Stirling Castle rises above the surrounding countryside, positioned at one of the most strategically important locations in Scotland. Perched on a volcanic crag, it overlooks the River Forth and the natural route between the Highlands and the Lowlands.

For centuries, control of Stirling meant control of Scotland. The castle played a central role during the Wars of Scottish Independence, including the nearby battles of Stirling Bridge (1297), where William Wallace defeated English forces, and Bannockburn (1314), where Robert the Bruce secured a decisive Scottish victory.

The castle later became a favored royal residence, particularly under the Stewart kings. Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned here in 1543 as an infant, and much of the present structure reflects Renaissance influences from that period.

Today, Stirling Castle stands not only as a fortress, but as a symbol of Scotland’s long struggle for independence and identity—set against a landscape that still conveys its strategic importance.

I made this photograph at the Hobbiton Movie Set in the rural Waikato region. What began as a temporary film set for The Lord of the Rings was rebuilt permanently after the global success of the films and later expanded for The Hobbit.

The mill and waterwheel were constructed to give depth and movement to the fictional village of the Shire. Today, they stand not as relics of cinema, but as part of New Zealand’s cultural and economic landscape. The films profoundly shaped international perceptions of the country, linking its rolling farmland and dramatic scenery to Middle-earth in the global imagination.

Hobbiton is undeniably curated — every blade of grass feels intentional — yet it sits within authentic pastoral countryside. It is a place where fiction and landscape intersect, and where storytelling has left a permanent mark on the land.