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Sunday, 14 August 2011

What makes some few people charismatic in photographs?

When actors go for screen shots some 'jump out' on the screen and simply hold your attention.  Good examples are Robert Redford, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, and Grace Kelly. 
I noticed when taking photos of the Gathering march by hundreds up the high street in Edinburgh a few years back, that some people 'respond' to the camera - they have an energy and fun about them. Some simply smile quietly and others simply walk past and are 'wooden'  - perhaps they are fearful of the camera as if they feel it may steal their souls?).
For me the camera captures a moment in time and I hope says something about the people in the image. I often take music - and these images are also about the shared love of music.
Grace Kelly  -
'All photogenic people have square faces [Grace's] mouth, the tip of her nose, her nostrils - all are extremely sensitive. Their beauty is effective, against the ragged background of the square face' In his book. In his book 'The Face of the World' photography Cecil Beaton explained why the camera was insane for Grace Kelly. 
Robert Richardson theatre director on Grace Kelly. 
'When you looked at that picture, you were not looking at her. You were looking at the illusion of her. The camera was insane about her - just like I was. When I looked at that photograph I knew that her future would have to be in pictures.'

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Glasgow Westend Festival Kelvingrove


Sunday, 15 May 2011

Celtic Connections festival 2011

I enjoy many genres. In my twenties I dated a folk guitarist in Edinburgh and visited Sandy Bells and Arran folk festivals. The immediacy and passion of live traditional reels and folk songs were infectious and I was hooked.  Celtic started in 1994 when Aly Bain was the only professional fiddle player in Scotland and he wondered would they sell 100,000 tickets in January in Glasgow.....?
Celtic is one of the largest gatherings of folk music worldwide. One of the main aspects I enjoy at Celtic are the very interesting and sometimes usual collaborations.  I met Jerry Douglas last year at the Fruitmarket. I've also met Eddi Reader, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, Karen Matheson, Inge Thompson, Mat Martin, Kirsty McGee, Dick Gaughan, Phil Cunningham, Alistair Oglivie, Rab Noakes, Michael Marra, Karine Polwart at various folk music events.   Transatlantic now goes on tour after the festival, check for dateshttp://www.celticconnections.com/
 CELTIC IMAGES - http://pkimage.co.uk/CELTIC

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

VIKING GALAXY in the Studio


VIKING GALAXY in the Studio Febrary 2011 - great fun!
So interesting to see how it all works, they were on great form and managed to get 5 songs recorded in one day.