Hotline during the cold time

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil MSP yesterday visited the offices of the Energy Saving Trust to pay tribute to the energy experts who manned the hotlines. Nearly 7000 people called the government's energy assistance centre during the recent cold snap. Also pictured is senior energy advisor Roddy Hamilton.
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Fisherman's Friend

The third commission for the Nick Nairn Cookschool Spectrum Magazine food spread features a lovely fish pie. At this time of year, comfort food will go down well with the whole family. Want to give it a go? The recipe is here.
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Edinburgh Friends

Spread from Edinburgh Friends, the magazine of The University of Edinburgh featuring images from the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine. The team are leading research into diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinson's.
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Offaly Good Food Photography

The second batch of photographs commissioned by Scotland on Sunday's Spectrum Magazine for the Nick Nairn Cook School food spread. This week sees the team preparing Braised Oxtail with winter vegetables. Once classed as offal, Oxtail, if cooked correctly can make the base of a perfect stew.

The full recipe is here.
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Just a Moment...

Canadian skater Jenna Burton photographed last month on the ice at Winter Wonderland. Jenna works at Scottish Widows and bravely offered to pose for the back cover of 'Life Times', the magazine os Scottish Widows. Although Jenna hadn't skated for a number of years she did really well and we nailed this shot in just a couple of takes.
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Gallic Charm at the Barley Bree

Nestled in the village of Muthill just south of Crieff is the Barley Bree, a restaurant with rooms owned by French chef Fabrice Bouteloup and his wife Alison. Photographed for Scotland on Sunday's Spectrum Magazine.

Definitely one on my list to go back and visit for the weekend sometime this year.
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Hungry Yet?

These photographs are first in a series commissioned by Spectrum Magazine for the regular food column by Scottish chef Nick Nairn. The photographs illustrate a step by step guide to home cooking. This series focused Thai food using the theme of airline food, combining Scottish beef with a Thai recipe. You can follow the recipe here.





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The Thai High Club

Food spread in yesterday's Spectrum Magazine by Nick Nairn. I spent a day up at his cook school at the Lake of Menteith just before Christmas. Great experience and just like having a personal cooking lesson. More to follow next week.
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La Favorita

La Favorita Italian restaurant on Leith Walk, Edinburgh. Photographed for Scotland on Sunday's Spectrum Magazine.
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Happy New Year

I didn't have to go far for this photograph; it was taken the other evening at the back of my house. A great start to 2010 if you don't have to go anywhere but not so much fun if you have to travel.

Best wishes for 2010.
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A Little Bit of Joy

The 2009 Christmas Card which was originally a commission from Scotland on Sunday's Spectrum Magazine last year and appeared on the front cover of the magazine.

A very Merry Christmas to present and future clients and warm wishes for 2010.
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Happy Birthday. To Me.

I am 3 years old. Well, my freelance professional photography business is. Three years ago I left the bosom of The Scotsman group to set out on my own and I haven't looked back. It's been an amazing three years working with clients such as Historic Scotland, Homecoming Scotland, The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival and various PR companies all over the UK.

The photography business is very competitive but I believe that the key to success is to provide an excellent service, resulting in a high quality product built upon long lasting relationships with clients. Most of the clients I had in day one are still with me. Sincere thanks to present and future clients. Here's to the next 3 years!
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Toy Story

It's always great to see your work in print and I was delighted when flicking through the Saturday papers to come across The Scotsman magazine and find that they had used one of my photographs on the front cover. The picture was taken about a month ago and was part of a commission on the toy department at the John Lewis store in Edinburgh.
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Santa's Little Helper

Gaby Souter from The Scotsman Magazine spent a day in the toy department of the John Lewis store in Edinburgh recently to learn about the big sellers in the run up to Christmas.
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Boys Night In

Scotland's top model and former Miss Scotland Stephanie Willemse gets ready to welcome guests to Jane Davidson's annual Boys Night In - a special boys only shopping event held at the exclusive Peter Johnston's Edinburgh Townhouse.
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Happy Birthday

Falkirk based international company Redeem, leaders in recovery, refurbishment and recycling of consumer electronic devices celebrated their 10th Anniversary at the weekend with a party at The Falkirk Wheel. Guests from all over the world were greeted by a piper in full Highland Dress.

The shot was tricky to capture and I had to use a tripod to ensure that the lights and logo on the wheel were sharp, then add some off camera flash to pull the piper out of the picture. The light rain helped with reflections on the ground.
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Heather the Weather

I have been working my way through the girls from the BBC. First it was Sally Magnusson, then Jackie Bird and last night it was Scotland's favourite weather girl Heather Reid. I am of course talking about hosts for The Green Energy Awards. Heather did a great job at The Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Congratulations to all the winners!
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The Famous Lorraine Kelly

Scottish television star Lorraine Kelly celebrated her 50th birthday recently and to commemorate the event Famous Grouse and VisitScotland got together to produce a one off bottling of The Famous Lorraine Kelly. Slainte!
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The Final Fling

Last night saw the curtain fall on Homecoming Scotland 2009 with a series of St Andrew's Day events in appropriately enough, St Andrews. It's been quite a year and as official photographer for Homecoming I have covered events the length and breadth of Scotland.

So it is appropriate that the final image I shot was of the Son et Lumiere - images of the history of Scotland and the story of Saint Andrew projected onto the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. More images here.

My favourite photograph from the year was taken on the launch weekend in Dumfries and shows a small girl holding a lantern on front of the Homecoming logo. You can see it here.
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Homecoming Live: In Pictures

Homecoming Live took over the SECC in Glasgow in Friday night with an array of Scottish bands and artists which included Deacon Blue, Twin Atlantic, Idlewild, Teenage Fanclub, King Creosote and Midge Ure. The concerts kicked off a weekend of celebrations to mark the end of Homecoming Scotland 2009. More pictures here.
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