A PHOTOGRAPHER nominated for one of Scotland’s most prestigious book awards is to talk about his work at Faclan, the Hebridean book festival based at An Lanntair on the Isle of Lewis.
Alex Boyd, who is on the Saltire Society’s shortlist for their first book award alongside three novelists, will talk about his book St Kilda: The Silent Islands on Wednesday, with musical accompaniment by multi-instrumentalist Jessica Danz.
The book features haunting photographs Boyd took on a camera which belonged to legendary photographer Fay Goodwin. It focuses on the beauty of the isolated archipelago as well as its post-war role as part of a missile-tracking range led by the UK Ministry of Defence, which leases St Kilda from the National Trust for Scotland.
Boyd says: “When I first began St Kilda: The Silent Islands I wanted it to be a book which gave readers the chance to see another side of this incredible archipelago. The book takes a place we think we know, and presents us with not only those sublime abandoned landscapes, but also the reality of a working island – the radar domes and the concrete installations from which we avert our eyes.”
Boyd says he is thankful to Dr Kevin Grant, a specialist on the archaeology of St Kilda who contributes to the book – and acknowledges his publisher.
“I was also happy to collaborate with Luath,” he says. “They understood that the book should be printed in an environmentally friendly way and to the highest possible quality.”
Faclan: October 31 to November 3, An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, author events: £6, £5 concs, films: £4, £3 concs. School events free (booking essential). All events free to under-26s. Tel: 01851 708 480. www.lanntair.com/faclan
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here