Project Inspiration: Part 7

At part 7 already and I've only done one shoot.... what's that all about?

Okay, last week I heard back from Creattive Scotland and got a knockback on my funding application. I also got a knockback on getting any feedback which was what I was really hoping for if I didn't get the funding, so now I'm in the position of not knowing what was wrong with my application and no way of finding out either. Pretty frustrating to be honest and it knocked the stuffing out of me for a few days. However.... life goes on.

I was sitting thinking about the nature of the project, and what I'm trying to achieve by it, and to be honest, getting the rejection email is no different from what many of the subjects I'm hoping to include will have dealt with. They've had to struggle to overcome difficulties to get where they are, they've had to work with very limited funds, they've had to deal with rejection, crushed optimism and bamboozlement too (if such a word actually exists)

So that's what I'm going to do. I've been working out that it could take me two to three years to deliver this project to my own satisfaction, but realistically it's something I could work on my whole life because there will always be people who are an inspiration to others. This project is all about highlighting them and showing that to those who are in need of a touch of that inspiration themselves. A little like me over the last week.

Full steam ahead then, on a road of my own choosing, at my own pace. Let's hope that I keep being inspired as I go and can produce something inspirational from it.

Craig

July - What's Happening?

After June's busy diary, July was shaping up to be the same, but as usual nothing goes according to plan. 

Unfortunately my father suffered a heart attack about ten days ago, and has been in hospital ever since, and has now been diagnosed and requires a triple-heart bypass. Now conisdered a routine operation, it's still scary stuff, and because he's been so ill the family have been really worried. From a photography perspective I postponed my shoots because I didn't want to be fifty or a hundred miles away in the event I had to get back quickly. 

However, his condition appears to be a bit more stable now and they're letting him out for a week or two before the surgery, so I'm getting back on with things. Starting tomorrow.

First up is another two of the artists getting featured in the REVEAL magazine coming out in August. Alison Peebles is an actress/director from Glasgow who has been in everything from Rab C Nesbitt to Taggart to Lip Service, and has won a whole bundle of awards. While I didn't recognise her name at first, a quick google brought up a picture and I had one of those 'I know who that is!' moments. 

The other artist is Claire Cunningham, a dancer, and I strongly suggest that you check out some of her performances on youtube. Claire used crutches to get around, but she gets around like no-one I've ever seen and has an unbelievable amount of agility and grace as a dancer. Really excited about working with both of them, and I'm looking forward to catching up with Jamie too. I think I owe him a coffee after his write up on the REVEAL website blog about our shoots thus far. 

http://revealscotland.org/reveal-goes-on-a-photographic-road-trip/

On Saturday morning I'm meeting up with Sarah for a quick shoot too. Sarah is a model from Linlithgow I've worked with on and off for nearly two years now, and we've shot together maybe seven or eight times. It's always a good laugh, always creative and usually involves me persuading Sarah that it's not a good idea to dangle from the roof by one leg or something insane like that. She's kinda fearless!

Aside from that there's some exciting news in the pipeline for July that I can't quite talk about yet but may involve a trip for a day or two. This month I'll find out about my bid to Creative Scotland for Project Inspiration and if I've been successful or not. (I'm guessing not, but that could be the whole 'manage expectations to avoid disappointment' part of my brain getting me ready for a knock-back)
*EDIT - Just got the email through and like a prophecy, I didn't get the funding :(

There's a couple of painters who have asked me to photograph their work this month too for their websites, maybe another REVEAL shoot, an article to get written, possibly another review, and a couple of family portrait session bookings that I've had to postpone. I've also been working on a re-build of my website, adding a lot more content to the image galleries, and I'll also be getting the Dougie MacLean shoot rescheduled too, and then the rest of the month is going to depend on what mischief I can get up to!

I'm sure there'll be calamities along the way. There always is. I know my photography is an escape from all that, and that's one of the reasons why I love it so much, but still, it comes down to people's reactions when they see the images.

It's a good thing, making people happy.

Craig

Old Images, New Edits Part 3

Haven't done this since April, but I'm rebuilding all the galleries on my website at present so I'm re-editing tons of images. Expect a few more posts like this in the coming weeks. 

Today is coincidentally Brit's birthday, so I thought I'd post the images I've edited from the one shoot I did with her. Anyway, without further ado....

If you're a photographer in Scotland, then you'll have heard of Brit, or seen her work. If you haven't then drop her a line through her site. http://www.brittabenedetto.com/

Craig