Edinburgh is hosting a ‘Run for Relief‘ in the meadows, followed by a lunch which will be addressed by Zoya Phan, a Burmese refugee who now works for Burma Campaign UK.

There’s also a discussion taking place this Thursday (4th October) at St John’s Church Hall on Princes Street about the situation in Burma, and what people in Scotland can do about it.

If you’re at all interested in this, or just feel that you want to help out, please check out the websites of the organisations involved…come along on Thursday…or even get your trainers on this Saturday! It’s only 5K around the meadows…and you can walk if you want to. Register here online before 10pm Thursday 4th October.

Scottish election day today. Voted SNP all the way i’m happy to admit in public. Not really sure about the whole voting business i must admit. It does appear that we’re picking from the best of a bad bunch, but perhaps i’m wrong. I get the impression there are not many truly good guys in politics. However, i also get the impression that Scotland as a country is easier to manage from Edinburgh rather than London and therefore i’m in favour of anyone who is promoting Scotland’s interests.

I have no idea how successful we would be if we were independent, but i think that if we played an active part in Europe then it wouldn’t be so bad. Perhaps the Scottish population don’t want to be independent, and i guess that’s fine too – but i definitely think that we should be allowed to make the choice.

The anticipation was intense…the kilts were donned…the dresses were slipped into…and we all managed a little touch of pink as the theme demanded.

Rather dapper i must admit…and yes i’m aware i’m showing a little too much leg there chaps – just thought i’d give you all a wee flash…wow…check those sturdy man like pins!

Sadly, the dinner at the ball ended up being a bit like a public school’s canteen, with overgrown kids standing on their chairs and shouting ‘I am Spartacus’ while downing their drinks, and trying to not fall over. All in good fun i know, and could be a good crack…but not when you’re at a ball in a posh hotel eating a nice meal! When dessert arrived…some clever fellow had been around to swipe all the cutlery, so everyone was supposed to eat their cake while standing on their chairs with their hands behind their backs. Again…great fun…but not when you’ve just shelled out your hard earned cash for a dress shirt and bow tie…or when you’re at a ball in a posh hotel eating a nice meal!

Nikki hiding in the corner so she could eat her dessert sensibly (well…mostly so that i wouldn’t steal it!)!

The rest of the night followed this tone, and i couldn’t help feeling a little old for it all. I know, i know…i’m only 22…but when i go to a ball i expect to have a nice evening…if i wanted a food fight and a piss up i would’ve gone to the pub with my little brothers. I feel sorry for the staff who had to put up with it all night, then clear up afterwards, and wonder how Edinburgh Uni plans on keeping its reputation. It unfortunately felt like most people were no more than spoilt public schoolkids – but then isn’t that half the joy of going my great university!

Thankfully…the whole night was not a wash-out. Anwar and I had a good crack and we got those kilts swinging to the Gay Gordons, the Eightsome Reel and all the rest, and Nikki got her dress swinging to just about every dance and every song in the disco afterwards!

Sadly, my sports photography skills weren’t quite up to scratch, and i managed to miss the crucial moments of the match because i was too busy watching the match! I then managed to miss more crucial moments because i was complaining about the fact that i had been busy watching the match instead of taking photos of it! So…after a hard day’s watching football…i did manage to get a couple of snaps, and if you want to bore yourself through 25 pictures…then feel free to check them out here (new window) (some funny captions!).

Must also make special mention of my faithful assistant Nikki who stood by my side throughout the second half, after turning up 5 minutes before the end of the first half, then refusing to believe that it was half-time…thinking that my usual completely honest and trustworthy nature had been caste aside and that i was lying to her! However, as the second half rolled on, she stood there holding my umbrella and wolf-whistling at the passing players who felt the need to take their shirts off every now and again.
Unfortunately she wasn’t quite sure how to hold said umbrella so spent most of the time trying to get it to stay up and protect us from the rain! It goes in your hand Nik!!

Does this mean my photos will now be uber good and utterly photoshopped? No…of course not. Nearly all photos on Flickr and elsewhere are completely uneditted (except for inbuilt processing done by the camera).

Since we’re already on the delightful topic of photography…i attended the open night of the Edinburgh Photographic Society (new window) last Wednesday. Seems pretty cool, though definately a hang out for retired men! Unfortunately, i don’t really need use of their facilities so i don’t think i’ll join…but will go along for a couple of free talks. You can check out their website and see the timetable of their Wednesday night speakers…and all talks are free!

However, a guy said something interesting to me that night about photos and licensing. He said that if anyone wants to publish your photo then you should charge – if they think it’s good enough to print – then you’re good enough to get paid! Interesting point and possibly true. However, since i am happy purely to have my photos published…i don’t mind too much not getting a couple of quid here and there – but it’s definately an interesting point.

Had a rather uninteresting morning at uni, followed by a nice lunch in Black Medicine Coffee Company (my new local spot since my recent move to Old College and the Old Infirmary for my classes). Took a little detour on my way home and stopped off at the City Arts Centre for the Albert Watson exhibition – what an exhibition it was too! Over 200 prints by this fine Edinburgh gent…from kids in Morocco to hookers in Las Vegas…it’s pretty good!

While dreaming of my exhibitions after my 40 year career (and reading the dull article for my Management of Technology class) on the bus on the way home, i was to be greeted by a nice surprise on checking my emails. Yet another person is looking to use one of my photos…this time in a book on human pigmentation. Rather exciting i thought – oh…and if you’re reading this then would love some more info about the book!

However, at the thought that this is a bit of a boring post, i shall promptly stop writing and brighten your day with a photo of my brother messing around on the monkey bars…(not the aforementioned brother!)…

To continue on my artful day, i also went to the Robert Mapplethorpe (new window) exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (new window). Quite an interesting exhibition, though not completely my taste in photography – a lot of his work is very thought out and posed, often in the studio – i prefer much more candid and spontaneous work, like Cartier-Bresson (new window).

However, was still very interesting…unfortunately the Dean gallery’s Van Gogh exhibition was closing as we arrived, so it’ll have to wait for another day.