An Tir Briste (The Broken Land). Images shot on a beaten up medium format camera on the island of Hirta (part of the St Kilda Archipelago) and on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Score by the composer Giles Lamb.

After a year of negotiation I've finally managed to find a couple of days a week to get back to a project close to my heart. Here are a few books on my shelf to give you a clue as to what I'm writing about 😆 #amwriting #naturewriting

Today was spent taking some final shots of old negatives for a new photography book due out later this year...

Writing about the Cuillin Mountains in Skye today. 8 years ago I swam beneath them in Loch Coruisk. I've finally warmed up. #amwriting

I'm currently working through 20 years of photographic work, scanning images that feel like they are from several lifetimes ago. From Scottish mountain tops to burning forests in Australia, I'll slowly start sharing this archive over the coming year. Oh and some new work!

Current state of mind. [Still from Down By Law , dir. Jim Jarmusch, 1986]

I've been quiet on here for the last month, but I have been out and about working - experimenting with new film, field development and starting a longer term project. I'm hopeful that 2025 will be a creative year.

Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to hear.

Well, today's excitement has come to an end with the fires in our valley being put out by aerial firefighters. It's been surreal. I took this earlier as the bombers made their final runs.

The firebombers have arrived. Two aircraft, two fire fighting helicopters and an observation helicopter. Watching them put out the fire now. Truly outstanding work.

It's fire season, which means you get alerts at 4am to say your neighbours trees are burning. We've had 4 such alerts in the last few weeks. Living on a rural property with one road out comes with some stresses. #australia #bushfireseason

Thinking of poet Lorna Waite who we lost last year. Our Ayrshire towns were connected by the River Garnock, hers at the source, mine at the mouth. I wish we had finished the project we started tracing its course. “Learn yer stories / Speak them tae the land / Listen and hear the / Water teach ye.

Thing I learned today: ivory was used for hundreds of years in the producton of bagpipes. Since the 1989 ban on the use of non-antique ivory, many manufacturers use 10,000 year old mammoth tusks found in Siberia. There is also the Phytelphas (Elephant Plant) whose nuts produce 'vegetable ivory'.

We have one that lives on our property! Introducing Ernie. He is a very large unit.

Why don't you apply for a grant for your work? Me: I have my reasons.

It's that time of year when authors and artists try to tempt you with exciting offers. If you are a fan of brooding images of Scotland and Ireland, I'm offering my latest book 'The Point of the Deliverance' for 40% off. Thanks for any support - link here: www.kozubooks.com/books-new/th...

A lovely surprise in the post from @suejanetaylor.bsky.social - one of the most interesting artists documenting the transition from oil to renewables and so much more besides. These catalogues contain her work in both Scotland and Australia. www.suejanetaylor.co.uk

One of the lessons I've learned this week is that when it comes to difficult pasts, sometimes it takes time for people to talk. I spoke to my dad yesterday about his time working at the infamous Maze prison in 1978. He started sending notes and pictures. This is him (far left). #everydayheritage

Today's academic workshop took place in Fremantle Prison. What a fascinating and complex place with a troubling history. The staff are doing amazing work in preserving and adding to our understanding of its multilayered story. #everydayhistory

Post conference today my daughter decided to steal my name tag and deliver a 'lecture' on the Kraken to anyone who would listen. Sort of like me and Scottish history. Watch out academia 😂 #everydayheritage

I'm still thinking about @lauramca.bsky.social thoughtful keynote this morning at @everydayheritage.bsky.social looking at the afterlives of The Maze prison, and the Magdalene Laundries. The strange history of Bobby Sand's bed was particularly fascinating.

As universities go, it's hard to beat the campus at the University of Western Australia. I'm here today for the @everydayheritage.bsky.social symposium which has been excellent.

I'm currently writing a paper on artists making work about North Sea Oil. Fay Godwin co-authored a book on the subject (Oil Fever) angrily noting that as a woman she was refused access to many of these male environments. Despite these restrictions, she made an important visual record of that time.

12 years ago I saw these words written on the roof of a cottage in the North West of Ireland. It's as true now as it was then. There really is strength in community ❤️