But we know these are places where grace is soon to be so amazing – Selah
An artist, designer and photographer raised in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, now living & working in the picturesque village of Inverkip on the Clyde coast in Scotland.
http://www.colinjcampbell.co.uk.
Saol na nGael~Life of the Gael photo competition awards in Donegal
Well, the photo competition I have been administering for Irish~Scottish Gaelic organisation Colmcille for the last 7 months culminated in a prize giving event this weekend at the Oireachtas music festival in Letterkenny, Donegal.
The Oireachtas is Ireland's equivalent of our National Mòd in Scotland and, in keeping with last year's prize-giving format, Colmcille arranged a celebration of music, dance and song from the Irish and Scottish gaeldoms to accompany the awarding of prizes to the winners of this year's Saol na nGael photography competition.
I flew out to Derry on Friday morning and was driven down to Letterkenny, a small town about 40 minutes away in lovely County Donegal. I met up with Colmcille's project officer Mairi Murray after checking into my hotel room. Mairi has been in charge of the Saol na nGael competition project since its inception in 2006 when I won 2nd prize and she hired me to help run the successive competitions knowing I was knowledgeable in photography and online social media.
After getting various supplies in preparation for setting up the exhibition of photos, which would be my primary task ahead of the event, we took a wee tour of a very soggy Donegal north of Buncranna and through the Pass of Mamore. Despite the horrendous weather the whole weekend I can tell that Donegal would be a very beautiful locale in the summer, much like the Scottish Highlands.
After nine on Saturday we were down at the venue to unpack pictures, decide on room layout and put up exhibition materials. This was not without its last minute stresses when we discovered some things had gone awol in the post but we improvised and everything was ready just in time. The event was held after midday on Saturday in the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny as various other Oireachtas events were taking place as well so there was a suitably festive atmosphere as people gathered for the buffet and entertainment. Various musicians, singers and dancers performed including Allan MacDonald (singing & pipes), Brendan Beaglaoich, Lillis O'Laoire & Mairi Smith. Afterwards the photo competition prizes were awarded by Éamon Ó Cuív, the Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The event finished with everyone being given complimentary Colmcille calendars featuring some of the photographs from the competition.
After tidying up the exhibition and various administration bits and pieces I got back to the hotel and had dinner of Kangaroo steak (very nice, like beef steak) with prize winner Tim Riches before retiring to my room to sleep before flying back to Glasgow on Sunday morning.
All in all, it was very enjoyable, well attended and even better than last year's event in my opinion. The people we met in Letterkenny were just lovely and all the prize winners were great folk who came from the North of Scotland to Southernmost Ireland and places in between.
You can see all the photos from my trip on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjc/sets/72157622716745728/
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Julie Fowlis live at Celtic Connections 2009
via bbc.co.uk
I see the line-up for Celtic Connections 2010 is now available at http://www.celticconnections.com
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Soon to be…so Amazing
I was saddened to hear of the passing of our aunt Cathy in Uig at home on Lewis this morning. She was a real powerhouse of an island lady who had recovered from a serious stroke in recent years and was less than a few months ago diagnosed with cancer which was inoperable. This follows the passing of 100 year old aunt Effie within the last month also. The shadows of death seem to be cast more frequently over families during the winter season in the islands and there is an incessant adding to the list of many such sorrowful anniversaries. I pray that comfort will abound to those left behind and that a faith in a Spring to come upholds and strengthens all who remember others who have left in these darkest of months.
"Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last - far off - at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring."
– Tennyson
This song by Selah has been the theme for me for this last month for every trouble heard of, any burden, need and joy for which eyes look upward and give thanks for places where Grace has been, is being and will be found to be, at last, amazing.
The cruelest word
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed
© Selah
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Uig in Lewis selected as location for new St Kilda centre
A preferred site has been identified as a possible location for a visitor centre dedicated to St Kilda.
Mangursta, in Uig on the Western Isles, is about 40 miles across the sea from the internationally-protected island archipelago.
Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has ruled out building on St Kilda because of difficulties reaching it.
Cleitreval in North Uist and Leverburgh in Harris were also considered.
via news.bbc.co.uk
Well done Uig! Should give them plenty to do at the Comann Eachdraidh http://www.ceuig.com
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Yay! I've got NEW 2010 Calendars available for sale
I have updated my range of calendars for 2010, adding new images to the four themes of Islandscapes, Cityscapes, Inverkip and The Ancient Isle. These calendars have generous A3 size pages in a contemporary design with gorgeous full colour print and finish and can be shipped worldwide. A great Christmas gift because, after all; who doesn't like beautiful scenery?
I have also added new photos to my RedBubble shop including new photographs of Glencoe which would make superb canvas prints or framed prints.
My photographs can be purchased as prints, greeting cards, canvases and more. Come and visit my shop here and have a browse.
My photographs can be purchased as prints, greeting cards, canvases and more. Come and visit my shop here and have a browse.
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Gordon's fancy dress 30th birthday party
Great fun last night in Greenock for yet another 30th birthday party - this time for Gordon and there was a sea theme so lots of hilarious fancy dress abounds…
See all the photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjc/sets/72157622552350595/
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Roast squash, sage, chestnut and pancetta risotto
Today's Sunday lunch was a wonderful, hearteningly cosy Autumnal risotto recipe courtesy of Jamie Oliver.
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Photos from the 'Edge of the World'
I found a disc of hi-res scans of my St. Kilda pics that I have never loaded onto the computer before. These were the last photos I took with my old film Canon EOS 500N SLR. They have a wonderful vintage feel thanks to the diffusion of sea spray on the lens and the misty ambiance of the weather that day. The Flickr set is here.
The abandoned island of St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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