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I have been increasingly dissatisfied with the way Flickr displays my photographs. This is linked with my inability to get on well with social media in general, perhaps with the exception of Twitter. Here is a screen shot of what my Flickr page looked like just before I took the hatchet to it.
Read More Saying so long to Flickr clutter
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Had a lovely couple of hours doing the Pedal On Parliament ride today and took the opportunity to spend the time photographing people. Everyone was in a good mood and, although there were a few people who didn’t want their photos taken, most were up for it. I had a couple of out of focus…
Read More People @ Pedal On Parliament 2014
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Andy has worked at the botanics for over 25 years and is actually a lot more cheerful than he appears in this photo – but I like the shot. He was working with Norman on the organ donor memorial.
Read More 100 Portraits: Andy
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Norman was working with Andy to build the National Organ Donor Memorial in the gardens. He is a drystane dyker by trade but many years ago he was a student at the botanics. A fascinating guy to talk to.
Read More 100 Portraits: Norman
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Finally got around to photographing Reuben. We had just been having a meeting about putting children’s drawings on line and generally sorting out the problems of the world. At the end of the chat Reuben stepped outside for a smoke and let me take his photo. He is tall so I had to stand on…
Read More 100 Portraits: Reuben
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Greg runs the education programs and is such a nice guy. We talked about work whilst he ate his lunch and took a couple of calls then sat quickly for a portrait. Multitasking whilst remaining totally unflappable. The sun has been shining but Greg’s office has a window that faces another building and fire escape…
Read More 100 Portraits: Greg
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Colin works in estates and although I walk past his office every day we have rarely spoken. I caught him “vaping” outside and he was very easy about having his photo taken. The light was picking up today so there is actually some shadow to use. Really annoyed that his collar is caught on his…
Read More 100 Portraits: Colin 2Martin runs the conifer conservation project and, as conifers don’t have flowers and are considered ‘lower’ plants he is located in the basement along with David. The windows are almost below ground level but provide just enough light through the foliage.
Read More 100 Portraits: MartinDavid is one of our senior scientists who is just about to leave (partially retire?) to live abroad. He works on Diatoms which are considered ‘lower’ plants and so his office is in the basement. The sun had come out briefly and provided just enough light into the room.
Read More 100 Portraits: DavidNumber 63 in my series. Colin was very relaxed about coming to be photographed. The day was overcaste again I stood him by the window with the heating pipes behind. In another shot we had gone quite a way into the building but the light became too ghoulish.
Read More 100 Portraits: ColinI have known Mark for 25+ years so it is actually quite odd photographing him. The days continue to be overcaste and dull so light is very low contrast even using windows.
Read More 100 Portraits: MarkWI think I have found myself a new studio. There is a staircase with a very tall window that I thought would give light too soft but if I move people up and down the stair I can change the lighting quite a bit. Check out the keylights in Bhaskar’s eyes. The window gives cat-like…
Read More 100 Portraits: BhaskarI had liked the light in Lorna’s office when I had been in for meetings but when I went in this time it was pretty dismal. I ended up getting her to stand on the window ledge (on the inside!) The next obstacle was that she kept laughing – maybe because I was asking her…
Read More 100 Portraits: LornaThe dreek weather and short days continue. This shot was taken at 1:10pm and that is a South facing window! I decided to use the interal lighting in the library rather than the window light and stood on a kick stool to try and get some light on Graham’s face. Graham was really good to…
Read More 100 Portraits: GrahamThe light over the last week has been really rubbish. Although most of the shots I have been doing have been indoors it is surprising how dreek weather can also ruin the window light. I tried photographing Elspeth at her desk under artificial lights but the shots just weren’t working. It is amazing how horrid…
Read More 100 Portraits: Elspeth
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David is leaving to work at another institute at the end of the month so was in a hurry to put things in order. I’m beginning to notice that when people feel rushed portraits don’t work so well but I’m really pleased with this one. You need to step outside time for a few moments…
Read More 100 Portraits: DavidI had warned Stephan I might catch him for a photo and he was very relaxed about it. He seems comfortable in his own skin. Stephan’s office is quite narrow with a massive North facing window so the contrast was low. This B&W conversion was done in Silver Efex. I can’t decide if I am…
Read More 100 Portraits: StephanI was looking for David but found Louise – someone I had wanted to photograph but not warned yet. She has been getting into photography so was keen to be a victim. I dragged her away from her desk in a cluttered lab into the herbarium for a few minutes. The herbarium is a wonderful…
Read More 100 Portraits: LouiseI’ve been having fun this weekend with a postcard that was posted in 1925. I think the image on the card was taken quite a bit earlier maybe even at the end of the 19th century. The scene is of Old Bakehouse Close, Edinburgh, off the Royal Mile. The area has been much renovated…
Read More Old Bakehouse Ghosts
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I finally managed to get talking to Jimmy when he was free and I was free and the light was OK. We stepped outside to a covered area with soft light. Still a bit top heavy but not bad. I took about ten shots. There were two shots I liked, one with hat and glasses…
Read More 100 Portraits: Jimmy
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I’m really pleased with today’s photo. Tamsin comes along to the meditation group on Fridays and for breakfast after. The room has two story South facing windows. At this time of year we finish up soon after dawn so the light can be really variable but is often incredible. I took ten shots. It took…
Read More 100 Portraits: TamsinAt Auchmithie, a photo by National Galleries of Scotland Commons on Flickr. I find this shot from the National Galleries collection strangely moving. It was taken in 1881 up the coast from Dundee. The older girl (a working women really) is wearing the apron of someone who processes fish (probably gutting them). She is wondering…
Read More At Auchmithie
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This is a lovely postcard combined with a quick snap. I’ll have to go back when the Christmas lights are down and it maybe isn’t so crowded. I also need to find historic images in which people figure more prominently. It is people who are interesting after all!
Read More First attempt at rephotographing St GilesThese are two photographs from my series of 100 Portraits in 2013. Sheila, my mother-in-law, is 86 years old and Mary, her granddaughter, is 18. These were among 48 portraits I made in 2013. I failed to make it even half way to 100 portraits but I learnt a lot. It is difficult to put…
Read More Goal setting is good – even when you ‘fail’I have not blogged for a while. I’m not sure if the urge has left me or if I just haven’t found time. There seem to be too many words in the world so I’d like to move to doing more visual stuff and this tends to be sucked into my Flickr stream rather than…
Read More Rephotography – Making a StartAfter I photographed Morag she sent me this video clip. First time I have emedded an advert – but I think the message is good… you just don’t need too much soap! Cannes Gold Lion Winner 2013 Ciclops 2013 – Gold for Direction Kinsale Shark awards 2013 – Gold Directed by Everynone Client: Dove Agency:…
Read More When did you stop thinking you were beautiful?