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| Transatlantic Sessions |
Music is our first and last memory. It’s the most interconnected and emotional of all the arts. I came across the strong impact of live music on the folk scene in Scotland and Edinburgh - with those soaring fiddles, strumming guitars and banjos, the beats and rhythms of the bohran. The immediate energy, the collective voice and instinctive collaborations; the power of the moving ballad, sung by a plaintive female singer; or the emotion and memories of a traditional ballad.
Many of the greatest songwriters start of by singing the history and past times of the traditional folk ballads and tunes –notably Bob Dylan and Robert Burns being two.
I’ve long held a passion for the visual image. I enjoyed sketching with those varying thickness of pencils: from the softest 5B to the hard edges of 5H pencils, or with charcoal or water paints and ink. I took art at school and I played piano too. I explored portraits, still life and the sense of lost horizons.
I began shooting music photography in 2007. I discovered that a good image is mostly about having a good eye, while good technique and equipment helps. I shot mostly at small venues and festivals, and received positive feedback and commissions.
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| Paul McCartney Hampden |
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| Snow Patrol Bellahouston |
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| Van Morrison |
Some highlight concerts: Michael Marra Mugdock theatre: Elton John SECC; Van Morrison Concert hall; Fleetwood Mac SECC; Bob Dylan Braehead arena; Paul Simon Clyde Auditorium; Del Amitri Hydro; Paul McCartney Hampden; Nicola Benedetti Concert hall; Snow Patrol Bellahouston; Nile Rodgers at Edinburgh book festival Unbound;
At Milngavie Folk Club: (2012 – 2018) often had an amazing line up of top Scots folk artists. Dick Gaughan, Dougie MacLean, Rab Noakes, Barbara Dickson, Cara Dillon,Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Blue Rose Code,
And every August I took photos at the Edinburgh festivals.
And each January at Celtic Connections festival (2008 – 2020) Transatlantic Sessions, Grit orchestra, Capercaillie, Richard Thompson, the Chieftains, Punch Brothers, Julie Fowlis, Eddi Reader, Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas, Kris Drver, Karine Polwart, Tim O’Brien, Martin Carthy, Russ Barenberg; Blazin Fiddles; Lau, Rosanne Cash, Ross Wilson, Martha Wainwright, and many more.
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| Dick Gaughan & Karine Polwart |
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| Eddie Reader |
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| Sandy Bells bar Edinburgh |
I’ve taken images at Edinburgh International Book festival from 2010 – 2019, Charlotte Square Edinburgh Scotland.
This festival is one of the first and biggest book festival begun in 1983. Many famous faces, authors, artists, scientists, musicians, politicians, At first its strange meeting very well known faces – Seamus Heaney, Neil Gaiman, Edna O’Brien, Alexander MacColl Smith, Carol Joyce Oats, Ruth Rendall, Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, John Byrne,
I have a large archive of images on my photo website - https://pkimage.co.uk
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| John Byrne |
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| Alexander Macoll Smith |
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| Alan Bissett |
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| Jackie Kay |
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| Ian Rankin |
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| Iain Banks & Alex Salmond |
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| Seamus Heaney |
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| Nicola Benedetti |
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| Elotn John SECC |
