Dr Alex Boyd
@AlexBoyd
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Photographer, writer & curator. Fellow of @natlibscot | FSA(Scot) | Saltire Award shortlist | Mountains | Conflict | Ukraine | Environmental Humanities
Scotland / Western Australia
Joined January 2009
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Pinned Tweet
My new book 'The Point of the Deliverance' is now available to pre-order. It's 132 pages of utterly unique images of Scotland & Ireland. With an essay by
@david_gange
& poetry by Moya Cannon. Printed by
@kozubooks
.
Available here:
Please RT if you can🙏
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I wish I could find the original of this picture - but many years ago I met John Byrne on the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow. I was shy, and he exuded style and effortless cool. Having read The Slab Boys at school and admiring his painting, I eventually said hello. 1/4
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Seven years into our relationship and my Australian wife turns to me annoyed: “Why do you keep pronouncing J…Jai (rhymes with eye)?
It turns out this is something fairly unique to the West Coast of Scotland. Does anyone else still do this?
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I took this image 3 years ago today. A shepherdess on the Isle of Lewis guiding her flock across the Pentland Moor road. It was a beautiful morning.
#outerhebrides
#isleoflewis
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I was lucky enough to have permission to work on the beautiful Isle of Arran last week. With a few hours off I managed to get up and down its highest peak, Goatfell. These are the views which will be waiting for everyone this summer. I can’t wait to get back.
@VisitScotland
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The continuing saga of the musician who illegally used a photo of mine for an album cover. Today he is threatening me with lawyers because I used the DMCA to have the image taken down on Spotify, Amazon etc. Without any trace of irony he is accusing me of 'loss of earnings'🤣
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I'm on the
@BBCNews
website this morning talking about using an old photographic process, mental health, being a working-class artist, and my new book 'The Point of the Deliverance' with
@kozubooks
.
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Well, I passed my PhD Viva. 5 hours from start to finish! Its now officially time for a whisky or two.
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A stunning day on Suilven today. A good hike followed by an enjoyable climb. All done in May sunshine with the smell of gorse in the air. Perfect.
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Even now at the age of 38 I’m still getting older white men writing to me to tell me how I could improve my photography. Unsolicited.
God knows how women deal with this stuff every day without burning everything down.
#photography
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I came to Scotland from Germany in 1989 when the wall came down. As I leave, so much has changed in the last 32 years. A sincere thanks to everyone who helped me call it home for all those decades. Love to you all ❤️
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To celebrate (hopefully) completing my PhD I'm planning to spend a month in 2022 climbing some Scottish mountains.
I'm looking for your recommendations - which peaks (and the less obvious the better) would you want to spend a day on if given the chance? I'd love to know!
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Only now, a year on are we talking about quarantine hotels in the UK. A YEAR.
In 2020 Western Australia restricted flights, set up strict hotels for quarantine and have had 9 deaths. Australia has had 909 deaths IN TOTAL. Today 1631 lost their lives in the UK.
#ResignJohnson
Over 100,000 deaths & Boris Johnson repeats "We truly did everything we could...to minimise loss of life." Mistakes, incompetence & error have brought us to gut wrenching heartbreaking catastrophe & still, even now, no admission of guilt or failure & not a single resignation
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The view to Goatfell from the ferry. Wishing everyone a lovely Friday night x
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I didn't know John, but it's been lovely to see what he meant to so many, and those he inspired along the way. What an amazing legacy to leave behind. The outpouring of love for the man and his work is hopefully a comfort to those closest to him. 4/4
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If Alex Salmond doesn't pack in this terrible ALBA party nonsense I'll be forced to release the awful studio portrait I took of him in 2013 which will likely destroy both our careers. Willing to do this for Scotland 🏴
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The ultimate symbol of the Outer Hebrides. Forget the standing stones. It's this: THE BRUTALIST BUS STOP.
A unique collaboration with LOOM based on Lewis. Now available as this ultra-cool T-shirt 👍
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A general shout out to my amazing wife. She hasn't slept for more than 2-3 hours maximum for 8 MONTHS due to our child, and yet still manages to be an amazing partner even through the extreme sleep deprivation. If it was me I'd be in the corner weeping. Motherhood is intense.
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An unexpectedly moving account of one man who survived the sinking of the Titanic. Filmed 41 years ago.
#OnthisDay
1979: Frank Prentice, an assistant purser on the Titanic, described how he survived the sinking of the ship. For more archive on the Titanic, you can visit -
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The Black Cuillin, Isle of Skye, 2012
(A modern wet-plate collodion tintype)
#tintype
#collodion
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AN ARTIST STATEMENT FROM LEO, AGED 10 MONTHS: "My work is primarily interested in thresholds and borderlands. In this temporal dialogue I examine the potentiality of the liminal space (the hall) and my relationship to it through questioning the Kantian philosophy of autonomy."
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A good couple of mountain days. Yesterday’s walk to the top of Slioch was stunning. The path along the shores of Loch Maree, past trees, gorse and a winding river - close to perfection.
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3 days of travel. 9,174 miles. 2 flights. 3 trains. Guarded by soldiers when we got off the plane. Taken to our hotel by a police escort. Now 14 days of quarantine. But…we finally made it to Australia ❤️
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@mykebartlett
Met with a friend in Freo a few weeks ago who said that the sheer amount of conspiracy chat at the moment is way beyond anything she has ever experienced. Like you though I try to show understanding, but god I want to argue with all of them. All the time.
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The anti-german rhetoric in this country is exhausting. I don't really have anything to add. It saddens me but it doesn't surprise me.
#Kristallnacht
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Since lockdown started my daughter loves to stand at the window and wave enthusiastically to anyone passing by. Dogs get blown lots of kisses. This morning one of our neighbours knocked on our window to give her this gift which is getting all the hugs. Happy Good Friday 🐰
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I wouldn’t normally post about a birthday, but spending it in quarantine isn’t much fun. What a lovely surprise then to have champagne and cake sent up by hotel staff. Absolutely bowled over by how nice the Aussies have been to this Scotsman. Also: bonus tim tams 😮
#quarantine
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On his chest, the Valknut, a symbol appropriated by American white supremacists. Seen at Charlottesville and now in Congress itself.
I suppose this was always how Trump's presidency was going to end.
#capitol
#washingtondc
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3 days spent working in Cape Wrath. I don't think I'll ever forget them. I'm now going to sleep for a week.
#phdchat
#phonesnap
#fashven
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I don't live in Scotland anymore, but the stooshie around Creative Scotland is quite something. The silence from artists, writers and musicians shouldn't be surprising however. The era of Scottish creatives with opinions ended about a decade ago. No-one wants to rock the boat.
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Good morning! Finally arrived at our new house. Exploring the property and taking in our new found freedom. The air smells of citrus and the trees are full of parrots. Quite a change.
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An ingenious way to get tourists to cut your peats for you. Why not sign up, get your Tairsgeir out and head out to the moor? Available now from Experience Lewis 😀
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I don't own many artworks, but this little lithograph was one of the first I saved up to buy from my own print sales when starting out. John Byrne's 'Moonstruck' is one of the first things I see every day. It's a continual source of inspiration. It will be for years to come 🖤
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Getting off the train he agreed to let me take his portrait. With a few quiet words of encouragement, he told me to keep at it. It was a brief moment and one he would likely have experienced countless times. For a shy Ayrshire kid with a camera though, it meant the world. 3/4
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Today's image from a military base somewhere in Scotland.
Top tip: don't put grenades down your toilet.
#defencestate
#scotland
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Pitch to BBC commissioning editors
#43
:
Islanders from the Outer Hebrides travel to Ben Fogle's birthplace the remote 'City of Westminster' and see if they can form a spiritual connection with the place.
They try their best to connect with its 'sacred side' 😆
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If you are having a bad day, think of the poor woman who just crashed her car into our apartment. Everyone fine, car in a bad way... but only way out of our home is via the windows.
2020...going to just give it a rest?
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NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: I've set up a new publisher called
@theduskpress
. We have 2 new photography books out and 100% of ALL profits go to charity.
We think you will like them. Please share this and let's raise some money for some good causes!
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10 years in the making.
Happy to announce that my new book ‘The Point of the Deliverance’ will be coming out soon with
@kozubooks
.
I’m excited to finally share it with you.
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According to
@Der_Postillon
, this year's Nobel prize goes to the virus experts of Facebook and Twitter. "One such expert is a pioneer in 5G research, chemtrailology and Illuminati science." Congratulations all 👏
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I suspect anyone who lives on the islands is going to deeply dislike this article by Edward Docx which includes almost every single romantic cliche you can imagine.
@KathleenJamie
’s lone enraptured male is alive and well.
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Given the new travel restrictions, I'll have to cancel a trip to the Outer Hebrides to hang an exhibition. I'm gutted (as I miss our friends up there) but it's for the best as I'm in a level 3 area. If you are in the central belt and planning to go up, please reconsider.
#COVID19
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My books, records, and entire photographic archive have finally arrived in Perth. They left Scotland in June. Can't wait to be reunited with all my things and get our studio here in order. Fingers crossed they survived the journey. Exciting.
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I only brought out my last book a year or so ago, but I deeply wish I'd made the images monochrome. Some of them really call out for it. When is it acceptable to bring out a new 'directors cut' edition? 😆
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It's 3 years since Jess and I left the Outer Hebrides. The time has flown in. This was the last picture we took on Lewis as we locked our front door in Back for the final time. I miss those incredible views over to the mountains of the north.
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With some trepidation I opened the crate. Inside was almost two decades of my work, including all my glass plates. I’m happy to report that they have survived 6 months at sea - including this, the very first one I made 10 years ago! Can anyone recognise the location?
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I've just been informed that Robin Campbell, perhaps the most knowledgeable figure on Scottish Mountaineering history (and so much more) has passed away. What a loss. Personally, I'll miss his kindness, wicked sense of humour and positive encouragement. An actual legend.
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Free in 2.5hrs. 2 weeks locked in a quarantine hotel room with a toddler going through a sleep regression- pretty sure we can survive anything now. 🥳
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Exploring the Isle of Arran with my favourite little person. She is a big fan of the mountains and rivers.
#isleofarran
#glenrosa
@visitscotland
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Setting up a new business in 2021 which is quite exciting. Sadly it means in 100 days I'll be leaving Scotland and the UK to follow that dream.
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I've been asked at the last minute to appear on a new BBC documentary, and now I need to summon up all the history of photography knowledge I have subsequently forgotten over the last year. No pressure. I'll try my best not to make things up.
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If I travel 3km south of my house I'll get fined for breaking quarantine restrictions. These two however can break the travel ban between Scotland and England in order to allegedly 'raise our spirits'.
#RoyalTrainTour
#RoyalTrainTourPRstunt
#tonedeaf
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive on the Royal Train in Edinburgh for the first stop on a UK tour
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St Kilda in the snow this morning. Stunning.
Bonny landscape in the morning light with last night's wee bit of powder.
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This is a tweet in solidarity to all people who, like me, have massive heads and can never find a decent hat that fits. I understand your pain. ✊
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My daughter has never seen a rainbow before outside of her favourite book (Wow! said the owl by
@TimHopgood
)
Anyway here is the lovely moment where she realised what she was looking at. There was lots of happy squeaking. Wow! Said Leo.
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An image of myself with a 17,000 tonne oilrig which washed up near our old house on the West side of Lewis a few years ago. A homage to Caspar David Friedrich. Sadly they ended up removing it.
#TransoceanWinner
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The view from Gairloch tonight. Mountains, Skye and the Outer Hebrides. What else could you want?
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For those of you in Scotland, I'll be on BBC 1 tonight at 7.30pm chatting to
@PtmurtonG
on Grand Tours of Scotland's Lochs. I'll be blethering about Victorian photographer & pioneer George Washington Wilson.
#scottishphotography
#photohistory
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Tir an Airm (Land of the Military) is now open at
@GairlochMuseum
- a former nuclear bunker! Thanks to everyone who came to the opening last night. The exhibition is on until June 27th.
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Thanks to the BBC for sharing this article on my upcoming exhibition at
@StillsEdinburgh
. The Scottish Defence Estate is a fascinating environment - both military training ground and home to some incredible sites of biodiversity.
A new photography exhibition reveals the "unseen areas" of huge Ministry of Defence weapons ranges in Scotland:
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Quite amused to be mentioned alongside
@nickcave
and
@rickygervais
in this BBC article. I suppose that's me cancelled now for talking about the cancellation of Nick Cave for cancelling the cancellers.
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On Thursday 19th of November I'll be giving a FREE talk on my latest book 'The Isle of Rust' as part of the Faclan 2020 Festival at
@anlanntair
. It's a slightly different perspective on photographing the Outer Hebrides. Booking is essential:
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This is important. I lost work through calling out a photographer who was being an utter creep, and had a rough few years as he tried to mess with my contacts as a result. Given the choice, I'd do it again. Don't tolerate abuse.
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John could tell I was nervous, but immediately put me at ease when he saw I had an old camera around my neck. Are you a photography student? I replied I wasn't, but loved to take photographs, and we chatted a while about the power of images. 2/4
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A genuine plea that if I start making pronouncements of what an art form (such as photography) is/isn't then please just put me out of my misery.
Everyone's motivations are different. There is no right/wrong. Focus on your own work, or encourage others. That's it. Be kind 👍
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It's beautiful down the harbour tonight. I don't get tired of this view, and I hope you don't mind me sharing it again.
#northsyrshire
#irvine
#isleofarran
#phonesnap
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Day 2 of quarantine in Australia. One moment of loveliness was that my daughter got to see her grandparents today for the very first time - even if it was from a 5th-floor hotel window. There was a lot of excitement, banging of the window, and waving.
#Australia
#QuarantineLife
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Well done everyone. We did it. We actually made it to the end of this week. The longest in human record. Wherever you are I'll raise a wee glass to your health tonight. 🍷
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For fans of German modernist architecture, it's great to see Berlin's Trudelturm on the cover of Zeit, the new album by Rammstein. You can visit it in the Adlershof campus of Humboldt University.
@RSprachrohr
.
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“I’m sick of Scottish weather” said my wife. “It’s much nicer in Australia” 😀
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I look back at how much time I used to waste on here debating photography topics. Now when I see a tedious or a boorish opinion being shared I just step away and try and do something positive...or make a cup of tea. That must be some kind of sign of personal growth, right? 😆
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I'm breaking my twitter silence to say this: The Blue Nile are repressing all their albums on heavyweight vinyl. 500 copies each. Be fast. This is not a drill.
#thebluenile
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I might print this fantastic portrait of the great Gaelic bard Sorley MacLean by Craig Mackay and put it above my desk. It's got definite 'get off social media and get back to work...or else' vibes.
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I was supposed to go to an exhibition opening in Perth tonight (which has one of my works on display) - but I completely forgot, and ended up in a bar drinking with some kangaroos.
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Received a missive from the angriest man on the Isle of Lewis to tell me how much he hated my last book. So much energy expended.
The same chap tried to take TripAdvisor to court over negative reviews of his hotel. Some people just have way too much free time on their hands 🤷♂️
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If you live in the UK, you can see me chatting away on the BBC about early Scottish photography, George Washington Wilson and showing some of my own images. It's on catch-up here if you are interested:
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It's Saturday night, and I know how to have fun. Currently doing some PhD research on a (now lost) village in Dumfries and Galloway. The settlement has a curious name for a pool right beside its main water supply. Explains why it may no longer be around.
#phdchat
@natlibscotmaps
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The CNN reporting really is superb. It's refreshing to see them challenging disinformation as well as calling out the US President for lying. Imagine if
@BBCNews
had treated
@BorisJohnson
or any other of the right-wing demagogues in the same way?
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Me: I'll never do another solo photography exhibition again. Also me: hanging one in 2 weeks and agreed to do a big one in Australia in 2023. Please someone stop me.
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Whatever the result is with the US election, I'm delighted to say I'll be spending tomorrow up in my favourite hills getting away from all of it. It's been way too long since I've stood on the summits of Cir Mhor and Goat Fell.
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My daughter is attempting to wave at every snowflake as they fall down past our window. It's the first time she has seen snow, and it's utterly cute.
#TheLittleThings
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The quiet dignity of Southgate, the philanthropic generosity of Rashford, the ability to inspire a nation of kids to dream- those are the things I'll take away from the England team.
Feeling for my English pals who feel embarrassed or worse, threatened by their own countrymen.
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I'm not sure how other PhD candidates feel, but once this thing is done I have no desire to work in academia, ever. I just want to climb hills, read books and probably live in seclusion. Ie: basically what I was doing before the PhD.
#phdchat
#AcademicTwitter
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To the edges of the Celtic world! I hope you enjoy this interview with
@NatGeoUK
about my Irish and Scottish work with an old camera, chemicals and a determined attitude.
Thanks to
@MrSimonIngram
for the words. Please RT if you can🙏
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This evening's view of Arran from the Ayrshire coast. The sea like glass, the distance peaks obscured in cloud.
#irvine
#northayrshire
#isleofarran
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So it's rained every single day since I arrived in Australia, and in the UK there has been a record-breaking heatwave. I'd like to apologise to everyone in both countries. Pretty sure it's my fault somehow.
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"The Scottish arts scene thinks of itself as radical. But many of those who went for Lindsay or stood by rather than speak out behaved like the classic prudent bourgeois. Why not go with the flow? Why risk my career by standing up for a hounded woman? What’s in it for me?"
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I live on a harbour in Ayrshire which has a pretty trendy coffee shop. For some reason Glaswegian Instagram 'celebs' think it's fine to endlessly come down here and do photoshoots, and then post them shamelessly on instagram. Sorry to be that guy, but it's so annoying.
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Today spent working on a chapter of my book on a cultural history of the mountains of Scotland which I started while a Graham Brown Fellow at the
@natlibscot
. It's been a great distraction from the news...and my PhD and my second job etc. Hoping to finish it by mid-next year.
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Stood on my first bit of lego today. Surely a milestone in every parent's life. I had tears in my eyes.
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The liberation of making an image you are happy with and not feeling you have to share it on social media. I highly recommend it.
#photography
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Went a wander up Glen Sannox today on Arran. It never ceases to amaze. At this point I really think Visit Arran should start paying me.
#visitarran
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I love this handy guide to tax return avoidance. To all freelancers out there I salute you 😑
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One must remain very still and have endless patience to photograph wild creatures in their natural habitats. This one is aware of my presence and has adopted a fearsome gesture.
#photographylife
#DaddyDaughter
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60,000+ dead. Lets break out the bunting. This jaunt encapsulates just how out of touch the UK is in 2020. A UK-wide pay rise for frontline staff would have been a better use of funds than this reminder of the privilege of the few and the inequalities of the many.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Euston Station tonight as they meet front-line transport staff before watching Shakin’ Stevens perform and then boarding the Royal Train to begin a 1250 mile journey around the country as a ‘Thank you’ to the nation 🚂 🇬🇧
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