Outlander Comes to Glasgow

I got to meet Outlander author, Diana Gabaldon at the University of Glasgow as she opened the 1st International Outlander conference at the University of Glasgow. Expert scholars and Outlander fans joined Dr Gabaldon to tackle themes such as Jacobite history, screen production, Scottish tourism, Gaelic and Scots language, costume design, fandom, Claire Fraser’s medicine, and witchcraft. Her talk entitled, ‘”Why Scotland? Why Not Mexico?” explained why she wrote a book set in Scotland. She was a delight to photograph in the University’s cloisters proudly wearing the University tartan scarf.

The Outlander literary series is made up of nine thrilling instalments, and tells the tale of a post-Second World War nurse who accidentally time travels to Jacobite Scotland. Outlander became one of the bestselling book series of all time and spawned the hugely popular TV series, currently in its seventh season.

The International Outlander Conference took place from 18-22 July at the University of Glasgow and was a landmark event. 

Graduations at The Royal Conservatoire

I love doing the honours graduations at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I photographed Christopher Hampson CEO/Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet as he was  joined by ballet students with their degrees on the steps of the Conservatoire.

Next was Garth Knox who is one of the most prominent violists of his generation and at the forefront of contemporary music. The guys joined around 300 students who graduated across music, drama, dance, production, film and education at the conservatoire. The Conservatoire was named one of the world’s top ten destinations to study the performing and production arts in the QS World University Rankings earlier this year.

Berlin Bikes

With August bringing the UCI World Cycling Championships coming to Glasgow, I was on a cycling assignment. HAUS Collective founding directors Murray Henderson and Jim Webster  were  taking on a 532-mile cycle challenge from Glasgow to Berlin to raise £10,000 for the homelessness charity, The Marie Trust. They headed off from their base in the merchant city in Glasgow. I could not believe how light the bikes were. My old bike weighted a ton.

Heathers in the Rain

June started with a buzz at The Kings Theatre when the show The Heathers came to town. The cast of ‘Heathers The Musical’ were at the front of The King’s Theatre wearing their iconic, bright coloured uniforms,  to celebrate the start of the musical’s first-ever run in Glasgow. Following two smash hit West End seasons, a record-breaking run at The Other Palace and winning the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical, this show is a black comedy rock musical based on the eponymous 1989 film, Westerberg High’s Veronica. The girls were such a laugh, although it was a typical rainy day so the cast had to use the shelter of the door and not come outside. Unfortunately the photographers all got soaked!

Adam Smith Tercentenary Week

I have photographed broadcaster Kirsty Wark many times over the years. She is lovely and one of my favourite photo shoots that involved her, was all about baking. On this occasion she was with Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund who was delivering Hunter Foundation Lecture at the magnificent Bute Hall in the University of Glasgow. Kirsty was introducing Gita’s fascinating talk for the start of the Adam Smith Tercentenary Week.  Gita was also awarded an Honorary degree, a Doctor of Letters. It was quite a start to week of events to celebrate the Scottish economist and philosopher.

Buzzin’ Around

I had a lovely letter from someone wanting to buy one of my Instagram pictures. It was of a bee buzzing around one of our alliums in the garden. It’s nice to think of one of my pictures hanging on someones wall. 

THE MöBIUS TRIP at The Edinburgh International Film Festival

Back in 2021 I was working, with my son Mark, doing stills on a short film by the talented writer director Simone Smith called THE MöBIUS TRIP. The film about a road trip which pushes a dysfunctional family to the brink after their journey descends into a claustrophobic hallucinatory nightmare. The film is going to this years Edinburgh festival and it was  so nice to see my picture being used in the promotion material. The film was also in this year’s Glasgow Short Film Festival. Have a look at the trailer on You Tube.

Oban Trip for Calmness & Relaxation

I love Oban, and its always nice to have an excuse for a trip up there. This time I was with my better half, Jo writer and producer of JoJo Gnome’s Story Podcast. We visited Easdale Primary to do story workshops based around emotions with their younger primary children, funded by Creative Scotland.  The pupils enjoyed JoJo Gnome stories and talked about their emotions. They even did some relaxing breathing exercises with leaves to help with calmness and relaxation.  The children also worked with Jo on their own happiness story. The picture of one of the pupils doing breathing exercises made the pages of The National and The Herald the next day. You can see their film here.