court, Inverness 2020
Auckland Photographic Society - Advanced end of year digital winner 2008