News
Notes
The latest edition of NOTES for Scottish Photographers has been mailed. Contribitors include Stewart Shaw, Steve McQueen, Elisabet Thorin, Keith Ingham, Douglas McBride and Douglas Thomson. NOTES is published three times a year and is free to members. To join go to 'Membership'.
Members Exhibitions
From Neill Walker Wednesday 3 March 2010 Event: Exhibition Launch and Talk: Nature’s Seduction.
Speaker: Graham Riddell.
Venue: The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU. Time: 6pm for 6.30pm-7.30pm.
Event Description: What is it about Nature that draws artists, writers, and musicians to engage with it and express themselves through it? In this visual presentation, artist photographer Graham Riddell takes you on an exploration into his world, through the eyes of the lens.
Discover what the attraction is that draws him to his subjects – sometimes just a fleeting moment of brief observation, others through realising opportunities from previously created concepts and imaginings
Graham Riddell is a freelance photographer living in the stunning Scottish Borders. His work explores the natural environment from a landscape and Nature perspective and often exudes qualities of Peace and Tranquillity. www.grphotography.co.uk
Cost: Admission Free. Donations Welcome. First come, first served on the night.
Contact: Neill Walker, mesp2010@hotmail.co.uk, 0131 331 4469.
Exhibitions:
http://www.eicsp.org/events-list/details/96-MESP%202010%20Exhibitions%20and%20Displays
Hidden Lane Gallery. Glasgow. Mid march to Mid June 2010. A Scottish showing of 'Archaeology' ... "Douglas McBride freezes in his photographs key moments where nature offers us the passage from the visible to the unspeakable, the evidence of the sensuality of the world. In his photographs , as the faces become
landscapes, nature reveals a sensual alchemy which blend elements beyond the gaze of man, in an energy of beauty and eternity." a quote from one of the reviews when the work was shown in France in 2009
From Jakob Jakobsson In case you are passing through Reykjavík . . . Jakob is having an exhibition of photographs which he made over a period of years working on various civil engineering projects. The exhibition will be in the Reykjavík Museum of Photography (Ljosmyndasafn Reykjavikur) Open 23 January to 9 May 2010. Currently exhibitions by André Kertész and also Grégory Gerault. http://ljosmyndasafnreykjavikur.is/
From Sheila Borthwick. Instant Light. The magic of Polaroid.The first solo exhibition in a public institution by this Glasgow-born Perth-based artist. Part of Horsecross Collect + Support initiative for collectable contemporary art, curated by Iliyana Nedkova. Saturday Brunch Preview: 14 Nov 09 11 am - 1pm Exhibition 14 Nov 09 until 20 Mar 10.
From Eileen Fitzpatrick: I have some photographs from a body of work called 'Seven Ages' upstairs in the Blue Angel Cafe, Findhorn Foundation, near Forres, from now for a couple of months. The cafe is open 10am to 5pm daily and the coffee is good, even though I say it myself (well I would as I am the manager!).
From Chris Leslie Just finished my MA project if you have time to have a look. Hope, memories, loss and community. Four stories of regeneration in Glasgow. http://www.chrisleslie.co.uk/MA
From Andy Biggs a new book No One Was Poor on Blurb and there is an interesting BBC blog with his pictures. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/photoblog/2009/11/returning_to_the_east.html
Exhibitions
New Arts Space opening in fife. Please open invitation for detalis of the new exciting addition to the fife arts scene. Invite
Wednesday 3 March 2010 Event: Exhibition Launch and Talk: Nature’s Seduction.
Speaker: Graham Riddell. Venue: The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU.
Time: 6pm for 6.30pm-7.30pm.
Event Description: What is it about Nature that draws artists, writers, and musicians to engage with it and express themselves through it? In this visual presentation, artist photographer Graham Riddell takes you on an exploration into his world, through the eyes of the lens.
Discover what the attraction is that draws him to his subjects – sometimes just a fleeting moment of brief observation, others through realising opportunities from previously created concepts and imaginings.
Graham Riddell is a freelance photographer living in the stunning Scottish Borders. His work explores the natural environment from a landscape and Nature perspective and often exudes qualities of Peace and Tranquillity. www.grphotography.co.uk
Cost: Admission Free. Donations Welcome. First come, first served on the night.
Contact: Neill Walker, mesp2010@hotmail.co.uk, 0131 331 4469.
Stills: Hinges Between Days, Elín Jakobsdóttir (Elin is the daughter of Jakob Jakobsson) 7 November 2009 - 14 March 2010 Exhibition Opening: Friday 6 November, 6pm - 8pm For her first UK solo exhibition, Elín Jakobsdóttir presents a sequence of objects, photographs and films which imbue everyday sights and experiences with the inscrutable logic of the subconscious. Venue: 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh For more information and full listing of the exhibition events programme visit: www.stills.org or email: info@stills.org or call: 0131 622 6200
The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton & Antarctic Photography 2 October 2009 – 11 April 2010 This exhibition of remarkable Antarctic photography by Herbert George Ponting and Frank Hurley marks the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott’s ill-fated journey to the South Pole. Ponting’s dramatic images record Scott’s Terra Nova expedition of 1910-13, which led to the tragic death of five of the team on their return from the South Pole. Hurley’s extraordinary icescapes were taken during Ernest Shackleton’s Polar expedition on Endurance in 1914-17, which ended with the heroic sea journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia. Both collections of photographs were presented to King George V and are today part of the Royal Photograph Collection. The Queen's Gallery is open daily. 1 November to 31 March 09:30-16:30 (last admission 15:30). Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, The Royal Mile, EH8 8DX Telephone (+44) (0)131 556 5100.
Other News
A Sad Strange Gleam of Vision : The Photography of Margaret Watkins
The Scottish Society for the History of Photography annual Annan Lecture will be given by Joe Mulholland at the Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow at 6.00 p.m. on Thursday 25th March. For further information www.sshop.org.uk
Margaret Watkins was a Canadian, of Scottish ancestry, contemporary of the Stieglitz, Steichen, Holland Day and Paul Strand. She was a close associate of Clarence White and a valued member, mentor and tutor in the Clarence White School of Photography. Respected and admired for her personal photography she was also one of the leading lights of commercial photography in New York in the 20s and 30s. She came to Glasgow in the 30s to care for several elderly aunts and though she took photographs in Europe, the Soviet Union and Glasgow she was to all intents and purposes forgotten until the story that Joe Mulholland has to tell began to unfold. This story is itself worthy of a trip to the Mitchell but it is the quality of Watkins’ photography that still shines like a beacon through the years.
FIFE SP GATHERING AT DUNSHELT – 14th February ‘10
Our first get-together of the year came off to a flying start -- once we all flew in with good excuses for being late! Jenni began to worry when, 10 minutes past starting time she was still the only turner-upper and beginning to wonder if she’d misunderstood something; or everybody else had! But our Fife HQ being Dunshelt’s “Mutual Improvement Society Hall”, there is hope for us all … And our road to delightful Dunshelt won’t always be peppered with potholes and traffic congestion - or good SPers who forgot whether 1 or 2 pm start, so trickled along for 1.30ish. We ended up with a good and lively turnout from Fife and further afield -- and some exciting work spread out on the hall tables!
The Fife gatherings have always been very informal and relaxed. “You are not properly organised”, commented an Edinburgh visitor a couple of years ago. We saw that as a compliment – the whole idea of it here is, to NOT be too “organised”, but to mill around merrily and pounce on whoever/whatever strikes you as interesting … In contrast to the tedious “10 minutes each and NEXT!” presentations we have seen (sideways, upside down, over people’s shoulders or not at all) in The Capital! Then, maybe we are lucky to have enough tables to go round – and more time to mill around (and round, and round) them and enjoy each others’ doings.
Our “format” is just to get there and mingle, grab a table, spread out your goodies and see what happens … Wander off and see what else is there – and come back to yours if wanted there by somebody or everybody – and there’s plenty coffee/tea and biscuits to keep everybody on their toes.
As fellow SPers may remember, the Fifers became homeless for a while when the Crawford Arts Centre in St. Andrews closed and we lost its Artist’s Workshop as SP meeting place. However, Jenni Gudgeon solved the problem by suggestion the Dunshelt Hall … Little did Jenni know that, she’d end up organising the our meetings there – being on the Hall Committee and ‘in the know’ of free Sundays for SP gatherings! “What am I letting myself in for…?”, she wanted to know when Peter rang her, hoping to unload the responsibility on her. Jenni is a good sport, and a brilliant, exciting photographer (whose first contribution to the Cupar Arts Festival was a memorable treat for all ages!), and she took his “offer” nicely – still does, and long may it last!
Our Fife gatherings are probably still “classic examples of productive and inspired disorganisation” – to the joy and delight of our turners-uppers! Everybody welcome to Dunshelt to see/try it for yourself. Elisabet Thorin from Linlithgow was one of several Non-Fifers who turned up at our last meeting – and thoroughly enjoyed it!
(picture of Elisabet Thorin at our last meeting)
(report and picture by Aase Goldsmith)
I would like to ask you to circulate the news of a new PHOTOGRAPHERS' PLACE workshop to your members.
Sensing a need for an in-depth session on photography in the landscape in a digital era, a new phase of Photographers' Place workshops begins on April 16-18 after Easter, based at Ilam Hall near Ashbourne in the Peak District.
Your members may recall or may have attended The Photographers' Place workshops and master classes, run by Paul and Angela Hill at Bradbourne in the Peak District from 1976-96.
As then, this new workshop weekend is intended for the more experienced photographer and includes both technical and aesthetic guidance. Gone are the darkrooms, replaced by sessions on digital post production.You need a high - end compact or SLR and a passion for photography to attend the sessions.
Professor Paul Hill will be there with two other experienced photography tutors, Martin Shakeshaft and Nick Lockett, to ' eat drink and sleep' photography for a whole weekend.
Please get in touch with me if you would like to a quote from Professor Paul Hill or either of the course leaders.
I include full details here in the attached press release or more is available on http://photographersplace.co.uk/
From George Logan: Wonder if you could distribute the e petition link: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/copyrightreform/
Which: We call on the Government to abandon plans, announced on 29 October 2009, to allow free and unhindered reproduction of photographs without payment or credit on non-commercial websites.
This is completely at odds with the Government's stance on file sharing of other forms of intellectual property (films and music) and raises the prospect of crippling thousands of small businesses while protecting large corporate interests.
The proposal uses phrases like "It must be seen to benefit all parties, not some at the expense of others" and yet the Government's proposal does exactly that. It takes the work of photographers who have invested time and money in creating work, and gives it to people who have no relationship with that work, for free. Photographic businesses are already under severe strain and the proliferation of digital cameras gives the impression that creating professional quality imagery is easy. This will further devalue the work of professional photographers and destroy the photographic industry.
From Beyond Words: We wanted to let you know that we will be staring our sale on Friday 15 January and many of our stock titles will be available at one third off or even half price. At the same time all diaries and calendars will be selling at half price. We should also have a fresh batch of remainders in by then. So we recommend that you try to make it in that Friday/Saturday/Sunday as the best bargains do tend to go quickly. Thank you for your support through 2009, and a happy New Year to all our customers.
Launch of 2 new Blog sites - www.boxesbellows.blogspot.com - www.islandcrofters.blogspot.com
Opportunities
The Mussel Inn Gallery The Gallery @ Mussel Inn 157 Hope Street Glasgow G2 2UQ 3-30 www.mussel-inn.com/gallery. "The Mussel Inn welcomes proposals from your members for shows in 2010 or 2011. Current show Edinburgh artist Doreen Boogert: monoprints based on sketches and photographs taken over the last year in Skye, Llalfranc and Sahara de los Atunes in Spain. Till 6 January.
. . . I am hoping you may be able to assist in spreading the word about CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of the Year 2010 competition to your contacts. CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) runs the Environmental Photographer of the Year, which is one of the fastest growing photographic competitions in the world. In 2009 we received nearly 2,500 entries from photographers in over 60 countries. This is a serious competition that seeks to celebrate photographers who use their ability to raise awareness of environmental and social issues. It is open to all professional and amateur international photographers of any ages and encourages entries that are contemporary, creative, experimental, resonant, original and beautiful. Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), 15 John Street London, WC1N 2EB Tel: 020 7831 3110 Website: www.ciwem.org Registered Charity No. 1043409
If you have any information you wish for us to feature on this page please email Jamie or Sandy with the details.