Insider's Guide to Edinburgh

For all you jet-setters this month, check out my profile feature on Edinburgh for Aer Lingus's CARA magazine. Photos AND text. Get me!

Huge credit to Albie for my portrait. Thank you to all the featured companies for their help (and for being awesome)

Festival Close - Up

August. 

The Eight Month. Autumn's Doormat. The Lion's Cape.

Call it what you will, it is still home to the biggest Arts festival event in the world, and it kicks off tomorrow on terra firma in Edinburgh. As part of the ubiquitous frenzy, I am ready to cast off my reservations and throw myself into it fully. I will be in town and on the hoof for the month again, between assignments and festivities. I will be, as ever, drowning in images as the month progresses so to relieve the image build-up, everyday I will be posting a 

Tune in on Twitter and Facebook to see what is crammed into my lens on the front lines over the next 31 days. No two Augusts are ever the same, I won't even speculate what the month has in store...

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LeithLate - Shutter Project

Over the last 6 months, my local Leith Walk has had its grey and shady veneer peeled away to the vibrant, motley heartwood underneath. Leith has always had the handle of being a colourful neighbourhood, but the curatorial eye of LeithLate has seen this put forward in vivid hues. LeithLate chief Morv has paired visual artists with local businesses whose street shutters are lent as a steel canvas to their ideas and artwork. With no shortage of interesting businesses on the walk, and some truly excellent artists in the local, the range of expression and creativity has been awesome.

Speaking as someone visual - it has not only been a great idea, but a great success. My roving eyes have more luscious pigmentation on which to feast on my walk up the street. I think we could all happily see more artistic collaboration within our commnuity - bravo folks.

Games Master - Jamie Johnson

Fairtrade Coffee - Bernie Reid

Paradign Shift - Dave Lemm

Inner City Sanctum - Liana Moran

Word Of Mouth - Fraser Gray

Origano - Richie

Harry Benson

Yesterday I had the rare and great honour of photographing legendary Glaswegian photographer Harry Benson. He spoke to a group at Waverly Gate about his life with a camera and his work at large, covering stories for magazines and media. A picture adorned the front page of his presentation: a floor spread with a copy of all of the covers from his editorial commissions. A snapshot of a lifetime given over to one craft.

It is easy to overlook the inspiration and humility that someone at the far side of their career can offer to someone at the start. Harry spoke to photographers, lecturers and students alike. A message - to have ideas and stick with it. Simple to the point of profound. His is a story with all the chapters in place, a sheltering sentiment as we all begin to write our own.

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