We had been treated, earlier in the day, to the most wonderful seminar by the one and only Andy Earl. Andy is probably in of the few photographers in the world who has an image in everyone's home. He has shot Album covers and Magazine covers of everyone who is anyone.
His seminar took us on a trip from his early days after college right up to his present day work with some of the biggest stars, sports personalities and celebrities in the world. His opener was the video he shot for The Rolling Stones. Like a Rolling Stone video was put together using over 12000 still images he shot over 5 days. When you watch the video it is hard to believe it was shot in 1995 pre digital.
He showed us images and told anecdotes of shoots with Johnny Cash, Prince, Madonna, Courtney Love, REM, Pink Floyd and Robbie Williams to name but a few.
However for me personally there was one moment of the weekend that stands out for me. All the entries for the MPA Awards were on exhibition in the hall. Andy had taken the time to go around the exhibition and look at the images. He spent a bit of time during his seminar talking about the photographic industry and photography in general. At one point he was talking about (and I paraphrase) how a good photograph is about capturing the moment, the telling a story. He then mentioned a photograph in the exhibition that he loved as, for him, it encapsulated the elements he loved in a photograph. As he described the image I was very excited as I realised it was one of my images he was talking about. It was the highlight of my weekend to have Andy Earl standing in front of the best photographers in Scotland and talking about my image :) I think you can tell I am pretty chuffed.
But better was to come because Andy had taken the time to write a lovely comment and sign the back of the image. Yes think that will be getting put up on a wall :) Thanks Andy.
