David Byrne Sacred Objects

It was a Sunday, late in the afternoon on the 14th August in 1994 and I was waiting for the arrival of The David Byrne an artist I had enjoyed for many years. Owning most of his vinyl and inspired by his visuals and videos, but had never met him or seen him perform. He was back home, a local really, to open his photographic exhibition Sacred Objects, Sleepless Nights at The Stills Gallery in Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It was getting late, the sun was going down, he was late. Cockburn Street is a cobbled street in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town just off the Royal Mile. The tenements are ten storey high and the light was fading fast. I had been in the gallery but by now I was outside ready waiting to pounce as quick as possible and get that portrait. I had the Hasselblad with an 80mm (the moon lens) ready loaded with Ilford XP2 pushing it one stop to 800 ASA and I was anxious, nevermind meeting a psycho killer I knew I was going to be working at the limits of my kit. And then he came cycling down Cockburn St on a black butchers bike, nae hands, nae gears happy happy, on his own to his solo exhibition. I was ready, introduced myself and convinced him that we were going to do a portrait there and then. Over the road and into the doorway of the City Chambers and the rest is just a bit of a daze. I was mesmerised and he played along. I fired off the roll of twelve, the camera is bloody heavy and noisy. A break between each and compose again. Naturally he was cool but so was I haha. He was also very cheeky.

In the gallery. His work was interesting. Very polished. It was difficult not to be in awe so I didn't hang around. This photograph also features a younger Calum Colvin on parent duty far left. Calum is a Scottish photographer who produces exceptional photographs that take photography to another dimension. Again I was lucky enough to work with Calum once upon a time in that very street. A street that gets blown to bits in the block buster Avengers Infinity War. David had left  another sacred image unlocked outside.