September 2023

Roaring Success

I am a keen, if erratic, golfer and am no stranger to the golf range. When I was asked by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for suggestions where to shoot the press picture for the upcoming Jurassic Park In Concert to celebrate the iconic film’s 30th anniversary, I knew exactly where to go. Jurassic Parr crazy golf was the place. I have passed it so many times my way the golf range and always wanted to have an excuse to go there for a picture. RSNO musicians Chris Hart and Susannah Lowdon were great sports really going for it with a giant  T- Rex. It really made the picture, which got publications in The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Scotsman  and The National.  The concerts that were taking place at the end of September in Edinburgh and Glasgow, saw the film projected on a big screen in HD with the RSNO performing John Williams’ score live. I went along to the sold out show. It was absolutely magnificent. What a treat having an orchestra playing the soundtrack.

A New Look for the West End

Byres Road has been a favourite destination of mine for many years. I can’t think how many times I have walked up and down that road. Always keeping an eye on new shops and bars, bemoaning the disappearance of all the record shops apart from Oxfam music. There has been a lot of change with amazing new buildings from the University of Glasgow being built. I was at the opening of the latest new structure, the Clarice Pears School of Health & Wellbeing . It’s a really cool design and I had been watching its progress. The building is as distinctive inside as out. I really like the shape and colour of the outside. It did remind me of tenements. Opening the new building was Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow; Mark Pears, Trustee, Pears Foundation; Professor Jill Pell, Head of School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow. 

Oh Yes It Is !

It’s that time of year when festive thoughts of panto are never far away. I was at Greenbank Garden in Clarkson for the launch of the Kings Theatre pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Johnny Mac, Blythe Jandoo, Elaine C Smith and  Liz Ewing were in great form doing high kicks in the magnificent gardens. The cast also signed autographs for the visitors, who were delighted at the festive surprise on their day out.

JoJo Gnome Shapes Up

I had a lovely trip up to Oban with my better half Jo Hall, writer and producer of JoJo Gnome’s Story Podcast. We visited Lochnell Primary, Benderloch  to do story workshops based around shapes with the younger primary children as part of the run up to Maths Week Scotland. The pupils had great fun with JoJo Gnome and were  joined Robyn the Robot for some dancing fun with numbers. I didn’t do any dancing, my excuse was I was taking the pictures. The kids were pictured with Jo and their Maths Week shapes. They looked fab in the Oban Times. Their film can be viewed here.

More Monsters & Myths

I had a super visit to the Glasgow Cathedral for the press photo call for the latest Children’s Classic Concerts production of ‘Myths & Monsters’. Children’s Classic Concert’s artistic director, presenter and percussionist, Owen Gunnell was looking good in his jesters suit doing battle Ryan Ferrie as The Wicked Knight. Also helping us was RSNO musicians Sophie Lang and Peter Dykes with RSNO youth chorus members Ameilia and Emilia. What a great location. I love the atmosphere down in the crypt of the cathedral. Mind you I would be scared going in at night.

Remembering Srebrenica Scotland

I was at the launch the play ‘Inseparable: Lessons from a nation divided’ by writer James Taylor  at the Reconnect Regal Theatre in Bathgate. It is a powerful piece set in the modern day, which explores adult themes of war crimes and violence through the eyes of three teenagers. I found it a really moving, emotional and I’ll say it again ‘powerful’ production. I shot the whole play using my Canon silent shutter. It had to be done this way as a shutter clicking away in the background would have distracted the audience, as you could have literally heard a pin drop. The production was commissioned by Remembering Srebrenica Scotland, a charity dedicated to education about the Bosnian genocide and the events that led to the killing of more than 8,000 men and boys in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995.  It does this by telling survivor stories, and aims to promote community cohesion and tolerance in Scotland, and beyond.