Kim Mason

2011-07-25T09:18:00.003+01:00

Photography Competition : Glasgow

6x4 Panoptic Challenge : Trongate 103

At the weekend I received first prize! (exclaimation mark because I thought the other entries were very good) in the Merchant City Festival "6x4 Panoptic Challenge".

I was also pleased that third place went to a student from the (fantastic) digital photography group I assist on Friday mornings. Well done Kim.

All entries are on display until today (Monday 25th) in Trongate 103.

Admission : Free

Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 6HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 276 8380

2011-07-23T19:25:00.047+01:00

Photography Competition : Glasgow

6x4 Panoptic Challenge : Trongate 103

If you are thinking of entering the Merchant City Festival "6x4 Panoptic Challenge" and winning £100 in photography vouchers forget it, it was today.

Tomorrow (Sunday 24th July), from 14:00, all entries will be on display in Trongate 103. Here's my entries for the six themes; fingers crossed.

Admission : Free

Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 6HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 276 8380

2011-07-17T19:30:00.004+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Aberfeldy

Through The Looking Glass : David Peat

If you've never heard of photographer David Peat here's your big chance. He has an exhibition of his street photography at the Watermill Gallery in Aberfeldy and the BBC website has a lovely slideshow of some of his images. Here's a link to the BBC slideshow ... link

11th June 2011 - 25th July 2011
Admission : Free

The Watermill
Mill Street
Aberfeldy
Perthshire
Scotland
PH15 2BG

Tel : 01887 822896

2011-07-01T16:10:00.000+01:00

Photography Competition : UK

The Role of Public Transport : Arriva Bus

Arriva (the bus people) have a photography competition running until 31st July 2011. For regional winners there's photography vouchers (from a well known photography chain) and a Sony dSLR for the national winner. All you have to do is send them photographs of (Arriva) buses at work in your local area, in a variety of settings.

Here's a link for more details ... link

2011-06-15T16:10:00.005+01:00

My Big French Blogged Wedding

Today I was pleased to learn a wedding I shot (this year) in Largs, Scotland and nearby Kelburn Castle is featured on a french language wedding blog.

Here's a link to the blog ... link

2011-06-10T14:26:00.004+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Alex Villar : Hansberg and Woolf

Alex Villar is a New York based artist and this month he has a solo show on at Hansberg and Woolf. The show includes video art, photography and installation.

Here's a link for more details ... link

Admission : Free

24 June 2011 - 15 July 2011

Tue-Sat -> 11:00 - 18:00

Hansberg and Woolf
49 Cochrane Street
Glasgow
G1 1HL
Scotland

Tel : 07580 287422

2011-06-01T21:13:00.007+01:00

Photography Competition : Glasgow

6x4 Panoptic Challenge : Trongate 103

Here's a great chance to get involved in the Merchant City Festival, get out in Glasgow with your camera and get £100 in photography vouchers.

On Saturday 23rd July you receive 6 themes. Then go out, experience the festival, and take 6 photographs showing your interpretation of each theme. Your photographs will be printed and, on Sunday 24th, displayed in the atrium space at Trongate 103. The most original and inspiring photographs will be selected as winners and the best overall entry will win a prize of £100 photography vouchers.

Summary:-
Sat 23rd: Photographs taken at any time between 10:00 - 14:00
Sun 24th: Photographs will be displayed in an exhibition 14:00 - 18:00

Here's a link for more details ... link

Admission : Free

Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 6HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 276 8380

2011-05-19T21:06:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Lindsay Docherty : Highrise

On at the Hillhead Library (Glasgow) in June is a photography exhibition by Lindsay Docherty. Lindsay's dramatic black & white images form part of the West End Festival and Refugee Week. They document the lives of residents in Glasgow's high rise blocks.

3 June to 26 June 2011

Mon - Tue & Thu; 10:00 - 20:00
Wed; 10:00 - 17:00
Fri & Sat; 9:00 - 17:00
Sun; 12:00 - 17:00

Admission : Free

Hillhead Library
348 Byres Road
Glasgow
G12 8AP
Scotland

Tel : 0141 339 7223

2011-05-09T13:05:00.006+01:00

Photography Workshop Glasgow

Burrell Collection : Composition & Image Manipulation

The Burrell Collection is running a couple of (free) photography workshops; one this month and one in June (2011).

Saturday 28th May 2011 : Composition

Saturday 4th June 2011: Manipulating Images

Both workshops start at 2:00pm and run until 4:00pm. They're free and it's advisable to book. Here's a link... link

Burrell Collection
2060 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G43 1AT
Scotland

Tel : 0141 287 2550

2011-05-02T14:05:00.014+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

The Glesga That I Used To Know : Scotland Street School

Scotland Street School Museum (in Glasgow) is a Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece. And from 3rd June 2011 until January 2012 it's giving you a chance to see Glasgow of the 1970's. Photographs taken during that decade will be on display and they show Glaswegians going about their daily lives as the city's landscape transforms around them. These are the kind of exhibitions I love. Here's a link for more details ... link

3 June 2011 to January 2012

Tues - Thurs & Sat > 10:00 - 17:00
Fri & Sun > 11:00 - 17:00

Admission : Free

Scotland Street School Museum
225 Scotland Street
Glasgow
G4 0RH
Scotland

Tel : 0141 287 0500

2011-04-15T13:21:00.001+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Business as Usual : Jenny Wicks

Jenny Wicks has an interesting exhibition on at the moment; it's on in The Arches in Glasgow. She is displaying a collection of photographs depicting moments in the life of 89-year-old identical twins and former mechanics Dick and Ted. Apparently they are considered local heroes in their home of Preston. Not superheroes mind; that would be Tom Finney.

Here's a link to the exhibition ... link

6 April to 23 May 2011

Mon-Sat > 10:00 - 23:00
Sun > 12:00-22:00
Admission : Free

The Arches
253 Argyle Street
Glasgow
G2 8DL
Scotland

Tel : 0141 565 1000

2011-04-10T10:17:00.009+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Livingston

Analogue Decay : Alastair Cook

The Howden Park Centre in Livingston is a fantastic venue I recently discovered. At the moment it has an interesting photography exhibition by photographer Alistair Cook. In these days of sterile digital imagery it's refreshing to see images celebrating the imperfections of analogue photography. Alastair explores the natural decay of the chemical process and connections between people, land and heritage.

Here's a link to the exhibition ... link

8 April to 9 May 2011

Mon-Sat > 09:00 - 21:00
Sun > 11:00-18:00
Admission : Free

Howden Park Centre
Howden
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6AE
Scotland

Tel : 01506 777666

2011-04-03T21:38:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

August Sander

Where do you start with the likes of photographer extraordinaire August Sander? By using some of the wordage about him from the National Galleries of Scotland website? Yeah why not?!?

"In the 1920s and early 1930s, a new approach to photography – use of close focus, a greater objectivity and a concentration on modern life – was pioneered in Germany. It closely paralleled the New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) movement in painting, graphics and film, which included the work of Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz and Christian Schad.

One of the major figures of the new German photography and a key figure in the history of photography in general was August Sander. Best known for his portraits, which formed the basis of his commercial studio, he set out on an ambitious project to photograph all layers of German society from the farmers and country-people, through the workers, craftsmen, technicians and industrialists in the towns and cities, on to people who were sick and disabled".

This exhibition is really really a must-see! Here's a link to it ... link to it

12 February to 10 July 2011

Open Daily; 10:00 - 17:00

Admission : Free

The Dean Gallery
75 Belford Road
Edinburgh
EH4 3DR
Scotland

Tel : 0131 624 6200

2011-03-13T10:02:00.005Z

Art Exhibition : Edinburgh

Auld Reekie : Jamie Primose

Edinburgh I love. Monochrome ink drawings I love. Monochrome indian ink drawings of Edinburgh I adore. Jamie Primose has such an exhibition on at the Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh.

He layers delicate shadowed images of the Old Town, Southside, Marchmont and the Meadows in a timeless journey of contempory art. Jamie has many sell-out collections to his name; you really must see this exhibition. Here's a link for an on line gallery of Jamie's images : link

11 March to 19 March 2011

Mon - Sat > 10:00 - 18:00

Admission : Free

Dundas Street Gallery
6a Dundas Street
Edinburgh
EH3 6HZ
Scotland

Tel : 0131 558 9363

2011-03-09T11:43:00.001Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

The Peroni Collection : Trongate 103

Trongate 103 continues to impress with this exhibition entitled Italian Style on the Silver Screen. The images on show explore the relationship between Italian fashion design and its influence on cinema. The exhibition features rare and never seen before images and costumes from the cinematic world. It's not on for long. Here's a link to the exhibition : link

10 March 2011 to 13 March 2011

10 March > 17:00 - 20:00
11 March - 13 March > 10:00 - 20:00

Admission : Free

The Foyer
Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 5HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 552 2151

2011-03-03T13:32:00.003Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Kurt Tong : In Case It Rains In Heaven

I guess you've all heard of Pete Tong. Yeah? Well Kurt Tong is no relation. Kurt was born in Hong Kong (the birth place/surname rhyme is purely accidental and I only mention it by way of a cheap joke); he is now based in the UK. His work is largely influenced by Chinese traditions and history.

This exhibition shows a series of photographs of items made of joss paper to be burned as offerings for the dead. Originally, coins and animals were buried with the dead, but when that proved too expensive for commoners, they began burning joss paper decorated with seals, stamps, silver or gold paint, as offerings to the spirits to ensure they lived well in the afterlife. In the last 50 years offerings have become more and more elaborate. Objects are molded from the paper, some reflecting traditional culture, but many reflecting the consumer culture which is taking over China. Here's a photography exhibition link to Kurt's photography exhibition : link

4 February 2011 to 3 April 2011

Mondays Closed
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 - 17:00
Sunday 12:00 - 18:00

Open until 21:00 on the first Thursday of the month.

Admission : Free

Street Level Photoworks
Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 5HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 552 2151

2011-02-28T13:55:00.003Z

An Act Of Gradual Civilisation

Lorna McParland/The Arches

The Arches in Glasgow has a new photography exhibition (starting in March 2011). The images on show "... were created between 2008 and 2010 as part of a workshop at the Sookinchoot Youth Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The young people involved were asked to create images based on a simple brief: to create a self portrait without showing their physical likeness. Using their photographs as inspiration, Lorna constructs her own visual response – the photographs in this exhibition and an accompanying book containing both hers and the workshop participants’ photographs."

"The title of this project was taken from the Act to encourage the gradual civilization of the Indian tribes in this Province and to amend the Laws respecting Indians, commonly called the Gradual Civilization Act, a bill passed by the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1857".

A link to Lorna McParland's exhibition is here : link

9 March 2011 - 4 April 2011

Monday-Sunday : All Day

Admission : Free

The Arches
253 Argyle Street
Glasgow
G2 8DL
Scotland

Tel : 0141 565 1000

2011-02-18T19:15:00.003Z

Photography Exhibition : London

London Street Photography : The Museum of London

Starting today (February 18th, 2011), the Museum of London has a new exhibition of photography. It's called "London Street Photography", it brings together the works of 59 photographers and I'm guessing it has something to do with street photography in London. If you can't make it down to the "the smoke" you can see some of the images on the BBC website. Here's a link to the BBC website : link

18 February 2011 - 4 September 2011

Monday-Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Admission : Free

Museum of London
150 London Wall
London
EC2Y 5HN
England

Tel : 020 7001 9844

2011-02-06T21:00:00.002Z

Young Persons' Photography Competition

Burrell Collection/Glasgow Young Scot

The Burrell Collection and Glasgow Young Scot have teamed up for this photography competition. The theme is "Another Culture" and the challenge is to capture images of your culture as a young person living in Glasgow today (or tomorrow or any day in fact).

There's two categories 12-15 years old and 16-18 years old; first prize is £100 in vouchers. There's also 20 runners-up prizes of £10 vouchers. Closing date is Friday 4th March 2011; click here for more details and how to enter.

2011-01-30T20:33:00.006Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

China Through The Lens Of John Thomson : Burrell Collection

John Thomson (1837 - 1921) was a (Scottish) pioneering photojournalist. From 4th February 2011 the Burrell Collection, in Pollok Park, have a major exhibition of his images taken in mid-19th Century China; its landscapes, culture and people. The subject matter is fascinating alone but consider Thomson's importance in the history of photojournalism and you have a significant exhibition.

Here's a link to the exhibition : link

4 February 2011 to 12 June 2011

Monday-Thursday & Saturday 10:00 - 17:00
Friday & Sunday 11:00 - 17:00

Admission : Free

Burrell Collection
2060 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G43 1AT
Scotland

Tel : 0141 287 2550

2010-03-15T08:22:00.002Z

Funny Signs

I have a growing collection of signs that I find funny(ish). Here's a few from last week. The first one I noticed while my 6 year old daughter was in a kiddies play area and I was just about to offer her a cigar.

This next one I noticed while looking for a 24 hour shop. Not open...work that one out.

And this one I saw in my local supermarket. I guess we're all finding the recession tough.

Have a good week.

2010-03-07T13:20:00.002Z

Photography Lecture : Glasgow

The Photography of Margaret Watkins : The Mitchell Library

This is definitely one for your diary. The fifth annual Annan Lecture (presented by the Scottish Society for the History of Photography) will be given by Joe Mulholland in the Mitchell Library Jeffery Room on Thursday 25 March at 18:00.

Here's a brief history of Margaret Watkins

Margaret Watkins was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1884 and died in obscurity in Glasgow in 1969. She was active in New York in the 1920s, where she had a studio in Greenwich Village and worked with Clarence White and the other great photographers of the period including Stieglitz and Strand. Her work in advertising and art photography was often innovative and experimental, and she exhibited internationally.

In 1928 she visited her four elderly aunts in Glasgow, which became her base for the rest of her life, allowing her to travel in Europe and particularly in Russia where she made some of her most striking work. However, after the war she became very reclusive. Joe Mulholland was her neighbour, but in the many years he knew her, she never referred to her photographic career and it was only after her death that the nature and scale of her achievement became evident.

Sounds fascinating, see you there.

6:00pm Thursday 25 March 2010

Admission : Free

The Mitchell Library
Jeffery Room
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN
Scotland

Tel : 0141 287 2999

2010-03-01T09:16:00.005Z

The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry, Glasgow

Photographic Exhibition of Own Work

At the moment I'm preparing 16 images for my upcoming photographic exhibition; "40 Days To Go : The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry" (working title).

On Friday 19 February 2010 I spent the whole day photographing the death-sentenced Renfrew-Yoker Ferry in Glasgow (Scotland). The ferry service is over 200 years old, at the current site. I photographed the ferry once every hour from when it opened at 06:30am until when it closed at 09:30pm. A long day but the results were well worth it.

The initial venue for my exhibition of 16 images will be the Renfrew Inn (the Inn overlooks the Renfrew side slipway); the date is the last day of sailing (the 31 March 2010).

Here's a few of the images to be featured in my new photographic exhibition.

I have other venues interested in displaying the exhibition. So if you can't make it down to the Ferry Inn, in Renfrew, there will be other places in Glasgow to catch it. I'll keep you posted.

2010-02-26T09:42:00.005Z

Photography Exhibition : Stirling

37 Steps : Gillian Cooper

This exhibition, on at The Changing Room in Stirling, has me intrigued; artist Gillian Cooper took a photograph of her surroundings after every 37 steps during a single day. There's plenty of reasons for visiting Stirling and this looks to be another. Here's the link to Gillian's exhibition link to Gillian's exhibition.

13 February 2010 to 28 March 2010
Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
(Closed Easter Friday, 2 April 2010)

Admission : Free

The Changing Room
Tolbooth Jail Wynd
Stirling
FK8 1DE
Scotland

Tel : 01786 274005

2010-02-19T23:42:00.040Z

Pinhole Camera Photography Project

Part IV of IV : Developing the Final Print

So far you've read about the historical significance of pinhole photography, we've constructed the camera itself and you've seen how to create a negative image on photographic paper. If you're new to this four part blog you'll probably want to read the other three before this one.

In this part (the last part) we are about to make a final print using the contact print method. You will also need an extra piece of equipment for the darkroom; a 60 watt light. You could use a table lamp but remove the shade first.

DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
In the darkroom take out a sheet of photographic paper. With the shiny/emulsion side facing up place the paper on top of the camera. The emulsion side of photography paper feels more glossy/smooth than the reverse.
DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Take the dried negative and place it face down on top of the unprocessed sheet (emulsion to emulsion).
DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Place the square sheet of clear acrylic (included in the kit) on top.
DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Use the elastic bands to hold everything in place, making sure they're not covering the back of the negative print. The negative and new sheet of photographic paper need as good contact as possible.
PART DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Hold the top of the camera towards your 60 watts light; no nearer than 4 feet. Keep your fingers away from the paper. Switch on the light for 2-3 seconds (my negative is slightly underexposed so I switched on for only 2 seconds to compensate). You could open the darkroom door instead if it's bright outside.
DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Now develop the contact print (the sheet of photographic paper under the negative) in your darkroom chemicals (following the steps in Part III).

And here (on the left) is the final print. The negative image is on the right. My positive print is still a little underexposed; so maybe 1 second under the 60 watt bulb would have been enough. But that's the nature of this type of photography. You need to keep a record of exposure times and adjust them with each new print until you have a well exposed image. When you look at the final image remember you have used historical photographic techniques. And you have a final print not dissimilar to photographs produced by the pioneers of modern photography.
Tips and Problems
Your darkroom chemicals ("developer" and "fixer") have a limited life after they're mixed. "Developer" will last about a day and goes from pale brown to brown. "Fixer" may last a few days and goes from clear to a very pale yellow.
Underexposed images are pale and need more exposure time (at camera or contact print stage).
Overexposed images are dark and need less exposure time (at camera or contact print stage).
If your paper remains white check the paper was loaded the right way round.
If your paper is black check the camera for a light leak.

I wanted this series to be as real as possible so documented actual results of the first run. I'll revisit the process over the next few weeks and see how far I can improve the image.

Useful Pinhole Photography Links
f295 - on line community of pinhole photography enthusiasts.
Pinhole Photography : History, Images, Cameras, Formulas
Pinhole Photography Theory
On line gallery pinhole camera images

Pinhole Camera Kit Supplier
Flights of Fancy
3 Linglie Mill
Level Crossing Road
Selkirk
TD7 5EQ
Borders
Scotland

Tel : 01750 22142
Fax : 01750 22147

2010-02-17T15:43:00.033Z

Pinhole Camera Photography Project

Part III of IV : Exposing & Developing The Negative Image

In the first post of this series I covered the historical significance of pinhole photography and in Part II we constructed the camera itself. In this post (Part III) we'll expose and develop a negative image on to bog standard photographic paper.

Talking of bogs; a quick word about darkroom and safelight requirements. Before we can load photographic paper into the camera we need a room that's completely dark. Even the smallest amount of white light can spoil the paper. I'm using an internal loo but in winter almost any room can be used at night with curtains closed. Running water nearby is useful but not essential. I always have the "developer" bath on the left, "fixer" bath in the middle and clean water bath on the right. Knowing where everything is before you turn the light out is important for anything you plan to do in the dark.
We are not working with negative film so we can use a red safelight in the darkroom. I'm using a homemade red safelight put together from a small torch, rubber band and a sheet of red cellophane (the cellophane is included in the kit).
Wrap the cellophane around the torch head and rubber band around the cellophane. (n.b. the power of the torch bulb should be no higher than 7 watts and it should be no nearer than 4 feet from where you are working). You'll quickly get used to working in low (red) light; just give your eyes a minute or two and they'll soon aclimatise.
Now it's time to create the pinhole itself. Push the needle through the hole in the outer box (as near to the centre possible) and into the internal black card box. Make the hole as clean as possible, turning the needle to round out the hole. Be careful not to make the pinhole larger than the needle itself.
DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Take out a sheet of photographic paper. With the shiny/emulsion side facing the front of the camera slide the sheet of photography paper fully down the back of the camera. You will be able to detect which is the emulsion side; it will feel more glossy and smooth. Put the lid back on and wrap the two elastic bands around the camera to hold the lid in place. Don't forget to close the photographic paper pack before turning on the whitelight or opening the darkroom door.
Now we're ready to shoot. Exposure times will be longer than you're probably used to, between 15 seconds and 10 minutes at a guess. So the cat, dog, goldfish, kids or F1 racing are definitely no-nos (a Scunthorpe United defender should be no problem though).

I'm shooting the view from my bathroom. It's not ideal weatherwise, that would be a sunny/high contrast day. It's a very dull day, so I'm going to give it about a 3 minute exposure. I know what your thinking. Your thinking "About?? Surely there's a more accurate way than using About!?". Well there is and here it is....the pinhole is the aperature ok? The focal length is the distance from the pinhole to the photographic paper ok? So if the hole is one inch wide and the focal length is three inches, the ratio is 1:3 ok? Therefore our aperture would be f/3 ok? You just need to measure your pinhole and apply the formula ok? Nope? Well you did ask. Try these guideline exposures instead - Bright Sun : 15 seconds, Overcast : 60 seconds, Dull : 2 minutes, Interior light : 5 minutes.

Long exposure times mean there's no way you can hand hold the camera. So you need to position it somewhere solid (a chair, table, wall, ground). When it's in position place a finger on top and open the shutter. Close the shutter when the desired time is up.
You don't need to mix (i.e. dilute with water) the "developer" and "fixer" in the darkroom with only the safelight on. They are, however, temperamental and best used at room temperature. Remember to use rubber gloves when handling them.

DARKROOM AND SAFELIGHT ONLY : ACTIVITY
Remove the camera lid and take out the photographic paper. Using the tweezers, slide the paper into the "developer" (shiny/emulsion side down) for 10 seconds. Turn the paper over and gently rock the bath (agitate) back and forth to remove trapped air bubbles. Watch the negative image appear on the emulsion and allow it to go a little darker than you think is ok (you need to compensate for the effect of the red safelight). It should take between 1 and 2 minutes.
Next, we need to stop the development process. Lift the paper out of the "developer" and put it into the "fixer" (again shiny/emulsion side down) for 10 seconds. Turn it over and agitate (the bath not you) for about two minutes. It's now safe to put on the whitelight.
Finally. We need to wash off the chemicals. Place the negative face down in the water for 10 seconds then turn over (the paper not the bath or yourself) and agitate for a further 1-2 minutes.

And that's it. To dry the negative print you can hang it on a line (inside not outside next to your laundry) with a peg or just lay it out on a suitable surface. Our own negative turned out slightly underexposed (too light). It's probably due to in-camera underexposure but could also be down to insufficient time in the "developer" bath. We can try compensate for this in the final step - "Part IV : Developing the Final Print".

Useful Pinhole Photography Links
f295 - on line community of pinhole photography enthusiasts.
Pinhole Photography : History, Images, Cameras, Formulas
Pinhole Photography Theory
On line gallery pinhole camera images

Pinhole Camera Kit Supplier
Flights of Fancy
3 Linglie Mill
Level Crossing Road
Selkirk
TD7 5EQ
Borders
Scotland

Tel : 01750 22142
Fax : 01750 22147

2010-02-15T21:56:00.023Z

Pinhole Camera Photography Project

Part II of IV : Building the Camera

In Part I of this series of posts I covered the historical significance of pinhole photography. In Part II we'll construct the camera itself.

Here's the sides of our pinhole camera. The camera shell is made out of an MDF type material. We chose to glue our camera together but you don't have to.
First we assembled the sides and base.
After attaching the base panel we screwed on the "shutter" over hole in the front panel.
Next is the internal black card box. This will help light-proof the camera and help create a square image on the photographic paper inserted (later) into the rear of the camera.
The black box is glued together using the folded tabs.
Notice the black box has a side missing?
Well the side with the hole should face the rear of the camera when you drop it in. It's also useful to glue a strip of paper onto the top of the black box. This will make it easier to remove the box and photographic paper in the dark-room.
Now place (don't glue) the lid onto the top of the camera.
Wrap elastic bands around the outer shell (for extra light security) and we have our very own Pinhole Camera.
In Part III we'll make the pinhole itself (in the internal black box through the hole under the "shutter"), we'll insert photographic paper inside the camera and we'll expose our first image.

To come - "Part III : Exposing & Developing The Negative Image" and "Part IV : Developing the Final Print".

Useful Pinhole Photography Links
f295 - on line community of pinhole photography enthusiasts.
Pinhole Photography : History, Images, Cameras, Formulas
Pinhole Photography Theory
On line gallery pinhole camera images

Pinhole Camera Kit Supplier
Flights of Fancy
3 Linglie Mill
Level Crossing Road
Selkirk
TD7 5EQ
Borders
Scotland

Tel : 01750 22142
Fax : 01750 22147

2010-02-14T21:11:00.010Z

Pinhole Camera Photography Project

Part I of IV : Camera Construction & History

During this half term school break I'm building a pinhole camera my daughter received (from me) for Christmas 2009. The camera kit is made by the Scottish Borders based company Flights of Fancy (Flights of Fancy is the wholesale/trade arm. The website for retail customers is The Other Branch).

I know what you're thinking. You're either thinking "what's a pinhead camera?" or you're thinking "who wants to mess with smelly chemicals; isn't that why we have digital photography?". Well firstly it's a pinhole camera and not a pinhead camera. And secondly the pinhead .. oops .. pinhole camera is a perfect way to teach the principles of photography.

Historical Importance of Pinhole Photography
Pinhole photography is the simplest form of photography; where the lens is a basic pinhole. In the history of photography it was the important stepping stone from camera obscura to lens camera; its' principles are those which underly photography itself.

Pinciples of Pinhole Photography
The pinhole camera has an infinite depth of focus (unlike lens cameras). This means everything in the image (whether it's 2 feet from the camera or 2 miles from the camera) will be in focus (the scientific explanation of this is Circles of Confusion). The image will appear upside down and back to front (inverted) on the inside rear of the camera.

Recording & Processing the Image
To record the image in our pinhole camera all we need is a piece of photographic paper placed on the rear wall of the camera. This will create a negative image on the paper (after processing in the darkroom chemicals). The print (positive image) is created with another sheet of photographic paper using a process called contact printing.

I'll blog our progress in three further parts. "Part II : Building The Camera", "Part III : Exposing & Developing The Negative Image" and "Part IV : Developing the Final Print".

Useful Pinhole Photography Links
f295 - on line community of pinhole photography enthusiasts.
Pinhole Photography : History, Images, Cameras, Formulas
Pinhole Photography Theory
On line gallery pinhole camera images

Pinhole Camera Kit Supplier
Flights of Fancy
3 Linglie Mill
Level Crossing Road
Selkirk
TD7 5EQ
Borders
Scotland

Tel : 01750 22142
Fax : 01750 22147

2010-02-12T16:15:00.013Z

The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry, Glasgow

Photographic Exhibition

The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry service in Glasgow (Scotland) is over 200 years old, it's the last operational crossing this far upstream, the closest Ferry service to Glasgow City Centre, is only 200 metres wide and it will end on 31 March 2010 (due to SPT budget cuts).

As tribute to this historic service I'm planning a photography exhibition. The venue will be the Renfrew Inn (which overlooks the slipway on the Renfrew side) and the date will be 31 March 2010.

I'll post more details of my new photography exhibition just as soon as they are finalised.

2010-02-03T12:24:00.014Z

Photography Exhibition : Manchester

Don McCullin : 75th Anniversary Exhibition

If you're thinking of becoming a reportage/documentary wedding photographer the first thing you must learn is you must drop the names of Henri Cartier Bresson and Don McCullin at every opportunity. These names are photographic viagra amongst self-styled (so called) wedding photojournalists.

The Imperial War Museum North is marking Don's 75th year with the largest ever UK exhibition of the great man's work. The exhibition contains over 200 photographs, objects, magazines and personal memorabilia, and shows how war has shaped the life of this exceptional British photographer. Here's a link to the exhibition link

The exhibition starts on February 6th 2010 and if you can't wait until Saturday here's a link to an on line slideshow of his images on the BBC website link to slideshow

Personally I dislike name droppers and name dropping... in fact I was saying this to Don McCullin only the other day.

6 February 2010 to 13 June 2010
Daily 10:00 - 17:00 (until February 28)
Daily 10:00 - 18:00 (from March 1)

Admission : Free

Imperial War Museum North
The Quays
Trafford Wharf Road
Trafford Park
Manchester
M17 1TZ
England

Tel : 0161 836 4000

2010-01-29T13:12:00.004Z

Scam Emails

This One is a Cracker

Scam emails are part and parcel of our internet lives. Most of the time they are annoying but occasionally hilarious. This is a bit off (photography) topic but it really tickled me.

Dear beloved one in Christ,

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I came across your email contact from my personal search and I instructed the doctor here in this hospital to help me email you and I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mrs. Jane Smith from Netherlands, I am 68 years old, and I am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the breast. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two months; this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up in a motherless baby?Ps home, and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child.

My husband and I are true Christians; we lived all day in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, since he was working here as a contractor, but quite unfortunately, and he died in a fatal motor accident. Since his death I decided not to re-marry and because of my bad state of health, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $12.8million dollars with a bank in United States New York.

Presently, this money is still in the BANK, and the management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated. Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless baby's home where I come from. I want your good humanitarian, to also use t his money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around.

I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank in United States New York. I will also issue a letter of authorization to the bank, which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hope to hear from you soonest.

I await your reply on this my beloved.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Jane Smith.

I was going to say "you can't write this stuff". But you obviously can.

2010-01-21T17:04:00.002Z

Digital Photography Workshop : The Basics

House for an Art Lover, Glasgow : 21 February 2010

My next photography workshop will be on Sunday 21 February 2010 at House for an Art Lover.

This workshop is aimed at anyone taking their first steps into dSLR photography. Lunch is included and there's a £30 discount if you book early. More details of the workshop and how to register can be found here link to workshop

Look forward to seeing you.

2010-01-20T13:04:00.001Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Current/Upcoming : The Mitchell Library

The Mitchell Library, Glasgow, (the largest public reference library in Europe) has a photographic exhibition of Israeli and Palestinian photographs on at the moment, in the rear foyer.

Starting on 4th February 2010 until 27th February 2010 there will be a photography exhibition by Jean Marc-Milliere entitled "Beautiful Glasgow". Definitely worth a visit. This also will be in the rear foyer (Granville Street). Here's a link to Jean's exhibition link to Jean's exhibition

Mon-Thurs 09:00-20:00
Fri & Sat 09:00-17:00

The Mitchell
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN
Scotland

tel : 0141 287 2999
email : lil@csglasgow.org

2010-01-15T13:33:00.001Z

Photography Exhibition : Dundee

Iain Macmillan : From Dundee to Abbey Road

Here's a must-see exhibition for your diary. Iain Macmillan (1938-2006) is the photographer responsible for one of (ok THE) most iconic images of popular music. The Beatles Abbey Road album. This is an overdue retrospective of a forgotten Scottish photographer. The exhibition of Iain's photographs has five themes - the Abbey Road image, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, portraits of 60's celebrities, Dundee tenements in the 1950s and his personal photographic work. Here's a link to the exhibition link to exhibition

27 February 2010 to 3 June 2010
Mon to Sat : 10:00 - 17:00
Sun : 11:00 - 17:00

Discovery Point Cafe Gallery
Discovery Quay
Dundee
DD1 4XA
Scotland

Tel : 01382 201245

2010-01-11T11:01:00.004Z

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

William Carrick : 19th Century Russia

This is not only a remarkable collection of photographs but also a remarkable story. William Carrick (1827-1878) was born in Edinburgh but moved to Kronstadt (Russia) when he was only a few weeks old. In 1859 he established himself (with assistant John MacGregor) as a professional photographer in St. Petersburg; making a name for himself capturing pictures of Russian life and pioneering Russian ethnographic photography. Here's a link to the exhibition link to exhibition

4 December 2009 to 22 January 2010
Tue to Fri : 11:00 - 16:00
Sat : 13:00 - 16:00

Scotland-Russia Institute
9 South College Street
Edinburgh
EH8 9AA
Scotland

Tel : 0131 668 3635

2010-01-04T08:49:00.008Z

Goodbye Old Year, Hello Easter

Is This a Record?

You see the strangest things don't you? Things that make you think "Is it me?". The other day I was in Asda and noticed a Feel Good Movie sticker on a DVD of "Black Hawk Down" (now that would depend how depressed you felt), in Lidl they had a Massive Plant Sale (great if you're looking for a massive plant) and on the side of a lorry I saw the words Shanks Waste Solutions (won't be going to them with my problems then).

This one beats anything I've seen in a while. At the weekend I was in Scunthorpe visiting my folks. On Saturday (January 2nd note) I popped into the local Garden Centre (Stephen H. Smith if you don't believe this story) and nearly keeled over when I saw they had Mothers Day cards AND Easter cards on display. Flipping heck guys. Hello! It's January 2nd! Give us a chance to get the Christmas decorations back in the loft. Is it me?

2009-12-31T19:34:00.001Z

Bliadhna Mhath Ur {Scottish Gaelic}

Happy New Year {English English}

The snow is still outside from before Christmas and the festive period is flying by. There's a load of old 'tosh' on the TV but I'm looking forward to Jools Holland's Hootenanny. Peace and a Happy New Year.

2009-12-27T11:30:00.010Z

Great (Forgotten) Albums

My Top 30

This time last year I blogged my 100 favourite cover songs. This year I thought I'd blog my favourite "forgotten" albums. Look at any list of Great Albums and you'll see The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's", The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", Bob Dylan "Blonde on Blonde" and Marvin Gaye "What's Going On" in the top 10. Now don't get me wrong these are indeed great albums but it's all a bit predictable.

So here's a 30 you won't find in other top 30s; in alphabetical order'ish. There's links for Spotify.com where Spotify has the album.

16 Lovers Lane (1988) : The Go-Betweens
Back In The DHSS (1985) : Half Man Half Biscuit
Coast to Coast Motel (1995) : G Love and Special Sauce
Diamond Life (1984) : Sade
Entertainment (1979) : Gang of Four
Forces of Victory (1979) : Linton Kwesi Johnson
George Best (1987) : Wedding Present
Give It Up (1972) : Bonnie Raitt
Hejira (1976) : Joni Mitchell
It's Alive (1978) : Ramones
It's Great When You're Straight (1995) : Black Grape
It's My Life (1984) : Talk Talk
Joan Armatrading (1976) : Joan Armatrading
Knife (1984) : Aztec Camera
Look Sharp (1979) : Joe Jackson
Malpractice (1975) : Dr. Feelgood
New Boots and Panties (1977) : Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Man (1996) : Neneh Cherry
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980) : OMD
Pink Flag (1977) : Wire
Playing With a Different Sex (1981) : Au Pairs
Raincoats (1979) : Raincoats
Real Life (1978) : Magazine
Rickie Lee Jones (1979) : Rickie Lee Jones
Secondhand Daylight (1979) : Magazine
Slaughter on 10th Avenue (1974) : Mick Ronson
The B-52's (1979) : The B-52's
The Boys (1977) : The Boys
The Orange Juice (1984) : Orange Juice
You're Gonna Get It (1978) : Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Hope you're having a great time over the festive period.

2009-12-24T20:05:00.004Z

Nollaig Chridheil {Scottish Gaelic}

Merry Christmas {English English}

It's that time of year again. Snow outside, the wee one is in bed with dreams of the morning and I'm (quietly) wrapping the last of the presents. I wish you all Peace and a Merry Christmas.

2009-12-10T17:35:00.013Z

Pre Wedding Shoots

What Are They?

I didn't invent the "prewedding shoot" (if you wikipedia "Kim Mason" you'll see I haven't invented anything) nor am I the only wedding photographer offering the "pre-wedding shoot" (but as you can see I'm a wedding photographer who doesn't know how to spell/format the phrase "pre wedding shoot"). These shoots have been round for years so it's surprising to meet so many wedding couples who have no idea what they are.

The pre wedding shoot is a few hours (outdoors) of me taking relaxed/informal photographs of you and your partner. I normally use Pollok Park, Glasgow and it's an opportunity for the three of us to get to know each other. It helps to build an important familiarity between couple and photographer which in turn aids my (natural) approach wedding photography. Afterwards I produce a dvd slideshow of the shoot for you to keep. So you get some great photographs of the two of you; something not many couples already have.

I offer the pre wedding shoot inclusive of my wedding photography service.

Here's a few example images from past pre wedding shoots :

2009-12-04T15:25:00.002Z

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Norman Taylor : Norman's Old Shed

Norman is a Belfast-born photographer with sight loss. This exhibition is a collection of over 1000 works depicting his garden shed - a project that highlights light and dark, shades and textures, atmosphere, feelings and moods. Here's a link to Norman's website link

4 December 2009 to 15 January 2010
Mon to Fri : 09:30 - 16:30

RNIPB (Scotland)
12/14 Hillside Crescent
Edinburgh
EH7 5EA
Scotland

Tel : 0131 652 3140

2009-12-01T11:37:00.017Z

Christmas Fayre : Personal Work For Sale

It's the start of the Christmas Fayre period and on Saturday December 12th my daughter's school, the Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic School), has a Fayre. This year I'll have a stall where you can buy prints of my personal work. The Fayre is in the morning from 10:00 until 12:00. If you're passing or live nearby please pop in and help support the school. All my prints will be half price; here's a few examples of the images I'll have for sale :

In the past (when I've been a stall holder at Art Fayres) I also had enquiries about Wedding and Portrait Photography. So this time I will have sample wedding and portrait albums with me as well.

Here's the address :
Glasgow Gaelic School
Woodside Campus
147 Berkeley Street
Glasgow
G3 7HP

2009-11-29T15:01:00.002Z

Reprint Orders 2009

Christmas Cut-off Date : Monday December 14th

Please note : This year's cut-off date for Reprint Orders will be Monday 14th December. After December 14th I can not guarantee delivery before Christmas 2009.

Thank you.

2009-11-23T10:33:00.001Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Colin Gray : In Sickness and in Health

Trongate 103 (Glasgow's new Creative Arts Centre) has a Colin Gray exhibition on in the Street Level Photo Works Gallery. The exhibition runs until January 23, 2010 and it concludes Colin's series 'The Parents', which chronicles the lives of his mum and dad. I found it a very moving and thought provoking exhibition. Highly recommended.

14 November 2009 to 23 January 2010
Tue to Sat : 10:00 - 17:00

Sun : 12:00 - 17:00
(not December 23

Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 5HD
Scotland

Tel : 0141 221 6362

2009-11-18T09:50:00.002Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Jesus Has Left The Building : Iain Shaw

An interesting exhibition on at Mono in Glasgow is one by photographer Iain Shaw. Iain documents deconsecrated and converted former churches in Glasgow and Edinburgh using photographs, prose and sound.

A little plug for Mono. Mono is a great bar and restaurant in Glasgow. Apart from the perfunctory booze it also has a range of tasty home cooked dishes, all free of meat, fish and dairy products. It has a relaxing atmosphere and you are positively encouraged to spend time over your dinner/lunch & drinks. So get down there, check out the photography exhibition, grab a bit to eat and chill out listening to the great music provided by inbuilt (and renowned) record shop Monorail. If you're looking for a JDWetherspoon type evening you ain't gonna like Mono.

7 November to 3 December 2009
Mon - Sun 12:00pm -12:00am

Admission : Free

Mono
12 King's Court
King Street
Glasgow
G1 5RB
Scotland

Tel : 0141 553 2400

2009-11-13T09:11:00.008Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Berlin Wall : Future Inside the Present

The problems over at the Mackintosh Lighthouse (in Glasgow city centre) seem to be resolved. "Resolved" in this context I think means more public money is on its way. However. Their current photography exhibition is a timely affair. It's the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's demolition and photographers Wolfgang Fuettere and Michelle Letowska photographed the wall's 155km circumference over a period of four years. Their photographs (exhibition link) were taken in what was called Death Strip, a no man's land between the two parallel fortifications commonly known as the Berlin Wall. Now I got a reason to go back to the Lighthouse.

24 October 2009 to 17 January 2010
Mon, Wed to Sat : 10:30 - 17:00

Tue : 11:00 - 17:00
Sun : 12:00 - 17:00

The Lighthouse
11 Mitchell Lane
Glasgow
G1 3NU
Scotland

Tel : 0141 221 6362

2009-11-09T10:08:00.006Z

Portraits : Gwen Sinclair - Harpist

At the moment I can't pick up a wedding magazine without reading of the (premature) death of the "Wedding Season". The fact is I'm far from putting my feet up for winter hibernation. Although I'm about to order the last of this years wedding albums there's still the 'small' matter of preparing the images for printing (printed at the best photographic lab in the UK - Loxley Colour here in Glasgow) and assembling the albums (each one will take 5-6 hours). The bulk of the albums will arrive from Queensberry at the beginning of December and I'll be working on them until December 23rd. In amongst all this frantic activity I have a few more weddings in the diary together with portrait and prewedding shoots to complete and process. Phew pass the mulled wine now!

Talking of portrait shoots, I was out with Gwen Sinclair recently for a portrait shoot. Gwen, a fabulous professional Harpist, wanted new images for her publicity material. Here's a few photographs from the shoot.

Gwen is available for weddings on her own (harp) or with a flautist. Here's a link to her website link.

2009-11-04T13:03:00.010Z

Personal Work : Whitelee Windfarm

I was over at the Whitelee Windfarm at the weekend. Situated on Eaglesham Moor (20 miles from Glasgow) and with 140 turbines (generating 322MW of electricity) it's the largest onshore windfarm in Europe.

I walked some of the 90km of trails, took a few photographs and finished off with a great coffee in the Visitor Centre Cafe. Here's a few images from the day :

Whitelee Windfarm
Moor Road
East Renfrewshire
G76 0QQ
Scotland

Visitor Centre Opening:
Mon-Sun
10:00 - 17:00

Admission : Free

2009-10-23T09:52:00.001+01:00

Wedding Albums 2009

Christmas Cut-off Date : November 1st

ONE week left to get your album choices in. After November 1st I can not guarantee delivery of your album before Christmas. Come on pull your fingers out; I know where you live!

2009-10-19T19:14:00.005+01:00

Portraits : Milly & Josh

Another weekend and another fantastic portrait shoot. Mum and Dad thought it was only for the kids. Milly and Josh (the kids) got Mum and Dad in the action with a bout of leaf throwing. The location was Pollok House , Glasgow.

Thanks for looking.

2009-10-16T10:35:00.001+01:00

Wedding Albums 2009

Christmas Cut-off Date : November 1st

ONLY two weeks left to get your album choices in. After November 1st I can't guarantee delivery of your album before Christmas.

2009-10-15T09:18:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow & Edinburgh

Ortszeit/Local Time : Stefan Koppelkamm

Photography (for me) is the unique ability to capture forever a moment (a person, a place, an event). I also love photographs that show the passage (or ravages) of time, so I will be heading over to the Goethe Institut in Glasgow to see a photography exhibition by photographer Stefan Koppelkamm. Stefan is from East Germany and in 1990 he photographed locations he was to re-photograph 10-12 years later. The exhibition moves onto Edinburgh on November 23rd where the Institut Francais d'Ecosse are hosts until 16th December.

5 October to 19 November 2009 (not Sundays)
Admission Free

Goethe Institut
3 park Circus
Glasgow
G3 6AX
Scotland
Tel : 0141 332 2555

23 November to 16 December 2009 (not Sundays)
Admission Free

Institut Francais d'Ecosse
13 Randolph Crescent
Edinburgh
EH3 7TT
Scotland
Tel : 0131 225 5366

2009-10-09T21:27:00.001+01:00

Wedding Albums 2009

Christmas Cut-off Date : November 1st

ONLY three weeks left to get your album choices in and the design signed off. After November 1st I can't guarantee delivery of your album before Christmas.

2009-10-06T11:51:00.001+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Revealed : Various Photographers

Only two weeks remaining to catch this intriguing photographic exhibition in Edinburgh at the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland.

The exhibition showcases photographs of Edinburgh by blind photographers Christine Barwick, Sarah Caltieri, Andreas Gartner, Anne Henderson, Robin Marshall, Fiona Powell and Rita Simpson. The photographs challenge preconceptions of visual disability and digital photography.

until 20th October 2009

9:00am - 5:00pm

Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland
12/14 Hillside Crescent
Edinburgh
EH7 5EA
Scotland

2009-10-02T18:18:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Murder Ballads : Stuart Crawford

Starting today (2nd October) photographer Stuart Crawford has an exhibition on at the Biblocafe on Woodlands Road, Glasgow.

Apparently (and I had to read this twice) it explores "the treatment of women in popular love songs re-imagined in the homicidal spirit of Nick Cave". Sounds fun.

2 October to 31 October 2009

8:30am - 8:00pm

BibloCafe
262 Woodlands Road
Glasgow
G3 6NE
Scotland

2009-09-30T08:46:00.004+01:00

Real Life Weddings Magazine

Featured Wedding #2

The lovely people at Real Life Wedding Magazine are featuring another of my weddings in their forthcoming Winter 2009 edition.

The wedding took place just outside Aberdeen, Scotland, in April 2009. The ceremony was held at Skene Castle and the wedding reception at Fyvie Castle. The Bride and Groom came over from New York for the wedding. The Groom (Douglas Rohrer) is proud of his Scottish roots, and has historical links with Skene Castle and the Skene Clan. The Bride (Mary Fontamillas) wore a fantastic couture wedding gown; made for her by Yves Saint Lauren in Paris.

The magazine is out next week but you can read the article on line by clicking this link Real Life Wedding Magazine Article

2009-09-28T09:58:00.013+01:00

Scotland Wedding Venues : Glasgow

The Piping Centre

Sunday's wedding was held at the University of Glasgow Chapel with the reception and evening entertainment at The National Piping Centre, Glasgow.

So why do I mention this?

Well I've photographed weddings at the University Chapel many times but this was my first wedding visit to the Piping Centre. Occasionally I visit places and come away impressed by either the catering, staff, venue or service. But The Piping Centre (with its own auditorium & stage, hotel and bar) ticked all the boxes. Next time I take in a show I'll be heading for the warm welcome and friendly ambiance at The Piping Centre for my pre-Theatre and post-Theatre drinks.

30 - 34 McPhater Street
Glasgow
G4 0HW
Scotland

0141 353 5556

2009-09-10T12:53:00.009+01:00

New Arts Centre : Glasgow

Trongate 103 : A Centre for the Arts and Creativity

A new and exciting arts centre opens its doors this Saturday (12th September 2009) in Glasgow's Merchant City.

Trongate 103 (on Argyle Street) incorporates galleries, workshops, artists' studios and production space. This is the official pitch:

"... a place to see art, make art, enjoy art and just be creative. Trongate 103 opens the doors to individuals from all backgrounds to develop and enhance their creative abilities and interests through access to a wide range of art forms including film, photograph, printmaking, video, painting, ceramics, new media, kinetic sculpture and public art".

Trongate 103 is in a refurbished six storey Edwardian warehouse. It sounds like a fantastic new arts facility and is another must-see cultural centre for visitors to Scotland.

The venue also features Cafe Cossachok (Scotland's first and only authentic Russian Restaurant). I wonder if there's a discount if you say you're from Stepps?

Opening Day : Saturday 12th September 2009
Admission Free

Mon-Sat : 10:00 - 17:00
Sun : 12:00 - 17:00

Trongate 103
Glasgow
G1 5HD

tel : 0141 331 4474

2009-09-01T22:17:00.009+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Cold War Neons & Socialist Modernity

In light (pun intended) of the problems over at the Mackintosh Lighthouse in Glasgow city centre, I'm not too sure we'll get to see this exhibition. If they manage to save this incredible (and poorly supported) Scottish venue, the planned photographic exhibition is by photographer/academic Ella Chmielewska. It's billed as an examination of the 'neonisation' project initiated in 1960's Warsaw and on display will be large-scale images of urban landscapes alongside colour studies of neons.

8 September to 4 October 2009

The Lighthouse
11 Mitchell Lane
Glasgow
G1 3NU
Scotland

Tel : 0141 221 6362

2009-08-28T16:51:00.023+01:00

Portraits : Family Gage

Last weeks wedding was on Sunday so I arranged a family portrait shoot for the Saturday. The Gage family were terrific fun and the weather behaved itself. We headed to Pollok Park in Glasgow for the shoot and afterwards we had a well earned coffee and cake in the Pollok House Edwardian Kitchen Restaurant. Thanks guys; here's a few images from the day.

Daddy Gage (Darren) runs Purple Horizon (an IT Support and Web Hosting & Web Publishing company) based in Glasgow. Thanks for looking.

2009-08-21T10:12:00.015+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Conspicuous Consumption : Various Artists

At the moment there's an interesting (multi-media) exhibition in Montgomery's Cafe (near to Kelvingrove Museum). Montgomery's is one of my favourite places for a cake 'n' coffee.

The exhibition (btw nothing to do with indiscreet outbreaks of TB) features the artistic talents of Helen Shaddock, Deirdre McPhillips and Liz West; it's curated by Ugly Duck Exhibits.

24 July to 31 August, 2009

Montgomery's Cafe
9 Radnor Street
Glasgow
G3 7UA
Scotland

2009-08-13T22:40:00.055+01:00

Personal Work : Scotland Lochscapes

Today I thought it was time to take my good old Fuji S2 digital SLR (dSLR) camera out for a photography stroll in the Trossachs. Even though I now photograph with the Nikon D3 dSLR I can't bear to part with the old dear. The S2 camera is over 7 years old and in digital years that makes the "almost-APS-size sensor" camera less cropped frame more zimmer frame.

IMO Fuji never bettered the S2. I liked the Fuji S3's vertical grip and ditching the silly CR123a batteries, but the image difference between the S2 and S3 was as tight as two coats of paint. The Fuji S5's high ISO capabilities were widely exaggerated (IMO) and to say the menu layout is horrible is exactly what I was going to say. The best things about the S5 are the flash commander mode function and of course rebadging the naff Finepix to the rather cool Fujifilm. So with no S6 on the horizon it looks like the S2 is as good as it's going to get (dSLR-wise).

Here's a few photographs I shot at Loch Venachar with the S2 and the Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 lens.

The highlights on following photograph are a total all f's blow out. But what (new) camera wouldn't do the same? considering the lighlight is the Sun itself ;-)

If you are one of the many who email me regarding digital black & white conversion techniques, you'll be pleased to know I'll blog on this topic in the next few weeks.

2009-08-09T11:03:00.012+01:00

Scotland Wedding Venues : Moorpark House

Last Thursday I photographed a fabulous wedding at the equally fabulous Moorpark House Hotel. Moorpark House is situated just outside Glasgow in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland. The House has been restored by the current owner Graham Conrathe and is a stunning venue. Here's the outside :

The weather was incredible and I'm looking forward to returning soon. Here's a couple more images from the day.

2009-08-07T09:35:00.000+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Peebles

Landscape Large & Small : Dougie Johnston

The Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre in Peebles is currently showing a Dougie Johnston photography exhibition. It's described as a collection of photographs from "...the most sweeping panorama to the tiniest detail....the natural world of the Borders and elsewhere on all scales". Here's a link to the exhibition link

13 July to 15 August, 2009
Mon - Sat : 13:00 - 17:00

Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre
Eastgate
Peebles
EH45 8AD

tel : 01721 725785
Free Admission

2009-08-02T11:08:00.035+01:00

Favourite Photographers

Garry Winogrand : 1928 - 1984

I've updated my blog list of favourite photographers with the name of Garry Winogrand. Garry captured mid 20th Century American life in the most wierd & (at the same time) compelling photographic vistas.

He was also prolific; very prolific. If you've ever read one of those Monty Pythonesque rants in a photographers blog about how "...in the good old days of film you had to be scrooge-like with your exposures.." and "...you couldn't just snap away like you can now with digital.." or "...I had to shoot 8 hour weddings on 1 roll of 36 exp. film (24 exp. if I wanted to eat that week).."; well consider this : Winogrand is reputed to have exposed 3 rolls of film every day for his entire adult life (100 pictures a day, 36,500 a year). When he died he left more than 2500 rolls of film exposed but undeveloped, 6500 rolls developed but not proofed, and 3000 rolls of unexamined proofs.

So don't feel guilty about how many images you photograph. Equally, the old "film is cheap" mantra is no different to the current "digital is free" nonsense. It wasn't. It isn't. Just do it.

Here's a couple of youtube links to an interesting documentary on the man himself :

Garry Winogrand Documentary Part 1
Garry Winogrand Documentary Part 2

2009-07-30T19:24:00.003+01:00

Personal Work : Scotland Seascapes

A favourite photograph from this week

2009-07-27T22:47:00.002+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Bradford

In England : Don McCullin

On Sunday I was driving back to Scotland and decided to call in at the National Media Museum (in Bradford) to see the Don McCullin exhibition. The exhibition represents Don's vision of England taken over a 50-year career; many photographs actually taken in Bradford. I walked around the exhibition twice then went for a coffee. I returned to the gallery later for a third viewing; it really is that good. Here's an exhibition link link

8 May to 27 September, 2009

National Media Museum
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1NQ

tel : 0870 7010200

Free Admission

2009-07-17T17:15:00.006+01:00

Julius Shulman : 1910 - 2009

"One of the finest architectural photographers of all time"

I've just read on the BBC website of the recent death of Julius Shulman (link to BBC article). So what was so special about Shulman? Well (for me) he shows, no matter what the subject, the key to great imagery is considered composition. Take a look at some of his work to see what I mean (link to his work, another link to his work). And the next time you're about to press the shutter take a moment to reconsider how you've framed your shot.

2009-07-16T11:29:00.002+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Paisley

Double Exposure : Paisley Museum & Art Gallery

You have until Sunday 19th July to see photographs of Paisley taken by celebrated local artists Hugh Gibson and Charles Soutar. The exhibition is on at Paisley Museum & Art Gallery.

15 May to 19 July, 2009

Tue- Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Sun 14:00 - 17:00

Paisley Museum & Art Gallery
High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BA
Scotland

Tel : 0141 889 3151

2009-07-15T10:56:00.012+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

A Developed Vision : Pioneering Scottish & French Photography

If you're into photography history you haven't long to catch this fascinating exhibition over at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. The exhibition features early examples of photography from Scotland and France; on display is a burgeoning range of photographic techniques from the likes of Hill and Adamson, Dr Thomas Keith, John Stewart of Pau, John Dudgeon, Henri Le Secq, Bisson Frères and Charles Nègre.

Here's a link to the exhibition link

27 April to 27 July, 2009
(Mondays or by Appointment)

Admission : Free

Royal Scottish Academy
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL
Scotland

Tel : 0131 225 6671

2009-07-05T15:36:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Ayesha Malik

The Amber Arts is exhibiting new photographic work from Edinburgh based artist/photographer Ayesha Malik.

23 June to 21 July, 2009
(Tues-Sat)

Admission : Free

Amber Arts
78 Montrose Terrace
Abbeyhill
Edinburgh
EH7 5DP
Scotland

Tel : 0131 661 1167

2009-06-30T22:25:00.003+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Aberdeen

Chick Chalmers : American Life

The Aberdeen Art Gallery has an exhibition of Scottish photographer Chick Chalmers' photographs of "American Life 1948-1998" on at the moment.

Don't forget to take-in the Damien Hirst photograph while you're in the Art Gallery.

Did you notice how I refused to make any gags about going to see "Chick Films"; it was a struggle I can tell you.

1 June to 30 August, 2009

Admission : Free

Aberdeen Art Gallery
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FQ
Scotland

Tel : 01224 523700

2009-06-24T10:35:00.029+01:00

My Wedding Photography

1983 - 2009 : What's Changed?

I receive emails asking about my style of wedding photography and how I got started. In general I avoid these questions because (in all honesty) if I was any good with words I'd be a writer and not a photographer.

Recently, however, ("however" on this occasion means I am going to talk about my work) I was going through some old images and was struck by how much my work had hardly altered since I took my first wedding photographs in 1983.

Here's an example. This image was taken in 1983 :

This is from a wedding in 2006 :

and this was taken in May 2009 :

I include the wedding couple in the 2006 & 2009 images but essentially it's the same photograph.

Here's another example. The 1983 image first:

this is from a wedding in 2008 :

And now one from 2009 :

Again it's the same shot.

The only thing that's changed is I now use wider angle lenses. I still have the same approach and I still use 35mm cameras (although now it's digital). I guess you could say still the same stills (groan).

And the reason my wedding photography is more or less the same is because my attitude has not changed since 1983; I tell the story of the day, leave events to unfold naturally and (also) capture what is happening around the day's main characters.

My wedding photography style came about by pure chance. The groom in the 1983 wedding (a keen photographer himself) wanted "candid-type" images in addition to traditional wedding photographs and asked me if I would take them. It really was as simple as that.

The final image is me at work in '83. I no longer have the "tank-metal" built Pentax SLR (alas) but I do still have the suit (alas).

Thanks for looking.

2009-06-16T09:44:00.007+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Barbara Probst : Stills (Centre for Photography)

This is (German born, New York based) Barbara Probst's first UK exhibition. Barbara photographed subjects from multiple angles using multiple remote-controlled cameras. This makes for a fascinating exhibition; well worth a visit.

The exhibition is held in the Stills centre in Edinburgh. The centre is much more than an exhibition space. It also has production and training facilities, and is a honeypot for those who are passionate about photography.

Here's a link to the exhibition link

18 April to 19 July, 2009

Admission : Free

Stills (Centre for Photography)
23 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1BP
Scotland

Tel : +44 (0)131 622 6200

2009-06-12T18:50:00.016+01:00

Portraits : Lucy Kerr

I photographed saxophonist Lucy Kerr again today. We wandered around Pollok Country Park and after being turfed off one of my favourite locations we chanced upon a wee spot with the most perfect backlighting. Here's a few images I've just processed ....

Black and white version of the above photograph ....

Lucy is looking to use one as a CD cover. I think this would be perfect ....

So thank you to the zealous groundsperson for setting this up and a bigger thank you to Ruth for being my apprentice-trainee assistant for the day.

Tech. Data ....
Camera : Nikon D3
Lens : Nikkor 85mm f1.4
Aperture : f1.4
Shutter : 1/2000
ISO : 400
Post Processing : A "quick tweak" in Photoshop

(All images copyright Kim Mason)

2009-06-11T13:54:00.009+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Inverness

Robert Mapplethorpe : Inverness Museum & Art Gallery

Described as "moving, arresting and truly significant work by prolific American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe". This exhibition, at the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, features iconic portraiture of his contemporaries - Andy Warhol, Truman Capote and Patti Smith - and his iconic (there's that word again) self-portraits.

Here's a link to the exhibition link

25 April to 27 June, 2009

Admission : Free

Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
Castle Wynd
Inverness
IV2 3EB
Scotland

Tel : 01463 237114

2009-06-09T13:36:00.001+01:00

Art Exhibition : Glasgow

Edvard Munch Prints : Hunterian Art Gallery

My favourite Glasgow Art Gallery is The Hunterian at The University of Glasgow. Starting tomorrow they are exhibiting prints by Edvard Munch. This is the most substantial Munch print exhibition in the UK for over 35 years. The exhibition includes a lithograph version of the iconic The Scream; other works include the controversial lithograph Madonna, the striking Self-portrait lithograph and the atmospheric woodcut Melancholy.

Here's a link to the exhibition link

12 June to 5 September, 2009

Admission : Free

Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery
University Avenue
Glasgow
G12 8QQ
Scotland

Tel : 0141 330 5431

2009-06-02T11:23:00.001+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Paisley

HND Graduation Exhibition : Paisley Abbey

Exhibition of work produced by HND Photography students from Paisley's Reid Kerr College. For more info click here here

5 June to 26 June, 2009

Mon - Sat 10:00 - 15:30

Paisley Abbey
27 Gauze Street
Paisley
PA1 1ES
Scotland

Tel : 0141 889 3630

2009-05-31T08:53:00.004+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

13 Images : Metropolitan College

"13 images" - is a group of final year photography students completing their PDA Photography award at Glasgow Metropolian College. They have a photography exhibition on at the "Studio Warehouse" (aka SWG3) from June 1st - June 5th 2009.

If you can't make it to the exhibition take a look at their website : 13 images website

1 June to 5 June, 2009

SWG3
100 Eastvale Place
Glasgow
G3 8QG
Scotland

2009-05-24T21:30:00.008+01:00

New Music

The music currently playing on my website is the old standard "September in the Rain" sung by the incredibly talented Glasgow saxophonist/singer Lucy Kerr.

I photographed Lucy today at the stylish restaurant/bar West on Glasgow Green. Her effortless Jazz is amazing. She was accompanied on piano by the exceptional Euan Stevenson. Both Lucy and Euan are available for weddings; together or on their own.

This is my favourite image from this afternoon. Lucy was putting her sax back on the stand when I noticed her reflection in the piano just in front of her.

2009-05-08T10:56:00.000+01:00

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Photographs 2007-2009 : Colin Macleod

Beyond Words Bookshop has a fascinating photographic exhibition by teacher/filmmaker/photographer Colin Macleod. The exhibition is a study of photographic imagery and its effect on the viewer.

2 May to 18 July, 2009

Beyond Words Bookshop
42-44 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1PR
Scotland

tel: 0131 226 6636

2009-03-26T13:07:00.007Z

Home Coming Scotland 2009

This is the year of Home Coming Scotland 2009 and as the wedding season gets into full swing I want to send my best wishes to everyone coming back home to Scotland for their wedding. A high portion of my wedding bookings are from brides and grooms who no longer live in Scotland and I know how special it is for them to come back home for their wedding. Well this year (being the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns) will be that bit more special.

2009-03-25T12:53:00.002Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Looking Up : Glasgow Heritage Trust

Glasgow Heritage Trust have a "worth a visit" photographic exhibition on at the moment. Pupils from four schools across the city (Hyndland Secondary School, Shawlands Academy, St Aloysius' College and St Mungo's Academy) have captured Glasgow's buildings in a way that shows how the City’s architectural landscape is so unique. Well the bits that Glasgow City Council Planning Department have left well alone. Here's a link link

19 January to 17 April, 2009

54 Bell Street
Glasgow
G1 1LQ
Scotland

tel: 0141 552 1331

2009-03-19T11:30:00.009Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

100 Portraits : Matthew Boyle

Matthew has come up with one of those "I wish I'd thought of that" ideas. He photographed 100 people in or around Glasgow. Nothing unusual there. The clever bit is that each person chose the next one to be photographed; therefore Matthew had no control over the chain. And talking of chains here's a link

7 March to 31 March, 2009

Offshore Gallery
3-5 Gibson Street
Glasgow
G12 8NU
Scotland

tel: 07748 636354

2009-03-03T09:19:00.010Z

Professional Photographer of the Year 2008

At long last Professional Photographer magazine (IMO one of the last serious photography magazines and (IMO) hanging in there by a thread) has announced a shortlist for their PPOTY08 award. Winners will be printed in the April edition.

Making it into the shortlist is John Balkie and Sandra Parris; two of the very best wedding and portrait photographers, based here in Scotland. Please take a look at their striking images in the wedding and portrait sections. Good luck you two.

BTW my new landline number is 0141 810 4052. As the move continues I'm a little behind with my work, but we're nearly there.

2009-02-27T13:21:00.005Z

We Are Moving

Next Monday, March 1st 2009, we'll be moving to a new location. At the moment I do not have the new telephone number so please use my mobile number (07899 804600). I'll post the new landline number on my website just as soon as we are connected.

We are moving back towards Glasgow. This is an exciting new development and I hope the location will be more accessible to more of my clients. My photography tuition continues to grow in popularity and after the move I will be holding courses in the conference facilities over in the xScape complex at Braehead. More details to follow.

I will be continuing with the ever popular pre wedding shoots and will be holding these in Pollok Park and the Glasgow Science Centre. These are shoot locations I used several years ago, so it will be good to revisit them.

Speak soon.

2009-02-24T13:43:00.014Z

Personal Work

One of my ongoing personal photography projects is "Glasgow Through Rainy Windows" (working title). Here's a few recent images, taken with a Canon compact camera I always carry. I was sitting at traffic lights at the time.

And here's a favourite wedding venue image from last year. It's the House for an Art Lover over at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. It was taken on a Nikon D3 with the wonderful 14-24mm f2.8 lens.

Thanks for looking.

2009-02-20T12:10:00.007Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Women and Children First : Jitka Perinova & Victor Eadie

The 13th Note in Glasgow regularly hold art exhibitions; currently they have photography & mixed medium paintings created Jitka Perinova with contributions by Victor Eadie.

All proceeds from the opening night & any sales of the work exhibited are being sent to the individuals photographed.

Photography is a powerful force when coupled with a worthy cause. Here the link link

16 February to 1 March, 2009

the 13th Note
50-60 Kings Street
Glasgow
G1 5QT
Scotland

tel: 0141 553 1638

2009-02-18T14:43:00.001Z

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

25 Years of Photography : National Gallery of Scotland

This exhibition celebrates the first 25 years of the Scottish National Photography Collection (and long may it continue). The collection is designed to collect, research, exhibit and publish photography with a Scottish bias. And why not. Here's the link link.

14 February to 19 April, 2009

National Gallery Complex
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL
Scotland

2009-02-12T18:18:00.003Z

World Press Photo Contest 2008

Winners Announced

The international jury of the 52nd annual World Press Photo Contest have selected a black-and-white image by American photographer Anthony Suau as World Press Photo of the Year 2008.

Winning images can be found on the World Press Photo website. Here's their link link

2009-01-29T11:12:00.000Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

Dreaming in Dystopia : Valerie Evans

The blurb for this photography exhibition describes it as an "attempt to capture the drama of a city at full-tilt". I assume the city is Glasgow not Pisa. Here's a link to Valerie's website. link

1 February to 1 March, 2009

Offshore Gallery
3-5 Gibson Street
Glasgow
G12 8NU
Scotland

tel: 07748 636354

2009-01-09T16:38:00.007Z

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

As Others See Us : Ross Gillespie & Tricia Malley

Another New Year of photography exhibitions to look forward to.

This upcoming exhibition features contemporary portraits of twenty of Scotland's "best-known"; alongside their favourite pieces of poetry and songs by Robert Burns. For more details here's a link.

The photographers are the talented Ross Gillespie and Tricia Malley; aka Broad Daylight.

22 January to 14 February, 2009

The Scottish Parliament
Holyrood
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Scotland

2009-01-02T10:30:00.003Z

Bliadhna Mhath Ur : Happy New Year

Wedding Venues in Scotland

I'd like to wish you all a prosperous 2009 and thank all my 2008 customers for their support.

I also want to mention a few Scotland wedding venues I enjoyed photographing at in 2008. If you're looking for a Scottish wedding venue I'd recommend any one of them.

House for an Art Lover (Glasgow)
Keavil House (Fife)
Glenskirlie House (Banknock, Stirlingshire)
Glasgow University Chapel
Cameron House (Loch Lomond)
Dalhousie Castle (Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh)
Lochside House Hotel (Ayrshire)
Mar Hall (Bishopton, Renfrewshire)
Minard Castle (Loch Fyne, Argyll)
Blairquhan Castle (Ayrshire)
Hopetoun House (South Queensferry, Edinburgh)
Oxenfoord Castle (Pathhead, Midlothian)
Atholl Palace (Pitlochry, Perthshire)
Fortingall Hotel (Aberfeldy, Perthshire)
Ross Priory (Loch Lomond)
Roman Camp (Calander, Perthshire)
Ardanaiseig Hotel (Loch Awe, Argyll)

2008-12-25T12:05:00.004Z

Cover Songs (10 - 1) : My Favourites

Here's the final 10 from my favourite 100 Cover Songs. I hope everyone is having a great Christmas.

My 100 Favourite Cover Songs (10-1)

10 The Man Who Sold The World : Nirvana (David Bowie)
9 Tomorrow is a Long Time : Elvis Presley (Bob Dylan)
8 It's Oh So Quiet : Bjork (Betty Hutton)
7 Sweet Jane : Cowboy Junkies (Velvet Underground)
6 Mr Bojangles : Nina Simone (Jerry Jeff Walker)
5 Louie Louie : The Kingsmen (Richard Berry)
4 I Heard It Through The Grapevine : The Slits (Whitfield/Strong)

3 Lola : The Raincoats (The Kinks)
2 Hey Joe : Jimi Hendrix (The Leaves)
1 Song To The Siren : This Mortal Coil (Tim Buckley)

Hope you've enjoyed (at least some of) my choices.

Nollaig Chridheil.

2008-12-23T23:25:00.008Z

Cover Songs (40 - 11) : My Favourites

Well I didn't make last Sunday for blogging numbers 40 - 11 from my list of 100 favourite cover songs. I've been working solid for the whole of December on wedding albums, portrait shoots, designing next years photography training courses and new sample albums for wedding and portraits. Today I've finally called it a day. So here's numbers 40 - 11.

My 100 Favourite Cover Songs (40-11)

40 All Along The WatchTower : XTC (Bob Dylan)
39 Smooth Criminal : Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson)
38 This is not a love Song : Nouvelle Vague (PIL)
37 Hurt : Johnny Cash (Trent Reznor)
36 Just : Mark Ronson (Radiohead)
35 Private Life : Grace Jones (The Pretenders)
34 Somewhere Over The Rainbow : Eva Cassidy (Judy Garland)
33 Police & Thieves : The Clash (Junior Murvin)
32 All Along The WatchTower : Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
31 Lost In Music : The Fall (Sister Sledge)
30 Get It On : The Power Station (T. Rex)
29 Telegram Sam : Bauhaus (T. Rex)
28 Slow Down : The Jam (Larry Williams)
27 Cocaine : Eric Clapton (J.J. Cale)
26 China Girl : David Bowie (Iggy Pop)
25 Smells Like Teen Spirit : Paul Anka (Nirvana)
24 Personal Jesus : Johnny Cash (Depeche Mode)
23 Twist and Shout : The Beatles (Top Notes)
22 Why Can't We Live Together : Sade (Timmy Thomas)
21 Making Plans For Nigel : Nouvelle Vague (XTC)
20 Ms. Jackson : The Vines (Outkast)
19 Rock The Casbah : Rachid Taha (The Clash)
18 Dancing in the Moonlight : Smashing Pumpkins (Thin Lizzy)
17 Refugee : Melissa Etheridge (Tom Petty)
16 Bizarre Love Triangle : Frente (New Order)
15 Satisfaction : Cat Power (The Rolling Stones)
14 Satisfaction : Devo (The Rolling Stones)
13 One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer : John Thorogood (John Lee Hooker)
12 Nothing Compares to You : Sinead O'Connor (Prince)
11 Going Nowhere : Lena Zavoroni (Neil Sedaka)

I'll post numbers 10 - 1 on Christmas Day. Nollaig Chridheil (gaelic Merry Christmas) to everyone.

2008-12-19T08:33:00.008Z

Oscar Marzaroli

BBC iPlayer : Public Artwork

On Radio 4 this week there was an interesting program about Oscar Marzaroli (Italian born "Scottish" photographer). The program is now available on BBC iPlayer, here's the link.

Italian-born "Scottish" photographer Marzaroli is most famous for his 1960's images of the Gorbals.

On the corner of Cumberland Street and Queen Elizabeth Gardens (in Glasgow) there's a piece of public artwork based on one of his most famous images. The artwork is three separate sculptures of three boys in their mother's high heels playing in the street. The original photograph is a great example of "right-place right-time" photojournalism. Here's a link.

2008-12-14T08:06:00.006Z

Cover Songs (70 - 41) : My Favourites

Last Sunday I blogged numbers 100 - 71 from my list of 100 favourite cover songs. This week it's 70 - 41.

My 100 Favourite Cover Songs (70-41)

70 Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds : Elton John (The Beatles)
69 We Can Work It Out : Stevie Wonder (The Beatles)
68 Helpless : K D Lang (Neil Young)
67 Superstar : Sonic Youth (Carpenters)
66 Love The One You're With : The Isley Brothers (Stephen Stills)
65 House of the Rising Sun : The Animals (trad.)
64 Me and Bobby McGee : Janis Joplin (Kristofferson/Foster)
63 Paranoid Android : Radiodread (Radiohead)
62 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow : Roberta Flack (Shirelles)
61 I Hung my Head : Johnny Cash (Sting)
60 Your Song : Billy Paul (Elton John)
59 Take it to the Limit : Etta James (The Eagles)
58 Paint It Black : The Modettes (The Rolling Stones)
57 It's All Over Now Baby Blue : Them (Bob Dylan)
56 Light My Fire : Jackie Wilson (The Doors)
55 Hallelujah : Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)
54 Hazy Shade of Winter : The Bangles (Simon & Garfunkel)
53 Everything I Own : Ken Boothe (Bread)
52 Wonderwall : Ryan Adams (Oasis)
51 Take Me to the River : Talking Heads (Al Green)
50 Way Down in the Hole : Blind Boys of Alabama (Tom Waits)
49 Redemption Song : Joe Strummer (Bob Marley)
48 David Watts : The Jam (The Kinks)
47 Biko : Simple Minds (Peter Gabriel)
46 Valerie : Amy Whinehouse (Zutons)
45 Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood : The Animals (Nina Simone)
44 Let Down : Radiodread (Radiohead)
43 One : Johnny Cash (U2)
42 I Fought The Law : The Clash (The Crickets)
41 Love Potion #9 : Searchers (Clovers)

Next Sunday I'll post numbers 40 - 11 and on Christmas Eve I'll let you have the countdown 10 - 1.

2008-12-12T22:52:00.008Z

Photography Exhibition : Glasgow

No Vacancy : Nicola Stead

If you've never been to Montgomery's Coffee House (near Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow) you don't know what you're missing. So I'll tell you. Great coffee and a wee photography exhibition by Nicola Stead.

The subject of the exhibition is a set of characters living in a hotel. I couldn't find any links for Monty's or the exhibition, so here's the details I have.

now to 1 February, 2009

Montgomery's Coffee House
9 Radnor Street
Glasgow
G3 7UA
Scotland

2008-12-07T14:15:00.023Z

Album Cover : Cover Songs

Album Cover

Last week, (rock) music photographer, Pennie Smith received an "outstanding contribution" gong at the Record of the Day bash. Pennie Smith is famous for her iconic image of bass smashing Paul Simonon; as used on The Clash London Calling album. This image is my second favourite rock photograph. Pennie herself finds fault with this image (because of the blur); but you can't fault the great anticipation and framing in capturing a timeless moment.

My #1 favourite rock image is a photograph of Elvis Presley (on stage) taken by photographer Roger Marshutz. Here's a link to it. It's loosely connected to the Clash image because the "London Calling" cover was inspired by the cover of Presley's debut album.

And talking of covers.................

Cover Songs

Last week Radio Scotland asked listeners to send in their favourite cover songs. My initial thought was "that's easy, covers are normally pretty tame compared to the original". So I jotted down a few favourites but the list grew and grew and grew. Over the next few weeks, and as a bit of John Peel type festive fun, I'll blog my 100 favourite cover songs.

Here's the countdown 100 - 71

My 100 Favourite Cover Songs (100- 71)

100 Rocket Man : William Shatner (Elton John)
99 Maggie's Farm : Rage Against the Machine (Bob Dylan)
98 Couldn't Get It Right : Fun Loving Criminals (Climax Blues Band)
97 Chelsea Hotel : Lloyd Cole (Leonard Cohen)
96 Enjoy The Silence : Lacuna Coil (Depeche Mode)
95 Stepping Stone : Sex Pistols (The Monkees)
94 Needles and Pins : The Ramones (Searchers)
93 Havana Affair : Red Hot Chili Peppers (The Ramones)
92 O Holy Night : Nat King Cole (traditional Carol)
91 Lets Spend The Night Together : David Bowie (The Rolling Stones)
90 Make Me Smile : Wedding Present (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel)
89 Baby Hit Me One More Time : Travis (Britney Spears)
88 Creep : Richard Cheese (Radiohead)
87 Always on my Mind : Pet Shop Boys (Brenda Lee)
86 Brother Louie : Hot Chocolate (The Stories)
85 Tears of a Clown : The Beat (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
84 Wind Cries Mary : Jamie Cullum (Jimi Hendrix)
83 She's Not There : Sanatana (The Zombies)
82 Torn : Natalie Imbruglia (Ednaswap)
81 Rocket Man : Kate Bush (Elton John)
80 Delilah : Sensational Alex Harvey Band (Tom Jones)
79 The Day Before You Came : Blancmange (ABBA)
78 Venus : Bananarama (Shocking Blue)
77 Word Up : Gun (Cameo)
76 Sweet Child of Mine : Luna (Guns N' Roses)
75 Step On : Happy Mondays (John Kongos)
74 I Call Your Name : The Boys (The Beatles)
73 Never Tear Us Apart : Tom Jones & Natalie Imbruglia (INXS)
72 The Air That I Breathe : Hollies (Phil Everly)
71 Black Magic Woman : Santana (Fleetwood Mac)

(70 - 41 will be next Sunday, 40 - 11 the following Sunday and 10 - 1 on Christmas Eve).

I make no excuses for the William Shatner cover making the list. There's a "car crash" quality to it; a work of accidental genius you could say.

2008-12-06T23:31:00.016Z

Personal Work : Very Low Light Photography

At the moment I'm into (very) low light photography. Some (people) may say you don't have much choice this side of the Scottish calendar. My favourite of the week (and favourite to date) is below. I was sheltering in the entrance to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery when the picture composed itself before me.

I'll post more images just as soon as I clear my preChristmas workload.