MGEITF DAY TWO HIGHLIGHTS

Day Two of the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival kicked off with the Post MacTaggart Q & A with James Murdoch while Ant & Dec took part in The Alternative MacTaggart. Peter Andre talked about The Next Chapter post Katie Price and Ross Kemp gave a fascinating Masterclass on his Gangs documentaries. Big Brother presenter Davina McCall chaired a session entitled Surviving Reality TV and the day culminated in the Channel of the Year Awards hosted by the very funny Michael McIntyre.

My brief was to provide images which were uploaded to the MGEITF website immediately after or even during the various sessions and photocalls. They were then made available for press to download for publication.

Click on the image for a detailed view.
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MGEITF DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS

Friday highlights of the 2009 MediaGuradian Edinburgh International Television Festival which included Ant and Dec hosting TV's Got Talent which Jimmy Carr, Amanda Holden and Louis Walsh. Other highlights an appearance from The Wire creator David Simon, comedian Frank Skinner, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarckson and The James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture given by James Murdoch. Click on the image for a larger view.
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A Year at The Mill

The Mill, created by Miller Genuine Draft, marked a year of supporting Scotland's emerging music scene with a landmark gig in Glasgow last night. Pictured are (back row) Glasgow based We Were Promised Jetpacks and Some Young Pedro from Lauder and St Boswells. Another gig takes place in Edinburgh next week. More info here.
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Stirling Musical Heads

EXPERTS believe a piece of musical history has been identified on a 16th-century carving from Stirling Castle’s royal palace. The discovery was made by master craftsman John Donaldson who was commissioned by Historic Scotland to replicate the 16th-century oak medallions. Local schoolgirl, 10 year old Kirsty King plays the tune on a harp. Picked up by The Scotsman, The Herald, The Telegraph, The Metro and regional press.
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New Recruits at B+M

Top Edinburgh law firm Balfour + Manson welcomed their annual intake of trainee lawyers this week. In order to photograph their corporate portraits I set up a studio in their office which included a white seamless background and studio lights.
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Alan Rickman Returns to Edinburgh

Edinburgh casts a spell over the Harry Potter star as BAFTA award winning actor Alan Rickman returns to the Edinburgh Festivals where he first performed over 33 years ago. Photographed at The Balmoral Hotel which commands some of the best views of the Edinburgh skyline. Alan was in town to show his support for Homecoming Scotland 2009, a year long programme of events celebrating the 250th birthday of poet Robert Burns.
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Stirling Castle Tartan

When Historic Scotland commissioned me to provide press images to go with the launch of the new Stirling Castle Tartan we knew we wanted to try something a bit different. So we hired a model and dressed her using 3 meters of the specially designed fabric and photographed her striking a ballet pose on the top table in the Great Hall.
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Team Games at McGrigors

Top Edinburgh Law firm McGrigors are swapping business suits for tracksuits with the launch of a specialist sports law team. Partner Gary Anderson and former international fencer Iain Smith are pictured outside their Edinburgh office.
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Famous Scots - Brian Cox

BAFTA and Emmy Award winning actor Brian Cox was unveiled as the latest Famous Scot at the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh on Tuesday, joining Billy Connolly and Shirley Manson. More photographs available here.
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Lauren Laverne

Culture Queen Lauren Laverne returns to the Edinburgh festivals to support Homecoming Scotland 2009. BBC TV's The Culture Show presenter, who is half Scottish photographed at The Pleasance courtyard.
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Chippendale Legs

One for the ladies out there! Radio Forth of the Fringe recently hosted a top night out at the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh which featured, Craig Hill, Stephen K Amos, Adam Hills and The Proclaimers. Opening the night all the way from Las Vegas were The Chippendales. Bit of a bum shot there. More photos here.
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Home-Cumming for Alan

Scottish born Hollywood actor Alan Cumming returned to Edinburgh this weekend to support Homecoming Scotland 2009. Alan, who is due to appear in the Spider-man musical on Broadway next year retraced his steps to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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Tree Time

The sun was kind to me during a shoot in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh yesterday for the Institute of Chartered Foresters. The images are to be used for leaflets and on their website.
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Discover My Past Scotland

Discover My Past Scotland magazine includes a feature on the new ScotlandsPeople centre in Edinburgh using photographs I have taken of Billy Connolly and Sir James Black, both of whom have had Famous Scots exhibitions tracing their family roots. Watch out for Brian Cox next.
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Happy Buyer

Customer service is vitality important to Taylor Wimpey and from time to time Happy Buyers are photographed in their new homes to be used for customer satisfaction case studies.
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Aboyne Highland Games

Elgin take 1st place in the Tug O' War competition, a highlight of the Aboyne Highland Games which took place over the weekend. Some of the 'tugs' can take up to 55 minutes to complete! Part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
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Guildtown Bluegrass Festival

Gordy Reynolds, fiddle player and singer with the Dapper McDans photographed backstage at The Guildtown Bluegrass Festival which took place in the village of Guildtown near Perth at the weekend. Part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
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HRH The Princess Royal

Around 70 members and friends of Medical Research Scotland attended a reception in the Evening Drawing Room of Holyrood Palace in the company of the charity's patron HRH The Princess Royal. The evening was organised by Panoply Events.
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American Activist

American activist, new-media guru, imposter, investigative journalist, culture-jamming artist, environmental protester, author, researcher and film-maker, Mike Bonanno photographed in Dundee. Read Mike's story here. Photographed for Scotland on Sunday Spectrum Magazine.
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Hear, hear, the pipes are calling...

The skirl of the bagpipes can now be heard around Edinburgh Castle as Roddy the Piper will be playing daily throughout the summer season. The initiative by Historic Scotland will see visitors welcomed the castles imposing wooden entrance gates at 9.30 each morning, with performances also taking place before the firing of The One O'clock Gun. The picture shows Roddy wearing the Red Ramsay tartan in full highland dress.
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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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Aisling's Children

Performed at Edinburgh Castle as part of The Gathering 2009, Aisling's Children tells Scotland's Story from The Declaration of Arbroath, through wars and battles, the Clearances and tales of Homecomings. I was lucky to one of only two photographers to be given access to the performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.
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The Hidden Jewel

The final dramatic performance of The Hidden Jewel took place last night in the grounds of Dunollie House near Oban. The open air theatre production tells the story of the Brooch of Lorn and the history of Clan MacDougall performed by the Walking Theatre Company. This week also saw the launch of the Dunollie Appeal which aims to raise £1.8m to allow the Clan seat of Dunollie House to be opened to the public for the first time in its history.
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McDougall Gathering

The Oban Gaelic Choir entertain hundreds of McDougalls from all over the world last night at the Argyll Gathering hall in Oban. The dinner was the highlight of a week of events to celebrate the Clan McDougall homecoming. Other events include The Hidden Jewel, an outdoor theatre performance which tells the story of the Lorn Brooch and takes place in the grounds of Dunollie Castle.
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Just A Moment

The latest edition of Lifetimes, the Scottish Widows magazine features an image of Chris Low who plays for the Scottish Widows Cricket Team. Lifetimes is produced by Edinburgh based White Light Media who are one of my favourite agencies to work with - a great partnership between designer and photographer.
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A Stitch in Time

Feature for Spectrum Magazine on three Edinburgh dressmakers Rowan Joy McIntosh, Gwenyth Paterson and Katherine Walker, all part of a new trend of people designing, sewing and customising their own fashions. Full article here.
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Come In, Come Out of The Rain

The heavens opened half an hour before Simple Minds took to the stage at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday night. However the deluge was soon forgotten as frontman Jim Kerr opened with appropriately named song, 'Waterfront'. The last of this year's Castle Concerts season.
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Duran Duran

Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon rocks the sell out crowd at Edinburgh Castle last night. The 80's popsters were joined on stage by Mark Ronson. Part of the Castle Concerts season.
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Hoecoming Day at The Open

First Minister Alex Salmond joined up with Scottish golfing legend Sam Torrance at Turnberry yesterday to play a few holes at the Homecoming Scotland Putting Green. Part of Homecoming Day at the Open. More images here.
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Burns in Stirling

Three exclusive evening tours of Stirling Castle have been arranged by Historic Scotland to celebrate Robert Burns' links with Stirling and the castle. Dates are Fridays 7th, 14th and 21st August at 6.30 pm. More info here. Picture which shows Chris Tait as Robert Burns achieved extensive coverage in the press.
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St Andrews Community Hopsital

Detail of St Andrews Community Hospital in St Andrews, Fife which will open its doors to patients next month.
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Crosby, Stills & Nash

Folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash wowed the audience at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday night. Part of the 2009 Castle Concerts season.
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In My Element

Food photography for Element Restaurant and Bar on Rose Street, Edinburgh. Element is known as Rose Street's first style bar and has built a reputation on it's food. Part of the Signature Pubs group.
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Jousting Around

Cousins Christopher and Ewan Spence get in some jousting practice for the Jousting Spectacular which is taking place at Linlithgow Palace on the 11th and 12th July from 12.30 until 4.30pm each day.
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Edinburgh's Best Kept Secret

Back to The Signet Library in Edinburgh last night to photograph the room set up for long term client Heritage Portfolio who have just signed a new contract with The Signet to provide hospitality, catering and event management. One of the most beautiful buildings in Edinburgh and a favourite to photograph.
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First Minister Launches Latest Homecoming Guide at Boat Festival

First Minister Alex Salmond launched the latest edition of the Homecoming Scotland guide at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy this weekend. The guide is packed with almost 200 events over the next 6 months of the Homecoming year. More photographs here. And on the BBC Website here.
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Miss Scotland knows the Drill

Miss Scotland Katherine Brown swapped a tennis racket for a drill when she dropped into Stirling the other day to open the new premises of Fasco which supplies tools and clothing to trades people.
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The Lion and The Unicorn

Two of the great symbols of Scottish Royalty come to life on Edinburgh Castle esplanade to welcome visitors. The characters are being introduced for a trail period from Monday 6th July as part of ongoing development to enhance Scotland's premier paid for visitor attraction.
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Homecoming Scotland Website

A selection of photographs and a review from the recent Royal Highland Show on the Homecoming Scotland 2009 website. Also a great site to find out about all things Homecoming.
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Stag on the Crags

Salisbury Crag in Edinburgh illuminated by the pioneers of world malt whisky: William Grant, Glenfiddich founder, Masataka Takesuru, forefather of Japanese Whisky and Bill Lark, godfather of Australian whisky. The history and expansion of malt Scotch whisky is to be discussed and debated at the University of Edinburgh on Friday 24th July. More info here.
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Welcome To My World

Monarch of the Glen actor Hamish Clark featured in the latest edition of Spectrum Magazine. This portrait of Hamish was taken at Stirling Castle during filming of Historic Scotland's 6 Months Free TV ad.
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Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering

A young lad fords the River Tweed during the climax to the Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering this weekend. The event was established in 1930 to commemorate the town's history and today attracts participants from all over Scotland and indeed the world. More pictures here.
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ROYAL VISITOR AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW

The Queen visited the Royal Highland Show this morning, the first time for over 20 years. She was given a special treat when she visited the food hall - a year's supply of ice cream! The show celebrates its 225th anniversary this year and has attracted visitors from all over the world as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009. More pictures here.
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Having An Ice Time

Six year old twins Hannah and Rachel Webster from Edinburgh have got it licked. They were among the first to sample the new ice cream from Graham's The Family Dairy at The Royal Highland Show this morning.
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Line 'Em Up

The Board members of Taylor Wimpey (West) photographed in their offices in Paisley yesterday. Lucky that the office next door was empty for this strong corporate image.
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ALDI

Supermarket chain ALDI opened their first Edinburgh store in Gorgie recently bringing the total number of stores in Scotland to 44.
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VisitScotland Kitchen Garden Trail

Not all strawberries are at Wimbledon this year! These two have picked their own holiday on VisitScotland's new Kitchen Garden Trail which highlights accommodation and restaurants across Scotland serving visitors fresh produce from their own gardens.
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Fat Sam's Lives On

John Swinney MSP attended the official opening of Exchange Place, one of the most significant office developments in Edinburgh last night. The building stands on the site of the old Edinburgh Meat Market which then became Fat Sam's. Great views of Edinburgh Castle.
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