It's been a brilliant trip so far, travelling through Edinburgh, Fife & St Andrews, Dundee, Perth, Strathcarron, Glasgow and back to Edinburgh for a final shoot tomorrow. Everyone on this trip that I've worked with has been wonderful, and some beautiful images have been made! The first part of my trip shocked me by showing me some glorious weather, and I actually got a bit sunburned while in Dundee making the images below - could not believe it!! (Don't worry, the sunburn has already gone.)
It's been a usual conglomeration of memorable moments, this trip. From guiding a nervous woman through Birmingham New Street Station on the way up (she said that particular station scared her, though she didn't say why... and then she told me that she was on her way home from her father's 80th birthday party. 'Was it good?' I asked, and she said 'It was a bit strange.' It turned out she hadn't spoken to him since she was 12. She seemed desperate to talk to someone about it. I got her on the right train at Birmingham anyway), to being bought a tartan-scarf clad duck doorstop at Strathcarron's local weavers, from riding a horse nude to sinking in boggy amber heather in my specially-bought-that-morning polka dot pink wellies, from enjoying a delicious Scottish Brie and Grape sandwich with China Rose Petal tea at Glasgow's famous Mackintosh Willow tea room to buying socks for a shivering, bare-foot homeless man after realising I had no cash, but only my card (and knowing from various nude situations that having wet feet is the worst thing about being cold) - he seemed so pleased to be given them, and smiled dreamily into the bag looking at them, but I watched him for a while in secret and I did not see him put them on... :-(
Anyway, I've really enjoyed all of my shoots so far - it's been an action-packed 10-day trip (though it's not over yet!) and I'm confident that everyone I've worked with has gone away with some brilliant images - and it's been a lot of fun seeing new parts of Scotland!
These images below are courtesy of photographer Jim Furness. We had a great day and got on brilliantly (such that we're shooting in Switzerland in a couple of weeks!). Reading the blurb on his website, I knew we'd be on the same page in terms of intention and inspiration, and creating. I stayed at Jim's house the night before and met his lovely family of Bollywood enthusiasts, and we had a fun evening watching clips in their lounge! Considering I love India (and hope to go back there to see more of it sometime - anyone want to book me there..? :-)), love Indian music and love dancing, it became increasingly ridiculous to think that I'd never experienced a Bollywood film. I would seriously love to be in one. The dance moves are a real mix of styles that I already know - contemporary, street, bellydance - flamenco even - and I'm inspired to watch some films once I'm home! After this shoot, by the way, Jim blasted Bollywood music out of his open-top car as we drove back to his via some typically gorgeous Scottish scenery - a surreal, triumphant end to any shoot!! :-)
First, we walked to Queen's Well, built over a site where Queen Victoria stopped for a drink at a spring on one of her pony treks in the Angus glens. On the way, we saw an adder - the only poisonous snake in the UK, if I'm not mistaken. Then we continued the water theme on the way back, with me balancing on a rock and Jim balancing perilously himself to get the shot. It was such a beautiful day - no one was around so I really got to enjoy the sunshine! You can see a slideshow with music here.
Please click on the first image and scroll through to see them bigger, as always. Small shots don't have so much impact. :-)
Many more updates on their way!
