WITHOUT doubt Peter Cairns is a gifted photographer. I once went ‘shooting’ with him in the Scottish Highlands and we came across a Capercaillie, quite a rarity and a thrill but I was impressed that, despite wanting to photograph it so much, he valued the bird’s privacy more and the fact that she was sitting on eggs.
She watched, pleading with us to leave her alone – so he instructed we back away as quietly as possible. To me that was an act of great compassion because a picture of such a bird would be a feather in anyone’s cap.
Peter is director of the famous Scottish-based Northshots Photo Advenures. Based in Cairngorms National Park, tours are organised to photograph wildlife, landscape and nature, self catering cottages and mountain lodges are available as are professional guides.
There are four upcoming adventures: May 6 to 13 in Connemara and the beauty of the west coast of Ireland; June 23 to 30, Puffin and Ospray bootcamp in the Shetlands; August 18 to 23 in the Cairngorms with dawn and evening shoots; and an adventure further north, to Iceland, September 27 to 5 October.
What a joy for serious photographers. These adventures sell out very quickly but there are lots more planned. Find out more at www.northshots.com
Or you could meet Peter when he comes to Belfast on May 20 to speak at the 50th anniversary of the NI Photographic Association. This will be held on the 20th and 21st at the Marine Court Hotel Bangor with a programme of photographic speakers, the annual top print and projected image competition, a workshop or field trip option and an awards dinner. Exciting stuff.
Also, a collection of NIPA members' work representing 50 years of camera club competitions will go on show in the Public Record Office Titanic Quarter at a special event on 23rd March (6.30-8.45pm). More at http://www.niphoto.co.uk/
FOOD FOR THOUGHt
Dear Anne,
I’m a vegetarian and people laugh. Why don’t they take vegetarians seriously and why don’t cafe’s a restaurants provide for us?
Terry,
Bangor
Not quite fair, Terry. Although we’ve something in common, it is possible to hunt out the dishes we desire. You and I are the ‘one in eight’ special people along with the likes of Ozzy Osborne, Bill Clinton, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Paul McCartney, all vegetarians. So is Martina Navratilova – 59 grand slams 1,000 matches. Does it for the animals, eats only raw fruit and vegetables, rice, pasta and grains. She claims that most tennis players eat ibuprofen pills like candy but she doesn’t need them anymore so there’s a good reason to follow her diet.
But this can pose problems; so often when I’m eating out, my choice is risotto or risotto. Having said that, things are improving but I can’t understand why there’s so little choice – many people prefer a light lunch when they are going home for a family meal so to have a meat-free dish is a popular option.
I find when I ask for a vegetarian menu and there is such a thing, the person I’m lunching with will join me and enjoy a meal they otherwise wouldn’t even have known about. As well as our type of person, Terry, there are vegans and there are flexitarians, those who have cut back on red meat and pork, only enjoying these infrequently. I met a man on holiday last year who is a fruitarian – handsome, healthy and rich! He only eats fruits that grow on trees and bushes.
Hard to get up-to-date figures but apparently 20 per cent of 16-to-24-year-olds are vegetarians but since we’ve been told about mad cow disease, ecoli in chickens and additives in pork, eating pastas, vegetables and fruit is more popular than ever. In fact there’s even an international world vegetarian day observed this year on Sunday October 1.
There are various reasons to avoid animal meat. Because you can’t bear cruelty to animals – some people refuse the new five pound notes because there’s animal substance involved in the production, with petitions being signed in protest about the tallow derived from beef or mutton waste contained in the plastic polymer.
Or it maybe because you feel it’s wrong to pollute your body with animal meat and blood or maybe you simply can’t tolerate it, as in my case.
Since having chemotherapy 17 years ago I have not been able to digest certain foods including meat. It’s a pity because I used to love my rib eye steak with French fried onions and chips.
But the alternatives are there and when you strike it lucky it’s delicious. Supermarkets are beginning to stock items other than Quorn; more and more restaurants are looking sympathetically at meat-free dishes and the many ethnic establishments have it down to a fine art, most recently Camile Thai on Belfast’s Lisburn Road.
If you Google vegetarian restaurants in Belfast you’ll get quite a few coming up with general information including ‘vegetarian restaurant’ but on enquiring it isn’t so, there are just vegetarian options – pasta or risotto usually. But if you search hard enough you’ll find eating places with an excellent variety including vegetarian and vegan offerings.
FLOWER FRUSTRATION
Anne,
I got lilies for St Valentines Day and managed to get the orange pollen all over a my jumper. I can’t remove the stain. Any ideas?
Belfast 14
If you’ve rubbed it there’s very little chance although you should consult a dry cleaner. When it happens the best remedy is sellotape. Take a length and gently pat the pollen and it will stick to the sellotape and lift off your garment. It’s very successful although most people I know cut or pull the stamens off the flowers when they arrive to avoid them brushing against clothing or falling on table clothes and furniture.
Ask for roses next year!
