Fact, Fiction & Manipulation.

I came across two thought-provoking image series one day last week. Each one was technically superb, the result of painstaking work by talented and committed photographers. Both dealt with difficult and contentious issues, of......

The Misery of Scotland.

Aye, misery. Scotland's been in the news a fair bit prior to, during and subsequent to the recent General Election. For many people Scotland conjures up images of mountains, rain, and more rain. I read......

Playing the hand you’re dealt.

Some fine, thought-provoking pieces of writing gave me respite from the election hoo-ha last week. That doesn't mean however that what I'm writing here will make much sense. It sort-of makes sense to me,......

The Tannery.

This animated short film by Iain Gardner is beautifully done, thought-provoking and moving. Make some time for this. I watched with my 6 year old, he loved it and was intrigued and said "Daddy,......

Not ruin porn: Industrial Archaeology.

I'm not a fan of the term 'Ruin Porn'. I like my ruins to have their story, preferably the real story of what went on in them, why it all went wrong and what......

Not just a number.

This is what 191 dead migrants looks like.   ...

The economy of ignorance.

Pat Pope was right. That's my stance. Pat is a photographer, and he was asked by the band Garbage to give them some of his work for free. Pat was unhappy with the 'deal' on......

Living with a tiger.

Living with a tiger © John MacPherson "Oh Donnie, Donnie, please.....please....straighten yourself up, please!  ......

The Loss of The Westhaven.

Trawling off Mull. Garvellachs and Scarba behind © John MacPherson   I wrote this in......

and Holland has tulips.

Alyssa © Lani Holmberg     "There was only one person who had......

Take your first steps in mini-documentary production this spring..

https://vimeo.com/80199126 That Time - International HIV/AIDS Alliance "I really loved the course! It's really helped me to get clearer about how I want to develop some important areas of my......

A ghost story.

Kenny, my friend, wanted to climb all the Munros in Scotland. Munros are mountains over 3000 feet high. Kenny is a dentist; precision is vital to him. "I want to climb all the Munros" he said.......

Preserving the future.

Twitter is marvellous. I was listening to the radio this morning and heard an article about Van Gogh's reds fading to white, and possibly because he used cheap pigments as these were all he......

Last minutes with Oden.

You may have seen this film before. It's an old one, made about 5 years ago. If you haven't seen it, find a quiet moment to do so. When I watched it, it was the first......

Fast is the new slow.

This is rather clever.   https://vimeo.com/118738368   Shoot at a high frame rate, play back at a slower frame rate. And things become rather intriguing. Add some other stuff in post and bob's your uncle. There's an article on......

Time: the space between.

When I was little my dad, an avid fisherman, would take me with him on his outings. My mum never knew the stuff that went on, we two traversing slimy gorges that would swallow......

Experience.

I saw experience yesterday. It was eloquent, supportive, directive, but overwhelmingly caring. I was visiting my mum, who has dementia and is looked after in a residential care home in the Scottish Highlands. A close relative......

ANGRY Poetry.

I like whales and dolphins, and big fish. I've been very lucky to grow up in a coastal area, and undertake a lot of work on the coast, and on islands, and consequently have had......

How to become a filmmaker.

Watch this brilliant film   http://youtu.be/4wnHLlPOazc Then check out our Intro To Minidocs courses....

From zero to paid mini-doc director in 18 months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCMz517GcOw Occasionally I think back over my life and like to plot significant moments, like a path, leading to where I am at present. With a pinch of sceptical fatalism, I find it enjoyable......