2013 Round Up

2013 was a strange year for me. A lot of changes, some life-changing decisions, a few very fortunate encounters and lots of work. All in all not a bad one just a bit strange on both, personal and professional level. So here we are now, in 2014. I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions (I know myself all too well to pretend I'd ever stick to any of them) but I do like to look back at the previous 12 months every January. We've got this ritual in my household where on New Year's Eve we try to list the high points of the passing year and I would recommend this to everyone. It somehow makes you feel that little bit more optimistic at the dawn of new annum once you realise that there were good things that happened even in the shittiest of years. Now don't worry, I will spare you my list, what I will do instead is share some of my shots from 2013 that I'm particularly proud of for one reason or another:

And since we're summarising 2013 I will indulge a bit and make a list of music that I happened to fancy last year. Feel free to shrug your shoulders, raise your eyebrows and comment on my choices:

ALBUMS OF '13

Beyoncé BEYONCÉ 

Lorde Pure Heroine 

Janelle Monáe The Electric Lady 

Hot Natured Different Sides of the Sun 

Daft Punk Random Access Memories 

Horse Home 

Little Mix Salute 

Goldfrapp Tales of Us 

Morcheeba Head Up High 

Blood Orange Cupid Deluxe

SONGS OF '13

Lorde Royals 

Daft Punk Get Lucky 

Destiny's Child Nuclear 

Hot Natured Alternate State (feat. Róisin Murphy) 

Little Boots Motorway 

Miley Cyrus We Can't Stop 

Petula Clark Cut Copy Me 

Naughty Boy La La La (feat. Sam Smith) 

Rhye Open 

Sky Ferreira Everything Is Embarrassing

Horse

Ugh... It's been way too long since I've written anything but trust me, it's not for the lack of trying. It's March already and I don't even know what happened to February, let alone January. 2013 started off with a bang and it just keeps going. OK, I admit I have no clue what that's supposed to mean but it's late, I'm tired and my brain is fried so bear with me. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've been extremely busy and thus neither had the time nor the energy to write anything. Some people blog all the time and make it seem effortless. Well, I'm not one of those people. There are quite a few different projects I would like to let you know about but this time I'm just going to mention a very special live event I was asked to photograph. Horse McDonald played the legendary Barrowlands in Glasgow last night accompanied by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (conducted by Sally Herbert). The gig was flawless, electric and it was an absolute honour to have the opportunity to work alongside such talented people:

As it happens, it wasn't the first time I worked with Horse. Last year we went with her band to Strachur to take some promotional images for the new album Home. It was a horrible day, most of the shoot was outdoors and it was raining but I somehow remember it very fondly and, more importantly, we managed to get some decent shots in the end:

One of the main reasons the Strachur shoot is remembered so fondly by all involved is the hospitality with which we were received. The very talented Jacqueline Orr (whose paining is used on the cover of Horse's new album) was our host for the day and not only did she hold an umbrella over us when needed but also treated everyone to the most speculator feast - leg of lamb, champagne, wine, dessert, cheese, the works! This should be the rider for my photoshoots from now on: it's either lamb or I keep the lens cap on - blame Jacqueline! ;-)

So that's that, first post of the year. Don't know if I should feel celebratory or embarrassed that it took me so long but here we are. Happy 2013 to all of you.