Interview52: 58 Degrees North

1. Where are you? Tell us the story that got you there.

Home is the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles (or the Outer Hebrides if you prefer) of Scotland, I’ve been living here 18 months now having lived in Blackburn, Lancashire all my life before then. Having for along time wanted to move to a remote part of Scotland, I was lucky enough to be offered a transfer up here with the company I worked for at the time, so took the plunge and did it and it was one of the best moves I’ve ever made - although at the time I could never have envisaged the changes it would lead to in my life! Very settled and happy here, and although I can imagine living elsewhere, it would have to be somewhere very similar – I love the security and the freedom of living somewhere like this and the beautiful scenery that provides so many photographic opportunities. I love the fact that in summer, I can come home from work on a Friday night, throw the tent in the car drive to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (that’s a fact, the Guardian said so), pitch my tent for free, paddle in the sea, sit in the sun, get a bbq going, have a beer and stay there all weekend and hardly see another sole. Lovely.


2. One book, one song, and one movie, and tell us why!

Book is easy – ‘Life of Pi’ by Yan Martel, I just love that book and could read it again and again and get something different out of it every time.

Song is more difficult, depends on my mood and I have lots of favourites. I think just now it would be ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ because Sharleen Spiteri did an amazing version of it at her gig in Edinburgh in January (which was wonderful – what a voice!).

Film, again difficult, there are so many I love and could watch over and over, so I’m going to go for a recently watched favourite, Guillermo Del Toro's ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’. Just because it must be good to get me to watch a film with subtitles all the way through without losing interest!


3. Why do you moblog?

I’d always liked the idea of a blog, but I’m not a big writer, especially about myself, in fact this is probably the most I’ve written about myself in a long time. So the idea of a blog where you post photographs and maybe a few words really appealed to me. I don’t moblog as much as I would like – I get a bit lazy with it sometimes, but don’t think I’d ever give up completely.


4. What do you capture with your camera/mobile phone? Tell us your favourite subject.

On my camera phone I take photos of anything and everything, just snapshots of everyday life really. On my main camera – my Nikon D80 I mostly take landscape and seascape photography, because that’s what I’m surrounded by. I also love the rundown houses, crofts and shielings up here and they make for really interesting photographs. I like taking photographs of cities, which is odd as I’m not actually that keen on big cities (there are some exceptions to that rule) – too many people and not enough space makes me so claustrophobic, but I suppose hiding behind my camera is a defence against that. I also have a fondness for graveyards; despite not being at all religious, I find them very peaceful places and can spend hours wandering round and taking photographs trying to capture the stillness and tranquillity.


5. If you could travel in time, where do you want to be right now?

To be honest I’m not really sure I like the idea of time travel! But if anything, I’d go back to when my Dad was alive and just tell him where I am in life, what I’m doing and how happy I am. That’s it really.


6. Which food could you not live without?

Haggis!! Yes, I know what it’s made of and I still love it.


7. What do you expect for the year 2050?

Hm, I don’t actually think there will be that much difference! Technology may have moved on some, but not as much as the film makers would have us think! There will probably be less ice on this planet and not so many, if any, polar bears and things like that. But I guess the world will have the same problems and issues. Personally, I’ll be 71 by then, so expect I’ll be being well looked after in my retirement (well, I hope so anyway)! Children, grandchildren… who knows?


8. Where is your favourite place to holiday/vacation?

Once again, so many to choose from! I love going on driving holidays, I love exploring and finding things you wouldn’t otherwise have seen. Driving through Iceland (including crossing rivers in a 4x4), the Italian/Swiss Alps, and most recently Germany have been highlights. I once drove to the South of France in a Fiat Cinquecento – great little car! If I could drive to anywhere right now, it would probably be Norway, from Bergen all the way to Tromso and beyond; crossing the Arctic Circle and seeing the Lofoten Islands.


9. If tomorrow was your last day on Earth how would spend the day?

So many things, so little time! See mountains and glaciers, walk on beaches, ride on rollercoasters, go to the football and then cosy in front of an open fire with good food, good wine and the best company – my family. A busy day then.


10. What question would you like to ask yourself? Answer it if you can.

Question - Am I making the most of life, living it how I want to live it and doing what I want to do?

Answer – Yes and no.

No, because I’ve not been very sensible with money in the past, which means I’m struggling now and can’t do all the things I’d like to do. I’m still working a 9-5 job that I don’t particularly like, when I’d really like to make a living taking photographs and running my own little gallery on my croft with chickens and a vegetable patch! I’d love to travel more and see more of the world – Patagonia, Alaska, Norway and New Zealand are top of the list. But this spring I am going to dig my veg patch, start cutting my own peat for next winter’s fire and put my photographs in to an exhibition at the local gallery, so making a start.

Yes, because I’m now living somewhere I’ve always wanted to live and that makes me happy; the island life suits me. On top of that move (or maybe because of that move) I made some big decisions last year that I should really have made a long time ago that have led to me being happier than I’ve been for a long time and feeling very settled and content with life; I’m loved and very much in love and don’t think there’s much more I could ask for in life than that! Apart from some chickens.

Posted by Rachel