BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 6

Its important to publicise whatever you do using quality photos. When Glass Creations was set up in 1990 the use of mobile for photography was not acceptable so “real” cameras had to be used and these had to be operated by “real” photographers. With the support of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise we managed access to famous and professional photographers such as John Paul in Inverness. I quite like worked in a photographic studio arranging glass to get the best effect. I appreciate that its difficult perhaps to capture the reality of a clear glass item as compared to a brightly coloured. I knew what result I was striving for as did the photographer and sometimes our two minds met and at times they were worlds apart. Such is the creative soul!

Sometimes photographs of my glassware appeared more artistic than seeing the piece for real which not only was a disappointment for me but also to the potential customer. I found it difficult to live up to my own publicity.

A big thanks to the Dounreay photographic department who offered me great advice and spent time making sure I obtained high quality photographs of my range of glassware. We used clear glass sheet as shelves to place small glass items on. It is interesting (to me it is) that these photographs are now held in the Nucleus archives building in Wick and held forever as part of social history. Social histories are thought of as concerning families and voluntary organisations but business play a very important part of the subject.

Photographing glass in a studio is one aspect of my business but I enjoy more recording my hot glass action in my own workshop and many photographers have experienced the excitement. I have even commission a local artist (Jackie Newton) to paint me glassworking from a photograph. Jackie also painted my workshop as one looks from across Thurso River in 1993. One artist did offer to paint my workshop but I misunderstood the message and thought he was going to paint the outside walls!