Royal College of Nursing Bulletin

This was a tricky job to photograph. The brief required a portrait of an overseas nurse who had received help from the Royal College of Nursing but didn't want to be identified. Luckily the weather was kind to me and there was just enough low winter sun to be able to shoot the portrait as a silhouette .

Ryder Cup 2014 Announcement

The Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland, will take place from Friday September 26 to Sunday September 28 2014 with Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business and producer of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, being named as an Official Partner.

The date for the 40th staging of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States was announced at The Gleneagles Hotel yesterday in the presence of Scotland’s First Minister, The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, European Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills, Peter Lederer, Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel, and Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of The Gleneagles Hotel.

Andrew Murray: The Running Man

Dr Andrew Murray photographed on Portobello Beach after completing his Scotland to Sahara challenge which involved running 2650 miles in 78 days to raise money in an attempt to reduce poverty in the South Gobi region of Mongolia.

For more information and to donate click here.

Fallen Angel

Soprano Lydia Teuscher is a vision, with angel’s wings specially created for her to wear in the Usher Hall this morning.

Lydia will be singing in Das Paradies und die Peri, the Opening Concert of Edinburgh International Festival 2011.

Her winged outfit is inspired by the plot of the Opening Concert which tells of the peri, a winged, fairy like creature descended from fallen angels who is regains paradise through the tear of a repentant sinner

Lydia’s wings have been created by Edinburgh artist Joanne Sykes. Their design was also inspired by the chrysanthemums on the front of the Edinburgh International Festival 2011 programme.

King of the Castle

Nick Finnigan has been appointed as Executive Manager of Edinburgh Castle, taking over from Barbara Smith.

Nick has worked in Historic Scotland since 1989. His extensive experience within the organisation includes managing corporate hospitality, catering, membership and weddings. In his previous role as Events and Filming Manager, Nick was responsible for the organisation of the packed events programme that entertains the millions of visitors to Historic Scotland’s 345 sites each year.

Recent work for Taylor Wimpey

Queen's Gate is a new development of houses by Taylor Wimpey situated on the outskirts of the beautiful border town of Peebles. I got lucky shooting the exteriors of the houses a couple of weeks ago as the sun appeared just as I arrived then promptly disappeared just after I had taken the images.

I prefer an overcast day when shooting interiors as it makes the light inside more even, avoiding the harsh contrasts which direct sunlight can produce.

Well worth a visit if you are down that way. More information here.

Royal Palace Comes Alive

Costumed performers will soon be appearing at the newly restored Royal Palace in Stirling Castle when it opens to the public in June.

The images appeared in in local and national media and will be used for Historic Scotland publications.

Read more on the Stirling Castle blog here.

Expedia open Scottish Office

The world's number one on-line travel company Expedia recently opened it's first Scottish office in Edinburgh, headed by Irene Roberts.

The expansion into Scotland is part of the company’s plans to grow its global network of market managers at key destinations around the world.

BUPA GREAT EDINBURGH CROSS COUNTRY

Mo Farah produced a great start to his New Year with an awesome performance to win the the International Men's Team Challenge at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country on Saturday.
Farah destroyed the hopes of his rivals with a tactical break with over a lap remaining, winning the eight kilometres race in 25 minutes 41 seconds ahead of the USA's Galen Rupp (25:50) and Spain's Ayad Lamsdassam (25:55).

Cold but beautiful conditions in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park.

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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.

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.

Five Seasons in One Day

I was up in Orkney last week photographing key sites for next year's Historic Scotland leaflets, brochures and guidebooks. It was a challenging shoot due to the micro climate which Orkney has. We could literally see the rain coming over the hill and within 2 minutes it would be on us and we would have to run for cover.

Scara Brae, the Neolithic Settlement was closed for part of the day we were there due to Force 9 winds. Fortunately there is a replica village built into the excellent visitor centre so we were able to get the shots we needed.

Great fun. Next year I think we should aim for May.

Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival Launch

Idlewild frontman Rod Jones, ex-Delgados singer Emma Pollock and Sparrow and the Machine singer Jill O'Sullivan gather at the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen Town Hall to launch the 2010 Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival.

Also on offer this year is a new album Music Like a Vitamin and two concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow. More info here.

MGEITF 2010 Saturday Highlights

Highlights from Saturday at the Festival included The Bill and Eastenders star Scott Malsden, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Shameless creator Paul Abbot with Mariella Frostrop and Coronation Street creator Tony Warren.

Starbucks Edinburgh Re-design

I have been working with Starbucks over the last couple of months to provide photography services for the redesign of their flagship store on Edinburgh's Royal Mile which has been completely renovated.

I was commissioned to photograph the store before and after renovation and also to provide press images (above) on the opening day. The press photographs show customers enjoying the new store and include portraits of Darcy Willson-Rymer, managing director of Starbucks UK and Ireland.

The press day also included an illustrated talk by Tim Pfeiffer, senior VP Global Design, coffee masterclasses by Alan Hartney, Starbucks UK Coffee Ambassador and specially created canapes by Edinburgh chef Tony Singh.