14/10/2024
For a’ that and a’ that
Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a’ that
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree, and a’ that.
For a’ that and a’ that
It’s comin yet for a’ that
That Man to Man the warld o’er
Shall brothers be for a’ that.
Over the years we created several portraits of Alex Salmond mostly commissioned by Holyrood magazine. The shoots took place in our studio, on location and at Bute House.
This particular image shot at the Scottish Parliament was taken for our Burns inspired ‘as others see us’ project, stands out as our favourite. Alex chose ‘A Man’s a Man for a’ That’ as his favourite Burns poem. While we could have opted for the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, Bute House in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, we wanted a modern setting that embodied a progressive Scotland. This powerful poem strips away pomp and the deals the themes of liberty, equality, and universal human rights. Also, it was sung at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. For these reasons we chose to depict Alex within The Scottish Parliament, using the building's clean lines and simple forms to convey a contemporary, forward-looking Scotland.
This was the last portrait to be shot for the project. It took place just before Christmas and there was a celebratory mood all round, during the shoot we could hear school children singing Christmas carols in the main building.
Despite having a bad cold, Alex arrived on time and was incredibly cooperative, trusting our direction and recognizing the significance of the imagery we aimed to create.
He was later quoted as saying “This project celebrates Scotland's cultural past and also our current creative talent by showcasing the excellent work of the photographers Tricia Malley and Ross Gillespie and also the enduring legacy of Burns' vast canon of work. The perfect accomplishment to mark a fantastic year of Homecoming.”
RIP Alex Salmond.