Migration

[Rob MacKillop]

Passed the Stills Gallery today, Edinburgh's trendy photography gallery and workshop, where there was an exhibition on migration to Scotland from Italy. Being concerned mainly with art photography and 'installations' it was more than the usual bunch of framed photos on a wall. The rooms were dark, with maybe one image - you really had to go to the image, get close. I found it quite engaging, and it led to my own meditation on migration in a wider sense...All XE1 and Auld Nik.

I had to increase exposure to see this image:

migration by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

​

My interpretation of migration, Life to Death, and all that jazz...

migration3_cropa by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

Apart from the migration theme, I took a couple of other shots, blurring figures and obscuring environment:

Stills Blue Blown by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

There was also a room given over to an installation on the subject of light. The room was very dark, with a few images. Then suddenly a video started playing on one wall, of specks of dust moving through light - something which has always attracted me. Anyway, I became interested in the effect the light from the video was having on the black wall next to it...I hope you can see the effect on the dark area of the image.

Specks by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

So, an interesting 20 minutes in my day. I'd met two Finnish friends, and after a walk around Arthur's Seat (photos to come) we walked into town, and stopped for this exhibition. A good morning!

 

[Pete Askew]

Not only does that sound like a really interesting exhibition (and a good social outing), but you also managed to get some fabulous images as well. I especially like 'Stills Blue Blown', partly because of the seated figure but also because of the isolation of the two figures caused by the loss of the room that contains them. An interesting and effective technique and worth exploring I think. I can see the effect on the wall that you mean. I guess it was created by the texture of the projection screen acting like a diffraction grating. It adds an nice contrast with the disorder of the dust in the projected image strengthened by the illusion that the image is a window.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I like your comments, Pete. Most of all the inference that you think I'm not mad

It's hard not to talk about art in our culture without sounding pretentious, and that is such a shame, as we are discussing real things - reality and our interpretation of it. I am beginning to see my interaction with life as having two gateways - first there was music, the study of sound and its effect on us; and now there is light, which I'm experiencing via the prism of photography. Light and Sound...hmm...

 

[Paul Lange]

Number 3 is definitely my favourite out of the bunch. You strip away everything superfluous and you are just left with the essence, in this case the body language of the figures.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Paul, I thought the body language was interesting, one seated, rested, one shuffling around, not in her usual environment. A power play of sorts. A slow dance.

 

[Beth Carter]

sorry rob, unlike pete, i'm still on the fence about whether you're mad or not...[ner] but maybe your madness is the key to creating your photos.

i like the still blue blown a lot. it reminds me of my grandparent's ancient tv that used to need repaired.

the last one is pretty interesting too. i love the movement of dust in the light.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

LOL. The jury's still out!

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Still Blues is a cracking image. In fact they all are, wish I had taken them

 

[Rob MacKillop]

But you did take them, Julian. Don't you remember? Keep taking the pills...