Good enough to Eat

Former Miss Scotland Lois Weatherup braves the cold to model a bespoke Lees of Scotland Snowball dress in Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow.

As Lees of Scotland, one of Scotland’s leading confectioners, enters its 80th year in business, it’s celebrating with another milestone as it reveals it has produced a mammoth 1.6 billion Snowballs since the product was introduced in the 1950s.

To mark the occasion, a unique snowball dress made from hundreds of Lees Snowballs has been designed by Glasgow School of Art graduate Lori Marshall.

Lees of Scotland is synonymous with the iconic mallow snowballs which are loved by generations. The Lees Snowball is made to a traditional recipe and contains a soft fluffy mallow covered in chocolate and flakes of coconut.

Rather cold in Kelvingrove park - even a hot water bottle and a nibble at the snowballs couldn't warm up the model.

More here and here.

Green Energy Awards 2010

Despite the recent poor weather conditions, The Green Energy Awards 2010 took place last week at the EICC and over 800 people attended the event hosted by funnyman Fred MacCaulay. The keynote speak was given by Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore.

View all the images here.

St Andrews Festival

One of the few Scotland's Winter Festival events which wasn't called off because of the heavy snow was the St Andrews Festival in the Fife town of St Andrews. The four day long event featured ceilidhs, carol singing, ice skating and fireworks.

Lennoxlove Book Festival

Lennoxlove Book Festival which took place at Lennoxlove House near Haddington last weekend and attracted authors such as Alasdair Campbell, Iain M Banks, Mary Contnini and Nicolas Parsons.

Radio Forth Awards 2010

One of my favourite gigs of the year, the Radio Forth Awards 2010 took place at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. The awards celebrate local heroes and the audience was treated to performances by Joe McElderry, Olly Murs, Alesha Dixon and Paulo Nutini.

More view the complete gallery and buy prints click here

RSV Originals

Russian Standard Vodka Originals brought three nights of concerts this week to the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh. Music fans won tickets to the free concerts performed by Plan B The Hoosiers and White Lies.

This is the second session of concerts I have photographed for RSV - the first being The Noisettes back in May this year.

Perfect 10

This image was produced as a publicity shot for the recent Euromillions draw which promised to make 10 people millionaires. It was shot in a studio in Glasgow and took a number of attempts until we got the numbers just the way we wanted them to look. Tricky job shooting in the dark but very pleased with the result.

Too Early for a Resolution?

I am delighted that two of my photographs have been used on the latest Dougie MacLean CD Resolution which was launched at Perthshire Amber last week.

Two images of Dougie photographed last year at Perth Concert Hall were used on the back of the jewel case and also on the back cover of the booklet. I also photographed the paining by Jenny MacLean which is used on the cover.

Copies of the Resolution will be available from DougieMacLean.com.

Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival

I first met Dougie MacLean in London a few years ago and then photographed him several times last year when working on Homecoming Scotland 2009. I have always admired his music so I was delighted when he asked me to photograph Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival up in Perthshire last week. It's a 10 day long feast of events in locations as diverse as Dunkeld Cathedral, Castle Menzies, Perth Concert Hall, The Crannog and of course Pitlochry Festival Theatre which is the hub of the operation.

Galleries of images can be seen of the Festival Facebook page here and on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RobMcDougallPhoto

Burke and Hare

As more set-jetters are expected to visit Edinburgh this year on the back of the latest Burke & Hare film, new research carried out by YouGov on behalf of VisitScotland shows that 64% of people across the UK are keen to learn about ghostly myths on an autumn break.

Burke and Hare came to prominence in 1820 when they started murdering and selling their victims bodies for use in Dr Knox’s infamous Edinburgh Medical school classes.

The Burke and Hare movie, starring Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tim Curry and Ronnie Corbett, was filmed at a host of landmarks from around the city including Edinburgh Castle, Heriot Place, Old Fishmarket Close, Merchant Street, Milne Court and the Anatomy Museum at the Medical School of Edinburgh University. It gives a light hearted insight into the escapades of these two evil murders who originally came from Northern Ireland to work on Scotland’s Union Canal.

Photographed for VisitScotland with actors from Mercat Tours.

Are Ya Dancin?

Are Ya Dancin brought together the thriving professional and community dance organisations within Dundee to celebrate the Delhi Handover Ceremony taking place at this year’s Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.

Comprising a series of experimental workshops for schools, community groups and the public, the event was a fun, social and healthy celebration accessible to all ages and backgrounds.

The ‘Great Big Dance Show’ finale event will also provided an exciting opportunity for amateur dance groups to perform alongside professional dance companies at the Dundee Rep Theatre.

BUY PRINTS HERE

Foraging with Amanda Hamilton

I spent the day recently with TV nutritionist Amanda Hamilton at the Ardanaiseig Hotel in Argyll who was taking part in a foraging activity. Foraging for food is becoming increasingly popular in Scotland and VisitScotland is promoting the activity as part of their Harvest campaign.

I have photographed Amanda several times over the years and she is always a joy to work with.

More photographs on my Facebook page.

Quarriers

YOUNG HOMELESS SCOTS CALL FOR MORE SUPPORT FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT.

YOUNG HOMELESS SCOTS INCLUDING SEAN RICE SUPPORTED BY QUARRIERS PRESENTED A SIGNED PETITION TO RHONA BRANKIN MSP, CONVENOR OF THE PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE CALLING FOR SUPPORT FOR 'OUR CHARTER' WHICH SEEKS CONSISTENT SUPPORT AND CHANGES TO THE HOUSING AND BENEFITS SYSTEM.

Making It All Add Up

Learning and Teaching Scotland's Connected Magazine with a special feature on how Craft Design and Technology fits in with the new Curriculum for Excellence.

Commissioned for LTS by White Light Media.

Oil Museum Hits The Mark

Museums Galleries Scotland announced today that a museum collection which tells the story of the Scottish shale oil industry has been unveiled as the 37th Recognised Collection of National Significance. The collection can be seen at the Almond Valley Heritage Centre in Livingston which contains over 2,500 objects including the paraffin lamp and oil samples pictured above.

Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop visited the centre to mark the occassion.

Well worth a visit. More info here. And the full story on the BBC here.