Day: September 1, 2015

Triple exposure: Awards for Edinburgh College photography students

Edinburgh College’s photography students have scooped top awards in two national industry competitions that reward the UK’s best young talent.

Three BA Professional Photography students were honoured by the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and the Association of Professional Photographers (AOP) in each organisation’s student awards.

Greg Abramowicz kicked off the new term with the BIPP Student of the Year Award, with fellow student Kinga Kocimska taking home the BIPP College Portfolio Award. Eleni Laparidou, who graduates from the BA this September, won the AOP Student Awards Product Shots: Sense category.

The work submitted by the students was all the product of projects they did last year at Edinburgh College.

Greg won the BIPP Student of the Year Award for a portfolio of images he produced during an advertising project. He worked with professional athletes and local rugby clubs to convey the spirit of sport.

Greg Abramowicz

Greg said: “I am very honoured to receive the award. It is a great reward after an intense academic year. The win gave me confidence that I’m able to produce high-quality images and I’m hoping this is just the beginning of a productive future.”

Eleni won the AOP Product Shots Award for a project set by the deafblind charity Sense, which briefed students to photograph products from a typical Sense store. The aim was for the viewer to be surprised when they learned that the props came from a charity shop.Eleni LaparidouEleni, whose work often includes Greek myth and costume design, approached the brief by organising a fashion shoot with props from three different charity shops. The awards party at The Print Space gallery in London gave Eleni the opportunity to exhibit her work to professionals at the heart of the industry.

BA Photographer Kinga Kocimska won the BIPP College Portfolio Award for her conceptual still-life images, which explore the complexities of everyday objects as seen by sufferers of dementia. The project was inspired by personal contact with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Kinga Kocimska (1500x998)
Kinga said: “I am grateful to all the lecturers who taught me in the last four years for sharing their knowledge and experience – this was of great help in developing the skills and thinking I can now use to produce creative imagery with commercial potential.

“Receiving the award has been a great confidence booster and extra encouragement to continue working hard and develop fresh ideas.”

Photography lecturer Jon Lee said: “What a great result for our students, I am over the moon. This year our students have again demonstrated that they are at the top of their professional field when it comes to photography.”

Hold Me Dear: Four cities, (Extra)ordinary Places

What’s your favourite place in Edinburgh?

canonmills

Fancy joining in some walking/cycling route mapping or a DIY exhibition-building day?

You may have heard about the upcoming Hold Me Dear: Four Cities, [Extra]Ordinary Places photography exhibition taking place in the Rodney St tunnel next to King George V Park in Canonmills.

This co-created community exhibition will feature photographs of people’s favourite personal places in their city, and has invited submissions from people across Edinburgh until the 17 September deadline.

Send us your photo and place in Edinburgh that means the most to you here! Get involved in one of our volunteer workshops! A great way to meet other people, explore the area and contribute to making this unique exhibition!

WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER – Join us from 10am-12noon to explore the local area around Rodney St tunnel in Canonmills and record your favourite walking or cycle routes and places along them. We’ll be turning these into a locally-loved community map to explore the local area from the exhibition in September!

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER– Join us from 10am to help us DIY build the exhibition! Come prepared to get your hands dirty assembling exhibition boards and painting. You’ll get the chance to see your finished work at the exhibition launch event 12noon on Sunday 27th!

For more info or to sign up to join us, email hello@thehereandnow.org.uk

Take Keir: local MSP supports cancer campaign

‘Early diagnosis can save your life. Let’s get checked – it’s worth it!’ – Colin Keir MSP

the-wee-c-logo

Colin Keir, MSP for Edinburgh Western, has thrown his support behind the #GetChecked cancer detection campaign.

The campaign, launched jointly by the Scottish Government and Cancer Research UK at the M&Co store in the Gyle Shopping Centre last week, encourages people to get checked for potential symptoms of cancer in a bid to save more lives. The campaign aims to use check patterns to remind people to get checked.

Mr Keir said “For so long the fear of cancer as well as what was seen as the inevitability of the consequences of being diagnosed with cancer placed a dark cloud over so many individuals and families. These days we have the treatments which give those diagnosed the chance to receive effective treatments.

“The key to this is early diagnosis. We all know our own bodies best so if you spot anything unusual then get to see your GP. It may be nothing but it could be the early diagnosis that will give you the best chance for a full recovery.

“This is the reason I warmly welcome #GetChecked, the new campaign to encourage people to get checked for potential symptoms of cancer in a bid to save more lives in Scotland. It’s fantastic that M&Co at the Gyle Shopping Centre along with their other stores nationally are helping to promote this campaign along with the Scottish Government and Cancer Research UK.

“One thousand people a year can be saved through early diagnosis and treatment, surely that’s a good enough reason to check yourself out regularly. The Wee C initiative is trying to make Scots reduce their fear of cancer which has been found to stop people going to have their problems looked at by their GP. Early diagnosis can save your life, let’s get checked – it’s worth it!”

It’s September, so it must be Cyclefest!

Two wheeled transport takes centre stage in the city 

cyclefest

This month, Edinburgh will enjoy a month of non-stop cycling action, culminating in the first ever CycleFest Edinburgh.

National Cycle to Work Day will kick things off on Thursday (3 September), with people all over the city ditching the car for a more eco-friendly commute.

Then on Sunday (6 September) it’s time to get back in the saddle, this time for charity, as Pedal for Scotland sweeps the nation.

Cycling will continue to dominate the Scottish capital as the Edinburgh stage of the Tour of Britain rides into town on Wednesday 9 September.

Keeping the cycling celebrations going, the Edinburgh Corn Exchange will host an action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled weekend for cycling novices and experienced riders alike on Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September.

The inaugural CycleFest Edinburgh will showcase a multitude of exhibitors stocking the very latest bicycles and accessories, plus there’ll be a plethora of workshops, celebrity appearances and stunt displays to keep you gripped all weekend.

Making a very special appearance at the show will be BMXer Champion and Guinness World Record Holder, Matti Hemmings, AKA Matti Axel from the hit Nickelodeon show, ‘Get Your Skills On’. He’ll be there to present breath-taking tricks from bunnyhops and sliders to grinds and foot jams, kicking out all the moves in the specially created outdoor track area.

Adding an extra nail-biting edge to the weekend will be Savage Skills, a freestyle mountain bike stunt team with eight World titles and 25 British Championship titles to their name. Jaws will drop as they wow the crowds with their repertoire of interactive tricks, jumps and stunts.

All this plus the chance to learn to ride like a pro with the likes of Redscar and important advice on staying safe with Cycle Law Scotland. CycleFest Edinburgh is also throwing in cheerleaders and a bagpiping, juggling, unicyclist for good measure!

Yes, Edinburgh’s all set for a cycling jamboree!

CYCLING GRANTS AVAILABLE

Community groups across Scotland are now able to apply for a Development Grant of up to £20,000 to help them overcome barriers to cycling and work towards becoming a Cycle Friendly Community. Applications can be submitted at any time up to Friday 30thOctober and will be assessed on a first come, first serve basis, dependent on available funding.

For more information visit Community Development Grants

Emma and Jamie are Points of Light

Edinburgh teenagers Emma Sutherland and Jamie McIntosh have received Points of Light awards in recognition of their work for cancer charities. 

Set up and administered by The Prime Minister’s Office, the Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Since it’s launch last year 328 people have received an Award.

emma

Teenagers Emma (pictured above) and Jamie have both written books telling the stories of their mothers’ cancer diagnoses. When Emma’s mother, Rosie, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Emma didn’t know where to look for answers. She wrote Eek! My Mummy Has Breast Cancer to help other teens in the same situation.

Jamie met Emma after his mother, Monica, lost her 17-year battle with cancer. Emma inspired him to write My Mum Monica, a book about her life and the emotional rollercoaster of bereavement.

So far, Emma’s book has sold 1,800 copies and is available in Maggie’s Centres across the UK, as well as schools and libraries. Jamie’s book has sold 500 copies, raising £2,000 for the charity Fight Against Cancer Edinburgh.

Also recognised in August was Penicuik’s Lesley Anderson.

Lesley lost her son Chris when he was stillborn at 29 weeks and set up ComforTED as a way to help other parents of stillborn babies through their bereavement. ComforTED provides a pair of handmade teddies – one to be buried with the baby and one for parents to keep. Lesley has now sent over 900 pairs of teddies around the world.

Congratulations to them all.

September plant of the month: Heather

Heather heralds the arrival of Autumn

Calluna vulgaris Juliane

Heather: Nectar in the Autumn

In September, the summer flowers in the garden and on our terraces have peaked so now it’s heather’s time in the spotlight. Heather begins to flower in September and is a source of luscious late summer colour, and for this reason, it is Thejoyofplants.co.uk‘s Garden Plant of the Month of September.

Carpet

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a European classic and is native to the coastal areas of Western Europe, Great Britain and Ireland, as well as being one of Scotland’s most prolific plants. It grows in beautiful long shoots with shingled leaves and small symmetrical flowers. Its purple and pink flowers have a slightly weathered appearance and that gives both the plants and the countryside a tough and natural look. In the garden, the plants provide a hardy carpet that give a calm and authentic effect whilst in pots, heather becomes a robust eye-catcher.

Nectar

Heather will flower from September to early November. The flowers contain an abundance of nectar which enables the bees to have a quick restock before winter begins, thereby providing us with a plentiful supply of their delicious heather honey.

heather3

Pure Nature

Heather is a perennial plant that can survive 30-40 years in the wild. It is a little higher and less dense than other types of heath and this gives it a strong and natural appearance. In the wild, the purple and pink flowers create beautiful landscapes.  In the garden, heather has the same effect, providing a wonderful contrast to the other green and variegated leaves, with its foliage deepening and intensifying as the year progresses.

Heathers are incredibly versatile and look fantastic in pots and rockeries, as well as providing stunning ground cover alongside flowering perennials and grasses in your flowerbeds.

Care Tips

  • Heather loves the light – The more light it gets, the more beautiful the leaves.
  • It is a natural survivor and can tolerate very little care and poor soil, but it does prefer well-drained, acidic conditions.

  • Heather can be planted at any time of the year, provided the soil is not frozen, and should be pruned every year after flowering.

Interesting Facts

  • The scientific name for heather is “Calluna vulgaris”.  “Calluna” originates from the Greek word “kallune” which means “to clean” or “to brush” as the twigs were historically used to make brooms.

– Heather provides a great flavouring agent for beer, wine and tea – cheers!

– Heather is used in many cosmetics such as shampoos, lotions, bubble baths and perfumes.

– And finally, in the plant world, Heather symbolizes admiration and good luck!