Let the Stars come out....

As part of the forthcoming Dunoon Film Festival, the Burgh Hall are hosting a small but perfectly formed, free photographic exhibition "Stars in Scotland".

Curated by Glasgow-based journalist Alison Kerr as part of a research project and featuring a stunning selection of scenes capture by photographers for the Evening Times, The Bulletin and The Herald, it boast iconic images of bygone Hollywood royalty at work and play on Scotland's fair shores - Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Mae West, Judy Garland, to name a few.

Most fascinating perhaps are the reactions of the Scottish crowds meeting and greeting their idols, especially the wonderful image of the Glasgow weans meeting Roy Rogers and Trigger - there are small faces that tell a million stories. I was lucky enough to capture some more modern day reactions from folk at the DFF Programme launch.

The exhibition is currently running and will run until the end of the DFF on 16th June. Please check with the Burgh Hall for opening times. Come and be charmed and leave starry eyed.....

Happy Trails

Having not had a proper 'get away from the house and go somewhere else' holiday for a couple of years we were chuffed to be invited to stay at Dingle farmhouse, an isolated house owned by a good mate. We'd heard so much about this magical place over the years, so we were very excited to be going there. This amazing place is owned jointly by our mate Jim and his extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. Located at the end of a long (very long!) and remote track and nestled near the local marshes and a shingle beach, the farmhouse has not been changed or modified in a great many years, except for some discrete solar panels allowing a water pump to function and enabling a small fridge and a couple of plug points for recharging mobiles to work.

 Blissfully free of tellies, computers, landlines, we spent 6 relaxing days swimming, cooking, chatting, cooking vast communal meals,drinking beer and wine, playing endless amounts of cards and celebrating a significant birthday with a varied crew of Jim's other friends who rolled up during the time we were there. At one point there were 40+ assorted adults, kids and teenagers lounging around the garden, loafing off to the beach or running wild in the wood.

The house is situated just off a patch of marshland and the scenery has an almost 'bleak' beauty about it. 

In late marsh Summer the marsh was covered with wild flowers and humming with insect life, whilst marsh birds, invisible amongst the reeds, sang all day long. It's an extraordinary place that lives long in the memory and was a complete contrast to our usual environment of hills, hills and more hills. 

It was a joy to photograph and a delight to have spent an idyllic few days with good friends. After all, that's what a good holiday is all about.

Summer? What Summer?!

So I haven't blogged since June - scandalous! What have I been doing? Well not sunbathing - weather has been pretty poor and I've been working (very hard!) mainly at my real job (thank you KCF!) and brushing up on my photographic skills. I set myself a 30 day challenge in early July and didn't miss a day - the challenge was a new photo every day - more difficult than you think when you're rushed off your feet! I won't bore you with endless photos, ten of the best are below. In no particular order:

My Familiar - the owl cat

Sara's Sunflower

Whoopee!

Sploosh!

The Late Shift

Burn, baby, burn

Alien

"You ain't seen me, right?"

Girl on a Blustery Ferry

Three Oystercatchers

And there you have it - there are more pics at http://rainboweffect.500px.com/ or on my Flickr site! I'm also available for weddings, christenings and Bharmitzvahs!