Around 2007, when Flickr was absolutely at its height, I uploaded this photo of Duffus Castle, Morayshire, to a group which was dedicated to photo critiques. The rules were simple: post a photo of your own which you wanted critiqued, and give a critique of the three preceding photos.

One of the critiques I received came from a contact in Arizona who commented that it was “very dark” and the “shadows needed opening up”. Fair comments, and the photo posted here has been re-edited to take that feedback into account. But what I found most interesting was that the comment came from someone who – as I discovered when we continued to exchange messages – lived in the desert. For her, the challenges she faced all related to the light. Massive dynamic range, extreme clarity, harsh sunshine.

For me, too, the challenges related to the light. This photo was taken at the tail-end of November, on a day when cloud and rain meant that it never got properly light. Even at 3:30 in the afternoon, the light was dim, lifeless, and lacking in contrast. There was little colour in the scene. All of that grass just looked flat and grey.

And yet the scene was compelling. Even in the dreich Scottish autumn, the photo works on three levels. In the foreground, the ruins of Duffus Castle captures feelings of both endurance and fragility. Yes, the castle ruins are still there, still standing. But they are also slipping away, the walls sliding down the ancient motte.

In the background, two fighter jets (Eurofighter Typhoons?) are a fleeting presence, blurred by speed against the unchanging landscape. They speak to 1,000 years of military advancement, from local skirmishes in the late middle ages to the complex diplomatic web of 21st century politics.

In the middle ground, the farm buildings anchor the image in everyday life. This was farmland when the wooden castle was first erected in the 12th century. It was still farmland when the stone-built castle was inhabited in the 14th to 17th centuries. And it’s still farmland today.

Amongst all the landscapes I’ve photographed: hills and glens, sun and rain, this is probably one of the most Scottish photos I’ve ever taken.