Latest - John MacLean Photography

Database photos

By John MacLean, 19/04/12:

New photos have been added to the database, including images from the Uists, Eriskay & Barra. A visit to the huge chambered cairn at Barpa Langass, North Uist was the archaeological highlight of my recent trip to the Uists and Barra.

Beyond this and other celebrated sites such as the standing stones at Calanais and the broch at Dun Carloway, the Outer Hebrides is rich in history and archaeology: there are hundreds of lesser known sites dotted around the landscape which give us a glimpse back into the early history of the islands.

Among the photographic projects planned for the near future are recording in high resolution some of the many sites of archaeological and historical interest in the Western Isles, including standing stones, chambered cairns, brochs, etc.

Duilleag Beatha

By John MacLean, 04/03/12:

A new collection of Gaelic poems and songs by Lewisman Uilleam Aonghas MacMhathain (William Angus Matheson) was launched in Stornoway Library on 2nd March.

Born in Airigh a’ Bhruaich (at which village the book cover image was taken), Uilleam now lives in Point, Isle of Lewis.

This is his first published collection of poems and songs.

Uilleam Aonghas MacMhathain (William Angus Matheson), at the launch of his book Duilleag Beatha. Seen here with Maoilios Caimbeul.

Uilleam Aonghas MacMhathain (William Angus Matheson), with his book Duilleag Beatha. © John MacLean Photography.

Uilleam Aonghas MacMhathain (William Angus Matheson) published his book Duilleag Beatha. © John MacLean Photography.

William Angus Matheson has won many awards at The Royal National Mod for his poetry and songs, and his songs have been recorded by Gaelic singers including Fiona J MacKenzie and Paul MacCallum.

‘Duilleag Beatha’ is a highly accessible and readable book that features bardachd and songs in traditional Gaelic style on subjects including love, longing, war, spirituality and humour.

Peter Urpeth, who manages the Clò Fuigheagan imprint on behalf of HI~Arts, said:

‘Duilleag Beatha’ is the long-overdue first collection of poems and songs by William Angus Matheson. It is a collection that has direct appeal to all Gaelic readers and those who love the language and culture of the Gael. The poems are accessible, memorable and written with a love of the Gaelic language that is palpable.

Artwork copying

By John MacLean, 18/09/11:

Copying artwork for use in publications or to create files for printing high quality posters, postcards, etc. is a technically difficult task which needs great care to obtain the best results. John MacLean Photography offers a high quality digital copying service, creating print-ready files quickly to your specifications. This service is ideal for archiving your art work or for creating portfolio material.

JMP can photograph all kinds of artwork of any size: paintings, drawings, collages, carvings, sculpture, etc., either onsite or (preferably) in my own studio. Daylight-balanced professional studio lighting ensures consistently accurate, evenly lit copies of work. Works behind glass, e.g. framed paintings, can be photographed totally free of reflections, without having to unframe the work.

Please contact me for further details and to see examples of my work.

The Iolaire disaster, Beasts of Holm

By John MacLean, 30/08/11:

Scotland Magazine used one of my images taken at the Beasts of Holm, Stornoway, for a feature on the Iolaire disaster of 1919.

Faclan Book Festival

By John MacLean, 23/08/11:

The Faclan Book Festival, themed on second sight and the supernatural, is happening 27th to 29th October at An Lanntair, Stornoway and other venues in Lewis, Harris, Uist, Benbecula and Barra.

Callanish quarry / fallen stone circle

By John MacLean, 09/08/11:

Well worth a visit, after seeing the main standing stone circles at and near Callanish, is the set of stones on the hills (often called Na Dromannan or Druim nan Eun) to the east of Callanish village (waterproof footwear advisable). This consists of a number of large stones, some broken, measuring up to 10 feet in length. Some of the packing stones used to erect them on the bedrock are still in place.

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) describes the stones as being part of a fallen circle and it is thought by some that this rocky exposed knoll was where the stones of the circles still standing today were quarried and prepared.

Excavation of this stone circle involved the removal of a covering blanket of peat and revealed that the circle comprised an outer ring of seventeen stones and an inner ring of five. Though at least two of the stones are missing, all of them had fallen, having been quarried on site and no more than chocked upright with packing stones directly onto the bedrock. The packing stones, fallen monoliths, some of which are broken, and the outcrops from which they were quarried remain exposed. (RCAHMS, 2009)

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