IN PICTURES: Perthshire Amber 2011

The hills were alive with the sound of music recently as the 7th annual Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival took place across Perthshire. From it's new home in Dunkeld, the festival spread it's tentacles north to Pitlochry, south to Perth, west to Kenmore and east to Blairgowrie.

This year the festival attracted big names such as Eliza Smith, Jenna Reid, Canadian star Buddy MacDonald and music legends Archie Fisher, Phil Cunningham and Jamie MacGregor.

The ten day festival is a bit of a musical marathon but also great fun and it was a real pleasure working with Dougie, Jenny, Julia and Jamie MacLean. Also joining the team this year was lighting guru Gary Ebdy and PR supremo Jude Henderson who both made my job just that wee bit easier.

Next year's festival takes place 26 Oct - 4 Nov 2012.

Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival Photo Gallery

The Perthshire Amber - Dougie MacLean Festival Photo Galley is now up and running where you can view over 450 images from last year's Perthshire Amber Festival which ran from the 29th October to 7th November 2010.

The gallery is packed with concert photographs, session and workshop images as well as some behind the scenes shots of Dougie MacLean, Karen Mathieson and others and the winners and runners-up of the Birnam Fiddle Tree competition.

Prints are also available to buy.

Click here to view the gallery.

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.

Farewell to Homecoming

Last week saw the final event of Homecoming Scotland 2009 - a thank you party for stakeholders and event organisers from all over Scotland. The event took place in Oran Mor in Glasgow and included entertainment from Mauchline Burns Club, the Birnam Quartet and singer Dougie MacLean (above).

Dougie wrote the song 'Caledonia' which was used throughout the year of Homecoming.

Often at these types of events the lighting looks great for the audience but isn't really suitable for photography purposes. I always use a couple of off-camera flashguns to create an interesting lighting effect whilst also maintaining the atmosphere of the occasion. In the picture above I have used two flashes on stands at either side of the stage to light the singer. They are controlled from the main flash on my camera which allows me to raise or lower the level of light. When photographing singers I also like to capture them doing something interesting 'off mic' which I think leads to more engaging image.
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Caledonia clears Perth Concert Hall

Back to work after a couple of weeks off and straight to Perth for the finale concert of Dougie MacLean's Perthshire Amber festival which ended with the Caledonia concert. I must say it's always a joy to photograph Dougie and get the chance to listen to some great music at the same time keeps those back to work blues at bay.

The show ended with a star studded line up onstage to sing Dougie's most famous song - Caledonia complete with pyrotechnics during the last verse. Unfortunately the smoke set off the automatic fire alarms and the hall had to be cleared before the cast could perform the final number of Auld Lang Syne. Rock and roll.
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Caledonia Whisky Launch

Scottish singer-songwriting icon Douglie MacLean was at the Edradour Distillery in Perthsire recently for the launch of his Caledonia Whisky with First Minister Alex Salmond. The name of the new whisky is taken from the title of one of his most famous songs which also featured in the advert for Homecoming Scotland 2009.
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The Gathering 2009

Over 50,000 people attended The Gathering 2009 in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh last weekend. Visitors included Clan members from all over the world and enjoyed entertainment from the best of Scotland music scene which included Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers who played the main stage Saturday and Sunday. One of the highlights of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
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Dougie MacLean raises a glass to Caledonia

Scotland's pre-eminent singer songwriter Douglie MacLean recently visited the Edradour Distillery in Perthsire to choose his own cask of whisky to be bottled and named 'Caledonia' after his most famous song. Edradour has teamed up with Dougie's festival Perthsire Amber to provide sponsorship for the series of concerts in October and November this year.
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