New galleries at the National Museum of Scotland
One of the brilliant things about being a photographer is that often I am one of the very first people to see a product, an exhibition or a show, before the public. This was the case at the beginning of July, when the National Museum of Scotland asked me to shoot their ten new galleries of Art, Design, Fashion, Science and Technology. I’m a big fan of the museum and I’ve followed their incredible transformation in recent years, so I was delighted to have the honour of being the very first person to capture the latest stage of their development.
Learning about communications in the Science and Technology galleries
The day of the photoshoot was just four days before the grand opening. But far from being a quiet, empty space, the galleries were a hive of activity with people in high-vis jackets milling around. Some, putting the finishing touches to the displays, or tweaking the lighting, others on cranes, dusting the suspended planes in the atrium. And then us; a photography crew and a film crew who had to work round everyone, and each other, swapping locations and models, so both teams could get as many shots as possible in a very short time! The atmosphere was electric.
With such a busy shoot, preparation was key. Before going in, we knew exactly what shots I had to get, what they were going to be used for and what equipment I needed. Happily, the planning paid off and we got some great images of the galleries which I hope will be used for a long time to come. Certainly there won’t be another time soon when the galleries are so empty and pristine after the thousands of visitors have made their mark. If you’ve not been to the galleries yet, perhaps some of these shots will whet your appetite.
An amazing view of the planes suspended in the atrium
In the Science gallery
Learning about medicine in the Science gallery
The stunning Fashion gallery