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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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