Redheads headline at new Highland photography festival

Colin Cummings with his portrait. Picture: Paul Campbell/Contributed

Some of the most striking redheads in the Highlands who are “proud to be ginger” are playing their part in a North photography festival.

Inverness man Colin Cummings was at Eden Court to see his portrait ahead of the event.

Ahead of FLOW Photography Festival’s launch one of the exhibiting photographers Kieran Dodds’ subjects, Colin Cummings came along to Eden Court to see his portrait before it goes on show as part of the new event taking place across the Highlands.

Having seen a call on social media for “Gingers of the Highlands”, Colin got in touch with the festival organisers. As a result, he had the opportunity to have his portrait taken at a photo shoot in Inverness by acclaimed photographer Kieran Dodds whose research-driven photo stories and portraiture is known internationally.

“My girlfriend tagged me in a post on Facebook asking for people in the region with ginger hair to get in touch. I looked at Kieran’s photographs online, liked what I saw, then decided to go for it.

“I’ve always been proud to be ginger. It was the first time I have ever done something like this so on the day of the

photo shoot I didn’t know what to expect and was a little anxious.

“It turned out to be a fantastic experience. Kieran, who is also a ginger, really put me at

ease.

“I would do again if I got the opportunity. I hadn’t heard anything from Kieran since then, so I thought he wouldn’t use

my picture.

“I was astonished when the festival organisers told me that my portrait is going to be on public display at Inverness Museum. Kieran took a

lot of pictures of me in different poses.

“I’m very pleased with the one he has chosen.

“My friends and family don’t even know that I answered Kieran’s call for gingers. It will be a real surprise when I take them along to see the exhibition.

“I’ve never travelled much so I’m delighted that my picture may travel the world as part of Kieran’s work.”

The portrait of Colin will be part of the exhibition ‘Gingers’ by Kieran Dodds at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery from 8th - 30 September 2017.

Flow Photography Festival opens on Saturday, with a programme of exhibitions and events taking place across the Highlands and featuring

work by over forty photographers from, or working in, the North, from Scotland, Norway, Finland, Iceland and beyond.