Charles Everitt

Charles Everitt is based in Edinburgh and has run his own photography business since 1998. It is in aspects of nature where he finds his greatest interest and photographic motivation, be it wildlife, landscape or close-up work. The source for much of his work is found on his own doorstep near to Edinburgh. The area is rich with woodlands, rivers, heather-clad hills, seabird colonies and coastline. However, Charles also relishes the opportunity to photograph other parts of Scotland with a particular fondness for the central Highlands.

Having studied the work of many international, contemporary nature photographers, Charles has developed his own style and approach to photography. He particularly enjoys the challenge to portray the different moods dictated by the Scottish weather and his photographs have been recognised in national competitions including the British Wildlife Photography Awards, Scottish Nature Photography Awards and Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year. His images have also been reproduced in newspapers, magazines, cards, calendars, leaflets, company reports and websites as well as appearing on national television. Having published his first book "Water of Leith: Nature's Course" in 2011 showing Edinburgh's river from source to outflow throughout the seasons, Charles published his second book "Forthshore: East Lothian's Coastline" in 2016 following the beautiful shoreline of the Firth of Forth between Longniddry and Tantallon Castle. He remains a popular speaker on aspects of wildlife and nature photography. 

His image of gannets around St Baldred’s chapel on the Bass Rock in the outer Firth of Forth was taken on a draughty summer evening from the East Lothian mainland.  “Using a 500 millimetre lens with a two-times convertor gave the magnification to close in on the chapel but also exaggerated the vibration caused by the breeze’” said Charles.  “Using all the tricks I knew to try to dampen the vibration – faster shutter speeds, mirror lock up and a cable release - I waited for the slightest of lulls in the wind and took my chances; fortunately one came out sharp!”   

The Bass Rock attracts around 150,000 gannets that populate the island during the spring and summer to breed and raise their young, making it the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets.