BLOG – John Maher’s Photography Blog

26 Dec 2018

When Santa Met Billy

May 2018: I was contacted by the TV production company 7 Wonder. They were about to start work on a two-part documentary series for BBC 2, following Billy Connolly as he travels around Scotland and has various encounters with folk along the way. The makers were keen to include some Hebridean content, so in addition to pieces they’d lined up on Harris Tweed, Lews Castle and the Rocket Post, they were interested in featuring some of my photography. I met […]

05 Oct 2018

Vote for Netty’s Tree!

The Woodland Trust have launched their annual search for 2018’s Tree of the Year. One of the contenders is a scraggly-looking spruce, which until recent years was the only tree on the tiny windswept Hebridean island of Eriskay (population: 150). Whisky Galore! Planted more than 100 years ago, Netty’s Tree was standing tall long before the island made the headlines in 1941, when 8,000 ton cargo ship the SS Politician sank off Eriskay’s north coast with 28,000 cases of whisky […]

Caught By The River / News / Portraits 2

23 Sep 2018

Going GAGA in Ness

A selection of photos from a few hours on location in Ness (Isle of Lewis) during the filming of FUNC: a new comedy sketch show created by Michael Hines, best known for directing and co-producing the BAFTA award-winning Scottish sitcom, Still Game. I was hired by Electrify PR, who work on behalf of BBC ALBA to take some ‘behind the scenes’ photos. I also managed to grab a few minutes with the actors in-between scenes for some posed shots. The […]

Portraits 2

17 Sep 2018

Coralbox: the little shop by the sea

Eilidh owns and runs Coralbox, a small but perfectly formed gift shop on the Isle of Berneray – a small island in the Outer Hebrides, 3 miles wide by 2 miles long. Eilidh stocks a range of arts and crafts, jewellery, scented candles, personalised gifts, greetings cards and photography, including items made by Eilidh herself. Approximately half her stock is made locally. Befitting its location, many of the items on display have a nautical theme. Eilidh offers high quality products […]

Portraits / WORK: Outer Hebrides 1

23 Jul 2018

The Butty Bus

Introducing Chris – proprietor of the Butty Bus – a fast food establishment parked at Leverburgh Pier. Chris modestly describes it as ‘a greasy spoon on wheels’ and ‘the only cafe on the island with four Michelin tyres’. Chris comes from a long line of Harris folk. His family connections with the place go back generations. Born in Inverness, he moved to Harris for a brief period when he was 16, leaving shortly after to spend a decade working at […]

ALL / Portraits / WORK: Outer Hebrides 0

01 Jul 2018

School’s out for summer [WORK: Outer Hebrides]

Shona is a primary school teacher. She teaches a range of subjects to children between the ages of 4 and 12 at Leverhulme Memorial School in Leverburgh, Isle of Harris. I dropped in on the last day of term while members of staff and the janitor were making final preparations for the long summer holiday ahead. Being one of the hottest days of the year, we opted to do the photo shoot outdoors in the sunshine, setting up on the […]

Portraits / WORK: Outer Hebrides 0

17 Jun 2018

Welcome to Barra and Vatersay

During 2017 I took my camera on several road trips, photographing buildings old and new for a multi-agency funded project entitled the ‘Western Isles Architectural Trail’. Over the next few months I’ll share some of the stories and photos from my travels. I’ll start at the southern end of the chain of islands that make up the Outer Hebrides. The Isle of Barra is probably best known for having the only airport in the world where scheduled flights use a […]

Architecture / Caught By The River 2

18 Apr 2018

The Mobile Librarian

Stevie has worked for the mobile library service for twelve years. I caught up with him on one of his regular trips to Harris. The Western Isles Mobile Library Service supplies books to people who are unable to use a branch library because of distance, age or disability. There are normally three vehicles on the road, visiting communities in Lewis, Harris and the Uists. However, one of the library vans was recently retired, having reached the end of its serviceable […]

ALL / Portraits / WORK: Outer Hebrides 0

03 Mar 2018

Jesus Christ Super Star Wars

A tale of two cinematic controversies – with more than four decades between them – are the start and finish points for this short photo tour of Stornoway town centre. Some religious and film references scattered throughout. Saturday evening, February 17th, 2018. Shortly after sunset. Stornoway’s Playhouse opened in 1934. Popular myth has it that the cinema went out of business in the mid 1970s, shortly after a Free Presbyterian minister put a curse on the theatre manager, following his […]

Long Exposure / Night Photography 2

11 Feb 2018

Fishy Business [WORK: Outer Hebrides]

Ken has worked in the fish farming industry for over 30 years. He manages the salmon farm based at Loch Langavat, which is on the road between Leverburgh and Finsbay, Isle of Harris. He also oversees operations at Loch Huamavat – a couple of miles up the road from their Langavat base – which is where I took the photo above. I’ve driven past Ken and his workmates literally hundreds of times over the past 15 years. I’ve seen all […]

Long Exposure / Night Photography / Portraits / WORK: Outer Hebrides 0

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