Photography partner for Spirit:Journeys content announced

On behalf of The Highland Council, High Life Highland this week announced Airborne Lens as the successful partner for the photography input to Spirit:Journeys, part of the Spirit of the Highlands project.

Spirit:Journeys will be delivered in partnership with VisitScotland and aims to deliver benefits for local communities, helping to unlock economic potential and improve visitor experiences across the region by engaging people with the our rich natural and cultural heritage. It is supported by a grant from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) led by NatureScot and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Reflecting the Spirit of the Highlands theme, Spirit:Journeys will encourage people to visit all parts of the Highlands in a sustainable way.

Airborne Lens has been contracted to provide 1000 photographic stills reflecting the diverse natural and cultural heritage of the Highland and Islands based on the twin themes of the individual and the landscape. The images will be used in promotional material, online platforms and partner media channels for marketing and interpretive purposes.

Airborne Lens is an award-winning team of experienced photographers, filmmakers and drone specialists. For over 20 years, they have been creating iconic imagery and digital content from all over Scotland for clients including VisitScotland, National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, BBC and Scottish Forestry. Most recently, they worked on a photographic series to support Scotland's UNESCO Trail including North West Highlands Geopark and Wester Ross Biosphere.

Fiona Hampton, director for the Inverness Castle – Spirit of the Highlands project said:

“This is a significant step forward in the progress of the Spirit:Journeys project and we are very much looking forward to working with the Airborne Lens team to capture images of the people and landscape that make this special part of the world.”

Liam Anderstrem, the company’s founder, said:

“We are very excited to work with High Life Highland on the Spirit:Journeys project. I have spent many years photographing countries all over the world for hotel and airline clients, but nothing compares to the diverse landscapes, culture and people of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.”

Chris Taylor, Regional Leadership Director at VisitScotland, said:

“The Highlands is a photographer’s playground and we can’t wait to see what Airborne Lens captures for this exciting project, which will help encourage visitors to stay longer, visit all year round and explore more widely. Tourism is a force for good; creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing well-being.”

The delivery of Spirit:Journeys is supported through the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) led by NatureScot and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Through this project we will work together with NatureScot and other partner organisations such as VisitScotland to deliver a natural and cultural heritage project that will deliver many benefits for local communities throughout the Highlands and Islands, helping to unlock economic potential and improving visitor experiences across the region.

The transformation of Inverness Castle is supported by £15 million Scottish Government and £3 million UK Government investment through the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. It will create a gateway for Highland tourism, contributing to reinvigoration of tourism across the area and providing much needed investment for the industry to aid the recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project will support economic growth throughout the Highland area, creating a sustainable, viable and “must-see” attraction that will celebrate the spirit of the Highlands.

The Inverness and Highland City Region deal is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.