Having never been to Colonsay before I entered the project fresh, with no preconceived ideas of the island or what I’d find there. But after a week of collaboration with the islanders helping them find their voice in a small documentary photography essay project we set them, and of talking and listening to the people I met and photographed, I brought back a portfolio of images that begins to build into a portrait of the island community.
During our week on the island we collaborated with a small group of islanders who were keen to get involved in portraying their life on the island, showing us true island life and not always one depicted by visiting photographers or of images of whitewashed crofting houses against a backdrop of hills.
In an opening night event in the Colonsay and Oransay Heritage Trust hall we showed documentary and editorial photography projects that we as photographers had undertaken, we talked about building a narrative and photo essay out of one subject and the needs for different types of imagery in the set, images which set the scene, show the protagonists at work, show details and help tell the story, changing the pace and rhythm through images.
Mid-week we met up again and looked at the work the islanders had produced so far, gave some advice, encouragement (although little was needed!) and we showed some of our work that we had begun producing and with the people we’d met.
‘Show Us Colonsay’ project week – With Document Scotland’s Colin McPherson, Sophie Gerrard, and Craig Easton, in Colonsay, Scotland, 7 May 2022.
At the culmination of the week we held had an event attended by almost half the island’s population of 120, and enjoyed an evening of projections of the photography work we’d all shot that week. Images of lambs being born, of firemen’s training drills, portraits of artists and crofters, photographs of beehives, wild swimming and boat repairs – the work showed the many facets of contemporary Hebridean life, and helped to Show Us Colonsay.
Colonsay Community Fire Station volunteers, on their Tuesday evening training drill night, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
And being presented with their Queen’s Platinum services medals.
Volunteers were:
Chris Baker – landscape gardener
Jim Johnstone – plumber
Chris Nisbett – Distiller
Les Robinson – joiner
Joe McKay, Area Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Des Oakes – Group Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Colonsay Community Fire Station volunteers, on their Tuesday evening training drill night, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
And being presented with their Queen’s Platinum services medals.
Volunteers were:
Chris Baker – landscape gardener
Jim Johnstone – plumber
Chris Nisbett – Distiller
Les Robinson – joiner
Joe McKay, Area Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Des Oakes – Group Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Colonsay Community Fire Station volunteers, on their Tuesday evening training drill night, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
And being presented with their Queen’s Platinum services medals.
Volunteers were:
Chris Baker – landscape gardener
Jim Johnstone – plumber
Chris Nisbett – Distiller
Les Robinson – joiner
Joe McKay, Area Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Des Oakes – Group Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Colonsay Community Fire Station volunteers, on their Tuesday evening training drill night, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
And being presented with their Queen’s Platinum services medals.
Volunteers were:
Chris Baker – landscape gardener
Jim Johnstone – plumber
Chris Nisbett – Distiller
Les Robinson – joiner
Joe McKay, Area Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Des Oakes – Group Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Colonsay Community Fire Station volunteers, on their Tuesday evening training drill night, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
And being presented with their Queen’s Platinum services medals.
Volunteers were:
Chris Baker – landscape gardener
Jim Johnstone – plumber
Chris Nisbett – Distiller
Les Robinson – joiner
Joe McKay, Area Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Des Oakes – Group Commander, Argyll and Bute, And East and West Dunbartonshire.
Matt, (36-yrs old, crofter and fencer, pig keeper of Port More Pork), fencing at Baleromindubh, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 4 May 2022.Matt, (36-yrs old, crofter and fencer, pig keeper of Port More Pork), fencing at Baleromindubh, on the Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 4 May 2022.
Trini (28yrs old), wild swimming in Loch Fada, on isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 5 May 2022.
Trini (28yrs old), wild swimming in Loch Fada, on isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 5 May 2022. Trini spends 6-months each summer on the island and is now owning and running The Old Waiting Room Gallery.
Lotta Leahy, artist working with wool and felt, in her workshop, in Colonsay, Scotland, 2 May 2022.
‘Show Us Colonsay’ project week – With Document Scotland’s Colin McPherson, Sophie Gerrard (and Finn Gerrard, 1-yr), and Craig Easton, in Colonsay, Scotland, 2 May 2022.
Lotta Leahy, artist working with wool and felt, in her workshop, in Colonsay, Scotland, 2 May 2022.
Lotta Leahy, artist working with wool and felt, in her workshop, in Colonsay, Scotland, 2 May 2022.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Sarah and David Hobhouse of Balnahard Farm, in Colonsay, Scotland, 3 May 2022.
Sarah runs Colonsay Wool Growers, and Seapink Gallery.
Boat trip, on isle of Colonsay, Scotland, 7 May 2022.
