Tuesday 31 July 2018

Music and Portrait photography


One of my main focuses with photography is making music images.

And the importance of good photos. I believe that a great image has great significance - then again perhaps great artists make great images? Here are a few of the images that have inspired me. I was inspired by great images in Life magazines and by jazz images. I love the stories in great images... 



Frank Sinatra Albert hall London
When I arrived at the the Royal Albert hall London in November 2012 - I thought wow, to take an image like this of Frank Sinatra on stage....I read of a photographer just happening to be at the right place, at the right time and was taken on a Paul McCartney’s photographer for his tour. And I thought maybe one day I would take images of some of my all time musical heroes....
Hurts

I continue to cover concerts, festivals and events, while I focus on several other projects. Music has always been a life long passion since I played piano songs at the age o seven and art too.
It has been great being able to combine the two. 

My other focus is portraiture, which is no easy task and a patient challenge to capture something a bit different and the character and moods. 
Ian Rankin
Alexander McCall Smith
I needed to allow space, movement, escapism, movement and time for dreams in my images. Time to escape in the moment.
I’ve had shoots with hours of time when the artists, the musicians, the dancers who have put their hearts on the line, after their commitment to gruelling hard graft, and that's usually when I take my best images.  

Culture matters. Our stories matter. 
TESTIMONIALS: 'you use the light exceptionally well, full of life.’ 'You have a wonderfully observing & imaginative eye.' ''you're really very talented & have a great eye - it's a rare skill!' 'they are fab as always, you're truly amazing at your art'  - https://pkimage.co.uk

Paul Simon Hydro July 2018



Magical and spiritual music which lifts the heart and soul. 

As we dance, have our hearts broken, enjoy nostalgia and our dreams can fly too, Simon began contemplatively with America And Fifty Ways, before taking up the energy with his full band for his wonderful Boy in the Bubble.  


Simon later reclaimed his fond child Bridge Over Troubled Water. He said this song simply passed through him.  He talked about his musical journeys and songwriting. 

Simon writes some of the best and most poignant lyrics. 
He sang more Surrealist songs -
If you and I were an accident 
Then the road offers no resistance,
I’m beneath the stars,
Dazzling blue


His set was interspersed with his hit songs, while he left the best for last. So many highlights! – Mother and Child ReunionSlip Sliding Away, along with his fun dance tune such as Me and  Jolio Down by the Schoolyard. As well as his outstanding lyrics, Simon songs have those well known riffs 
What a joyful encore when Simon treated us to his best loved songs – Homeward Bound. Sounds of Silence….
There was lots of love in the room and all those spiritual voices.
Simon's Song Odysseys.  

Monday 30 July 2018

Rab Noakes Anniversayville

Thanks so much Rab Noakes for the early hard copy of your new CD - and I am thrilled to have my Photos on there! 
Great band surrounding Rab Noakes Music top songs, some new, some old. Plus backing vocals with Jill Jackson and Kathleen MacInnes.. ...Things get better with maturity! Well done.


In the 60s and 70s, Rab played with greats such as Gerry Rafferty and Lindisfarne. When I hung out in the folk scene then, i remember well the harmony singing of Noakes songs, such as Branch, Clear Day. 
Back in 2007, I saw Noakes still going strong at an Oran Mor gig. He often includes a fifties classic, this time a song my husband remembered his mother singing. He is also a dedicated Dylan follower – check out his version of Mississippi. 

Noakes says music is all about the dialogue and more about performing than simply the song. Those residency night gigs were artists can learn their craft in front of the live audience and the live performance when 'flying' in the heart of the music toughens you up and you have to learn loads of songs. He played in Denmark six nights a week.
Noakes now runs his own production company Neon. 

Some of my Rab Noakes images
Rab Noakes performing at Celtic concert for Michael Marra
Rab Noakes at Celtic with Eddi Reader and Dougie MacLean
Noakes at Milngavie folk club
Rab Noakes at the Old Fruitmarket Anniversaryville concert January 2018

NEW ALBUM 2018 Rab Noakes -'Welcome to Anniversaryville'
https://itunes.apple.com/…/welcome-to-anniversar…/1394881656
One of my favourite Noakes song, Gently Does It
And a few years ago you'd been on this road so long
Now they're building a highway to take you home
Gently does it for a change
I used to think you were just like a mountain range
Your big boots stomped where small men feared to tread
I can hardly believe what I've just read
They say you can't travel any more
But you've got the key to a new front door
And don't you know 'cause you once said it all
When you stand so high you've got so far to fall
Not everyone can look you eye to eye
'Cause you get difficult, dangerous I'm damned if I lie
But we all pay the price
And they place your ante high.

The Nature of Nationalism


Excellent article by Isobel Lindsay National July 2018 on the nature of nationalism. 
Lindsay writes that, “nationhood  is morally neutral – like say parenting. It ranges from commitment to place, self-government, national identity and to enthusiastic internationalism in which nations co-operate within agreed structures. 
At the football World Cup we saw a display of nationalism that was good natured – both internationalism with competition and co-operation among the nations, promoting their national interest within a set of agreed rules an shared objectives." 


The commitment to a specific place and people is an essential part of the human condition. The group is essential to our survival and the development of culture. Below the surface we are all nationalist. Nationhood is about shared values, distinctive identity, civic culture, shared experience and mutual understandings. What is the alternative to nationalism and the nation state?  

Uniquely, and unlike populist far right national groups in Europe. Scotland's nationalist movement, going back to the 19th century, was led by people whose values were egalitarian, liberal and internationalist - Roland Muirhead, Cunningham Graham, Compton Mackenzie, Neil Gunn, John Maclean. In other words a fight for civil and social rights. 


Lindsay writes, “It has been one of the failings of the left in England to ignore national identity issues and it gives the opportunity to the right to impose their interpretation on nationalism.”’ 
Therefore “England has allowed the right to define Britishness and Englishness in their own image - of monarchy, military and of a mythical rural idyll.” 
Isobel Lindsay on the nature of nationalism, The Nation July 2018

Edinburgh Festivals 2018!


The worlds largest arts festival has invited the world and the world came……
One of the highlights of my year is visiting the Edinburgh festivals in Augusts –  the Fringe, the Arts festival, the Edinburgh Book festival, as well as the main International festival. 


My main focus is always the Edinburgh International book festival, where I attend talks and do photography. Many famous faces attend from across the world of literature, politicians, sports, music the arts, science. I have photos of Scottish and authors worldwide on my website – 
Seamus Heaney, John Byrne, Ian Rankin, Iain Banks, Alex Salmond Liz Lochhead, Mark Baaumont, Neil Gaiman, Elif Shafak, Ruth Rendell, Maggie O’Farrell, Joanne Harris, Martin Amis, Nile Rodgers, Alan Cummings, Simon Callow, John Byrne - http://pkimage.co.uk/edinburghbookfestival

In the perfect setting of Charlotte square Edinburgh. EIBF is a celebration of books, written words ideas, spaces to collaborate and exchange views, inspiring stories. retrieving and renewing. I am looking outward to common interests, shared values, an informed country, and to renew the Scottish arts. The book festival will celebrate 'freedom' as their theme this year. 


Last year I was proud my son took part in the Edinburgh Fringewith the Aberdeen Aperpella group at Surgeons hall – the always popular harmony singing groups – and performed on the high street.  
The biggest part of the fringe is comedy – as well as musicals, drama, dance, music, 

The Edinburgh Arts festival is hosting a show on Scottish photography at the Arts Centre, As well as a show on Rembrandt at the Scottish National galleries. 

LINKS - 
EDINBURGH ARTS FESTIVALS -  https://edinburghartfestival.com/scottish-photography
EDINBURGH FRINGE-   https://www.edfringe.com
EDINBURGH BOOK FESTIVAL -  https://www.edbookfest.co.uk
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - https://www.eif.co.uk

This year will see a high street revamp, I look forward to that!  The high street is always a must see. There will be nearly a thousand performers over the vast array of 3,500 varied venues. To provide the biggest platform for creative and for freedom of expression 
"All the arts involve writing and reading, in the widest sense, writing as in composition, creation, production, publication and reading as in attentive analysis, interpretation, conversation, comparisons and contrasts." Alan Raich

Theatre show Leo
Skating minster by Henry Raeburn