Scottish Photographer
Photography has always been my enthusiasm, at least since I was 12 yrs. old. I have been free to photograph what I like, when I like. My photography comes in natural waves, the waves of my life. As a young teenager I documented the activities of my mates in the swinging 60s whilst learning how to develop and print my work (usually poorly). As a student I wangled my way into being the photographer for the Student Newspaper and then, as an adult, the transition to life as a father in a foreign land which for me was England, and so it went on. By year 2000 digital was becoming the norm and I hated it, but in any case, my photography had become stale. Then a big wave came in.
It started with short assignments abroad. Although I was based in my native Scotland, I was invited to work in Kazakhstan on a nationalisation program within their Oil and Gas industry. Those few months then extended to ten years and that changed my photography. Well, that is with the help of a Nikon D70. Digital photography had now grown up.
Photography for me was always about seeing things, looking closer, seeing and feeling connections. Now with a decent tool I could devote serious time to capturing the everyday details that surrounded me. Everything was fresh and different and interesting to this foreigner. You name it, I photographed it.
Then another wave arrived, I met Alejandra who, I think, saw more in my photographs than myself, “Robert, you need to make an exhibition!” this came as a shock as I had no idea what to do or how. My problem was that nothing I had photographed had any real purpose. Alejandra supplied the focus and the drive and that was a wake up for me. One of the things I had been photographing was the old wooden Town Houses that had survived the post WWII concrete, Soviet block building program. Many were now abandoned and were falling into decay. Most foreigners walked past them without paying much attention. I had some shots already but now with this focus I worked to fill gaps in the portfolio. This was the easy part.
Alejandra ( Reyes ) made it happen. The venue, the permissions required, the sponsors to provide financial support, the catering, the advertising, the final selection of prints, the hanging of the display pieces. the construction of back drops etc. etc.
Even with these challenges there was a lot more to it than I had imagined. This was a highly unusual event in this part of the world and there were many potential ‘sensitivities’ to consider. Here were we two ‘foreigners’ exhibiting images of decaying buildings to a very mixed audience. I need not have worried as it worked out very well. My photographs and Alejandra’s organisation drew so many different people together to discuss positively and to appreciate a new perspective discovering that there is beauty in everything even in the old or decaying buildings … and that was more important for me than the photographs themselves.
My photography still comes and goes with the waves of life but now, at least I think, with greater insight.
