Having spent time in hospitals in general with my own family, I know only too well how hospitals can make people feel, regardless of the amazing care the staff provide – the obvious clinical nature of such places can make patients feel very fearful of visiting hospitals, especially children. If pictures can positively impact your health and even speed up recovery times then that can only be a good thing. If nothing else, it allows an escape for those staring at the blank walls or a topic of conversation to take your mind of other things during your time there.

The refurbishment has recently been completed and I had the opportunity earlier this week to visit in person to see the changes for myself, with thanks to Alison Inglis, the Senior Charge Nurse at Ninewells, very kindly showing me around well after her shift was over and to Dawn Crosby, Regional Services Manager for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Scotland.

I had the opportunity to meet some of the staff and patients and chat to them about the images and it was so heartwarming hearing their reactions and comments and how it made them feel, especially given the circumstances of their time there. I wish I could have spent more time with them chatting about their memories and their own experiences of the locations but I hope to arrange something in future.

There has also been posts on social media already about the changes from the likes of Fi Munro, a prominent blogger sharing her positivity with others facing adversity, and another photographer whose images were used in the refurbishment (Steve Barnes):

https://www.facebook.com/steve.barnes.921025/posts/10156420841303169

The refurbishment of this ward is something I will always be extremely proud of.

I am not being dishonest in the least when I say this, but although my work has appeared around the world and appeared on currency and won many awards, I am most proud of this ward and the images on display here.

As I have always said, what can be more powerful or fulfilling than your work having such an impact in other people’s lives? It certainly puts a lot of things into perspective.

I hope everyone continues to enjoy looking at the imagery for a very long time to come and at least for a moment, get completely lost in them.

Thank you to everyone again for giving me the opportunity to be involved in such an amazing project – I will forever be grateful.

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Entrance

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Waiting Area

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Day Area

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Corridor

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Corridor

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Waiting Room

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Ward Bay

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Ward Mockup

NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 – Ward Mockup

My image of the V&A Dundee Construction (taken during a tour in April 2017) has made it all the way to the final round of Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition and has been awarded a Highly Commended in the Urban category.

The full results were announced today and can be seen at http://www.slpoty.co.uk/2017-winners-table/

This is the competition’s fourth year and also the fourth consecutive time one of my images has been a finalist and commended in the competition so I am extremely proud to have my work recognised in such a way.

V&A Dundee Museum Construction

My image will now be shown on the competition website and in related exhibitions and will also be in the Collection Four book that follows the awards.

Congratulations to all the other award winners and it is great to see so many familiar names as always.

Here are examples of some recent studio watch photography from earlier in the year including a Hublot worth a lot of money.

Watch Photography – Bulova

Watch Photography – Bulova

Watch Photography – Hublot

Watch Photography – Hublot

Retouching on the images was by the excellent Paul Hill Retouching.

The first being the image taken over Stirling as the light broke through the clouds above the snaking River Forth and the second, an aerial capture of the new Queensferry Crossing.

The Herald Magazine – Part 1

The Herald Magazine – Part 2

It was very exciting to be interviewed live-on-air and see how a show like this is produced behind the scenes and it was great to meet the producers and of course the presenters, Ewen and Jennifer.

STV2 Live at Five – Behind the Scenes

STV2 Live at Five with presenters, Ewen & Jennifer

You can watch the show on the STV website at the following link (my bit starts around 8 mins in):

Heather, a features writer with the paper, had gotten in touch with me after hearing me on the radio and wanting to feature my first book as well.

You never know how things like this are going to turn out/the finished result so to speak and layout etc so to get a centre/full three page spread was absolutely fantastic to see.

Sunday Mail – 25 June 2017 – Page 1

Sunday Mail – 25 June 2017 – Page 2-3

The article also appeared online on their website: Daredevil photographer is putting Scotland on the map with stunning pictures of landmarks

Thank you so much to Heather again for thinking me worthy enough to feature, it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and thank you again for the wonderful feature.

I was asked last week to come on the show and it was my very first Radio ‘appearance’ but I was very honoured to be asked and throughly enjoyed talking to Grant (who is sitting in for Janice) about the book. Ian G Black Media took some behind-the-scenes images of me in action.

BBC Radio Scotland – Interview 1

BBC Radio Scotland – Interview 2

BBC Radio Scotland – Interview 3

You can listen to the show (I appear around the 24min 40s mark) at the following link on the BBC iPlayer:

We're revelling in the beauty of #Scotland's landscape on air now with photographer @shahbazmajeed https://t.co/T4lgj5Pqkf

— Janice Forsyth Show (@BBCJFCulture) May 31, 2017

It is an absolutely wonderful write up by Teddy and they even gave me a 3 page spread – thank you Teddy.

Sunday Herald Life Magazine – 21st May 2017 – Page 1&2

Sunday Herald Life Magazine – 21st May 2017 – Page 3

Scotland in Photographs Book

All started back in January 2015 when I first heard from a publisher about authoring a book and the culmination of all that time is Scotland in Photographs. I want to thank everyone at Amberley Publishing but especially Alan Murphy for his professional guidance in producing this book and for choosing me to author this publication in the first place.

You can buy a signed/personalised copy of your own from me directly from this website: https://www.framefocuscapture.co.uk/scotland-in-photographs-book/

Scotland in Photographs Book

I will be holding a book signing next month at Waterstones in Dundee and look forward to meeting some of you there.

And last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to Brian for writing the foreword and being associated with my book. I know how extraordinarily busy you are are (especially during the time when this book was being put together) but you managed to make time and I am extremely honoured to have your support.

You can see a video introduction to the book on my Facebook page at: Facebook Video of Scotland in Photographs Book

My image of Skye from last year’s competition was one of the images that was chosen to be part of the book and it is extremely humbling to be featured amongst the other great images in there.

Landscape Photographer of the Year – 10 Year Special Edition – Cover

Landscape Photographer of the Year – 10 Year Special Edition – My Image

Fleeting Light, Quiraing, Skye