Snow

Christmas Photos

Scottish Pride

In ‘79 we were told that not enough people had voted even though the majority voted for independence. After this, some Scots were disillusioned and left Scotland. I left Scotland myself in 1980 for America and returned here in 1989.  Turmoil can create great art though and after ’79 in the eighties there was a revival of Scottish art, music and writing. Since then there has also been a revival in Scottish pride and culture. Back in the 70s there were fewer ceilidhs and kilts were rarely seen at events or on the high streets and there was less pride in our Scottish heritage. 

Here are a few of my kilt images of recent years! 

Black and White Portraits

Frank Sinatra

Louis Armstrong

Professor Longhair

John Martyn

A few of my favourite black and white portraits. Quite a few years back now I saw these awesome black and white images of jazz singers, some of the inimitable Billie Holiday, and I thought it would be a dream to take photos like that....one day.

autumn fruit

Kevin Maher Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013.

Kevin Maher,  discussed his book The Fields, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013.

Laurie Penny Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013

Laurie Penny, British columnist, blogger and author discussed her book Discordia on the Greek crisis at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013. Credit Pauline Keightley. Copyright:pkimage09@gmail.com.

Laurie Penny, 26, journalist, author, feminist, troublemaker, utopian. Contributing Editor at The New Statesman, writer for The Guardian, Vice Magazine, The Independent, The Nation, Salon and many others. Author of Meat Market (Zer0 Books, April 2011), Penny Red (Pluto Press, October 2011) and Discordia (Random House, 2012, with Molly Crabapple).

If any media or artist wishes to use my photos commercially online, please get in touch with me. Thanks. 

Beautiful Sahar Delijan Edinburgh Book Festival 2013 .

 

The beautiful Iraqi writer Sahar Delijan discussed her novel about those executed during the Iran-Iraq war Children of the Jacaranda Tree at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013.  .

Pipers

Finlay MacDonaald

Fred Morrison

Sicily

Sicily is a green, beautiful and very large island covered in vineyards. Pink and orange houses were dotted amid the lush green olive groves and a translucent sea evaporated into the turquoise glow of the Mediterranean sky in warm whispers.

We stayed in the hills just behind the old town of Cefulo, in an artistic villa with a wide sheltered veranda with panoramic views of the very blue sea. The house is full of many coloured quirky nic nacs – dangling colour beads and shells, fancy large plastic bowl.

I hoped I’d find peace here, or new treasures perhaps. Travel and holidays for me are a chance for free creative thought and writing.  

The last evening the waves took up, leaving a brilliant turquoise wash and soft luminous light as we walked the long shorelines.  I read too (recommend Beautiful Ruins)

Trip to Rome

Our first night in Rome was at the front of the impressive converted old farm dwelling which was tastefully decorated on two levels and the best hotel room I have ever stayed in. I wish we'd stayed there rather than stay the next 2 nights in Rome itself, as the hotel there was basic and cost the same price! We walked over the impressive centuries old steps of the Coliseum and past the Roman forum, where there are so many very old stories.

We visited the Papal Vatican museum, the holy city and the vastly decorated walls of St Peters. We viewed the craftsmanship of the paintings by Raphael and Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel that stared down over us on man’s heavenly aspirations. It felt both strange and familiar to walk on those revered and well worn marble and mosaic floors. We entered the dimmed and hushed Sistine chapel adorned with Michelangelo’s majestic glories to God and as the crowds follow behind us, they seem to mirror the soaring images painted on the walls in an all too real way, and that is the memory I take away with me – the shared hopes of people for a better way.

Later we loitered at the packed fairy lit Trevi fountain and after ate at the Peroni restaurant where there was that fun spirit and energy we encountered once before in Paris.

(all roads lead to Rome, when in Rome)