A Place I Have Longed To Visit

I am waiting for a bus, destination Portree, Isle of Skye. The midpoint, a bus shelter at Kyle of Lochalsh. It is the pit stop to one of the most beautiful journeys you can make by road and rail in the UK. This is the trip from Inverness to the Isle of Skye.  Though I have been to Kyle before, it is my first time to the Isle of Skye. A place I have longed to visit, and on this occasion, I had more than a desire, I had a purpose. I'm about to spend the next 2 days shooting a short film, with fellow photographer Simon, and his young son Isaac, the star of the film.

Black and white picture of a woman and a boy

Overcoming PTSD

Bellows to the Wind is a short film, a work of fiction. Yet, has deep connection to a truth, the story of Simons own journey overcoming PTSD. It stars Isaac Riddell as a young boy who is coming to terms with the death of his Grandfather. This is through a shared love and interest in large format photography. I openly discussed how to go about portraying the story with Simon, who was more than willing for us to push it to the limits of fiction.

portrait of a boy

Helped To Fight and Overcome

It is a reflection of Simon's own experiences with photography. Who battled PTSD, after the death of his Father. Discovering that photography, in particular a fascination for wet plate and collodion techniques. This helped to fight and overcome his traumas. A story that Simon himself has been documenting for his own film called Peak Perseverance. Coming soon.

Black and white photo of a boy and woman in a shed

A True Cathartic Feeling

Bellows was shot over 2 and a half days, on Skye. Completely self shot, on locations with limit equipment. At one point, the wind was so strong my camera was knocked to the ground, into a puddle of mud. I think there's still dried onto it, if I look closely enough...  There was a true cathartic feeling coming from completing it, in such a short space of time with limited resources and budget.

boy stood on a rock

Boy sat on a rock

Scottish Portrait Award 2023

I was lucky enough to have one of the production photos of Isaac selected for the Scottish portrait award 2023. Which toured Scotland at the end of 2023 and beginning on 2024, closing at the Glasgow Art Club. A wonderful achievement and recognition. Ironically Simon also had 2 of his own portraits selected for same awards exhibition. One of them being a portrait of myself in his studio.

portrait of a boy

The Journey

The journey of Bellows, on many levels is an encapsulation of friendship and creative connection. I first discovered Simon's work back in 2020, at time in history that needs no introduction. It turned out that we lived relatively close to each other at the time and so decided to meet.  I continued to meet up with Simon, and develop a connection with him through our shared love of photography.  Meeting at his studio and shooting wet plate, witnessing his our creative achievements and being part of them was rewarding. So to show a little part of Simon's story to the world in this form feels like full circle. Isaac was also an absolute star who shines from the moment we see him. Simon was with me throughout the shoot, taking myself and Isaac on trips over the North of Skye to complete my shot lists for the days out shooting. As well as being a constant support, with an infectious attitude that pushes you further.

Stills

All stills from the production, shot on a Mamiya RZ67, with ILFORD HP5+. Capturing Isaac throughout the weekend.

boy stood next to a camera on the beach

 

Images ©Lucinda Lewis