gatherings III

Some of the usual suspects in attendance, a few new faces and two great chats about their work from Damian Shields and Douglas McBride.

I’ve known Damian for years – mostly as a very talented imaging guru – but then discovered a number of years ago that he had an almost secret obsession with landscape photography. Very happy to say that the secret has been out for a few years now and after catching a recent exhibition of his invited him along to talk about his work.

Incidentally Damians exhibition was at Gesso – a fantastic cafe at St Georges Cross with a really nice space at the back for exhibitions. Check it out if you get a chance.

It was really interesting to hear Damian talk about how his love for landscape photography all stemmed from a desire to get away from his wife Ally – only joking Ally 🙂 His desire to wander stems from that wonderful childhood sense of adventure. A quest to discover something new, something hidden – and he strives to photograph quite often very well photographed parts of Scotland in a different way. It was a real joy to see his work, and I can gladly give you a wee peak at a few of my favorites here now.

: Isle of Rum from Laig Bay, Isle of Eigg.

: This was one of those special moments when the elements compose themselves before me like a fleeting gift to be grabbed in the brief moment its offered. I have lost count of the times opportunities have been forever lost while frantically getting into place and getting the camera set up. I noticed a break appearing in the heavy sky over Buachaille Etive Mor and a shaft of silvered light punctured through. It began to glide its way across Lairig Gartain and I started to shoot off frames hand held for fear of missing out by setting up the tripod. The ray of light began to glitter off the wet rock on the side of Stob nan Cabar and illuminated an lone angel-like cloud morphing over the Coupall,the reflection defined the river below perfectly.

: Loch Ossian, Lochaber, Highlands

: Rock formation, River Orchy, Scotland.

: Beinn Odhar from Clach a' Bhein, Bridge of orchy. I was driving along Bridge of Orchy on Sunday and the patterns of freshly dug holes for tree planting across the foot of Beinn Dorain caught my eye. I parked up and went for a wander and came across this mighty chap.This is a Glacial 'Erratic', these huge boulders were carried then deposited by the glaciers that sculpted and defined the unique landscape of scotland thousands of years ago. Geologists can use them to determine the flow and direction of past glaciers by matching the types of minerals contained within to the likely places they would originate from.After finding a spot with the composition I was after I hunkered down through a good few waves of sudden heavy rain and waited for the sky to break and the light started to play across the face of Beinn Odhar.

And I also loved this from Damians selection,

Now, I had a very personal interest in asking Douglas to speak at the studio. As you might know I’ve had a message “David is currently working on his first blah de blah de blah book” on my website for at least 40 years. Now Douglas actually publishes books – and he does it really very well. I wanted to pick his brains and I am so very grateful to him for coming in and talking so openly about what he does. Thanks Douglas!

Self publishing is pretty easy nowadays. Apparently. But lets face it – it involves sitting at a computer and I do really, really, really struggle with that. However, having seen what’s possible I have a renewed motivation to keep that message up on my website!! 🙂

I was also really taken by some of the handmade books Douglas brought along. They were bootiful! All very different, some Japanese binding some leather bound but all something to treasure. If he’s ever made one for you – look after it.

Douglas’s work is quite abstract. Lyrical, or poetic. In fact poetry is his inspiration in a lot of ways and his images evoke a sense of mystery and take you on a very beautiful journey.