Scones, Art, Parades and Architecture

Club members gathered at Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow on Saturday, 25th April. We met at opening time and headed straight to the café for freshly made scones and coffee. An important part of the day’s preparation where tactics, expectations and charged batteries could be discussed. Mentoring support suggested settings to start the day over and shots to look out for. Andy brought his Chat GPT crib sheet, which was useful. Such was the length of time spent talking that not long was available for the indoor museum photography before reconvening outside at 11:30 am for the gathering of the pro-independence march starting in Kelvin Way.

The relaxed atmosphere of the galleries allowed for seeking out patterns, rectangular shapes and people standing in the light and shade.

The chilly start to the day soon warmed up once the sun burnt through by mid-morning and a party atmosphere built up while participants in the march gathered along Kelvin Way. The pipe band tuned up; flags and banners were unfurled; sound systems delivered the popular Scottish identity songs at full volume; and the photographers got in amongst them for close up posed and candid shots. At 12:30 the march headed for the city centre. Final shots of the marchers were taken and then calm returned to Kelvingrove Park.

Since we were near to the university buildings, our group decided to visit the cloisters of Glasgow University. As well as some fine architecture and lots of light and shade within the cloisters, tourists and a wedding party were aplenty to provide more photographic opportunity.

By the time we had finished at the university and headed back towards the museum, the marchers were completing their 3-mile walk at Kelvin Way, to be met by a guard of supporting motor bikers. Engines revved, horns sounded and the cameras were clicking again.

The weather was in our favour for the day and lots of experience gained in taking photographs at a mass gathering, in addition to those at the museum and university.