Photo Story Ideas?

[poynter]

Hello, my name is Shawn. Good to be here. I've got a couple of questions, which I hope natives and past travellers will feel free to answer. But first let me just say thank you all for this forum. I've learned as much, if not more, by reading these pages than from reading my travel book.

OK, now the questions. I am a freelance photojournalist (read: unemployed) and will be spending a couple months in Scotland this spring. I want to photograph a story or two during my stay. I want to avoid common themes, such as castles. I would like to focus on some social aspect of the country, such as a particular little-known-but-unique island/town or an occupation special to Scotland. Something you would be interested in seeing in a magazine. You get the drift. I'm just trying to think of ideas before I get there. I'll be living in Edinburgh but am willing to travel to wherever.

My second question is about work. How strict is the work-visa rule applied? How hard is it to find "under-the-table" jobs? Anything, like waiting tables or working in a pub or coffe shop. I may need a little extra income to extend my stay. I'll be living with two of my friends who are going through BUNAC on a work visa. They are still in college, I'm not.

Any insight/advice will be greatly appreciated.

[hooked-on-travel]

As a former journalist and having just returned from Scotland here's a suggestion that you might even be able to sell to Time or National Geographic. But i'd also try some of the religious magazines. I don't know how it will lend itself to photographs without a story, but perhaps you could do both.

One of the things we heard a lot on the local radio stations was that the Church of Scotland is dying and may not exist in about 10 years.

They quoted someone as saying that in the 1930s more than half of the population of Scotland attended church, but now the numbers are so small in some areas that they cannot even estimate the percentage.
They said many small pariches have closed their doors and many of the larger ones are refusing to help the small ones and thus in the end will cut their own throats.

It was interesting to me, because one of the best theologians of our time was a Scott named Oswald Chambers. He died in his 30s and yet the sermons he gave are still some of the most read in the entire world. In fact, a collection of his writings called "My Utmost for His Highest" has been on the best seller list at Christian Book Stores for a decade or more and they have even put some of his sermons to music. This is just a side note.

Actually I was thinking for your purposes more a photo story of churches in Scotland and what will happen to them if they indeed shut down. What would they use those beautiful buildings for??

Hope this gets those creative juices flowing.

[bojo71]

If I may say, I do believe you gave him a winner, Hooked.

Shoot I will pay your parking fine, just for posting your
great idea.

My first thought (religion-OH OH) not a wide enough audience, then after your piece, you Hooked me. thanks, and keep posting them gems.

p.s. Hello, and welcome to S.Com, enjoyed your drive too.

P.P.S Oh O' after reading Nfifer's piece, best I reserve judgement bout paying yer ticket o-k?

[Edited by bojo71 on 1st May 2002 at 21:47]

[poynter]

Thank you, Hooked. That does sound like a great idea. I'm going to do research on the internet before I get there then maybe I can talk to locals to make it a fuller story. The photos shouldn't be too hard, now if I can just learn to write resonably well in two weeks.

Thank you so much for your help.

[Celyn]

Hi, Poynter and welcome to Scotland.com.


If you are interested in sport, perhaps curling would be sort of topical, because of the recent Winter Olympics being won by the U.K. but by a team wholly consisting of Scottish women.

Or, if interested in current affairs, how about refugees/asylum seekers?

Or, a story on achievements (or lack of ) by the new Scottish Parliament.

Best of luck.

[poynter]

Celyn,

Are there refugees in Scotland? And why are they seeking assylum? I've not heard of these people but it sounds like it might make a really interesting story. How can I find out more about them and their situation? Thanks for the idea, I will definately look into it.


Shawn

[Polwarth]

Click onto the BBC - there are often asylum seeker stories online there. It is a major UK problem - there is a large refugee camp just over the channel in Sangatte. The French Red Cross run the camp, and thousands of refugees make daily attempts to enter the UK - they are then dispersed (or the illegals 'disperse' themselves)

Here's a site specifically about Scottish asylum seekers.
http://www.asylumscotland.org.uk/