A HOST of familiar Staffin faces are front and centre in a special photo exhibition which has just opened its doors.
More than 40 local people from across the district have been photographed as part of Staffin Community Trust’s Sùil an t-Solais (Eye of the Light) project.
Each portrait was shot entirely in black and white by the talented Kylerhea photographer Isabelle Law over the last few weeks in as many townships as she could visit including Lealt, Digg, Flodigarry. Marrishadder, Stenscholl, Garros, Garafad, Clachan, Culnacnoc and Brogaig.
The exhibition is entirely in Gaelic and open at Talla Stafainn with an important aspect being the subjects are listed as their sloinneadh (who they are of) ie, Iain Dhòmhnaill ‘ain Sheumais, Brògaig, Iain Alasdair Dheirg, An Gàrradh Fada and Seònaid Shòmhairle Siùsaidh, Bhaltos.
There are a range of folk featured and different family members.
Isabelle’s subjects also included people who had previously featured in the acclaimed photographer Gus Wylie’s book The Hebrides and Patterns of the Hebrides including Helen and Ewen MacLeod in Garafad, and John Bertie MacKenzie, Stenscholl.
Gus spent a lot of time in Staffin and Lewis in the late 1970s and early 1980s photographing local people and his seminal books are a staple in most Staffin homes.
His work was a big influence on Isabella who was delighted that Helen and Ewan were happy to try and emulate photographs Gus had taken of them more than 40 years ago.
SCT’s programme officer Angus Murray said: “Last year, Isabelle helped us by taking photographs of all our local businesses for the new website. We were really impressed with her work and how well she got on with everyone. She came up with this idea and we are really happy with the results, there is so much character in all the faces of the people featured."
Suil and t-Solais has been supported by Community Land Scotland’s Gaelic Community Fund.
The exhibition is free to visit.
The full list of the participants is below:
Sùil an t-Solais (Eye of the Light)
Muinntir An Taobh Sear - Cò th’annainn?
People in the Photographs
Duchan Gheàrrois
Duncan MacKenzie, Garros
Dòmhnall Aonghais Mhòir, Cùl nan Cnoc
Donald MacLeod, Culnacnoc
Eàirdsidh Mòr Dhòmhnaill Iain, Flòdaigearraidh
Archie Nicolson, Flodigarry
Iain Bàn, Steinnseal
Iain ‘Blondie’ MacDonald, Stenscholl
John MacCoinnich, Steinnseal
John ‘Bertie’ MacKenzie, Stenscholl
Barbara Whitehead, An Dìg
(Skyetails), Digg
Sylvia Porter, An Clachan
Murchadh Ruadh, An Leth-allt
Murdo MacPherson, Lealt
Aonghas Ros, Eiliseadar (Rosaich Chnoc an t-Sìthein)
Angus Ross, Ellishadder
Brian Irving, An Gàrradh Fada (Garrafad)
Iseabail NicDhòmhnaill
Isobel MacDonald, The Old School House
Iain Dhòmhnaill ‘ain Sheumais, Brògaig
Iain Matheson, Brogaig
Donna NicChoinnich, Màileagar
Donna MacKenzie, Maligar
Ingrid Keys, An Clachan
Eilidh ‘Mickey’, An Gàrradh Fada
Eilidh MacKinnon, Garrafad
Teàrlach Peutan agus a nighean, Emma NiCholla, Flòdaigearraidh
Charlie Beaton with his daughter, Emma MacColl, Flodigarry
Sonia Suman, Steinnseal (Stenscholl)
Seònaid Shòmhairle Siùsaidh, Bhaltos
Janet Lamont, Valtos
Seán Ó Drisceoil, agus a bhen, Mòrag nan Crannag, An Gàrradh Fada
Sean O’ Driscol and his wife, Marion MacDonald, Garrafad
Maoilios Oighrig Mhaoilis, Na Dùnanan
Myles Campbell, Dunans
Steven MacDiarmaid, Tòrabhaig (ag obair ann an Cùl nan Cnoc)
Steven McDiarmid, Torvaig (but working in Culnacnoc)
Teàrlach Dhòmhnaill Angais, An Dìg
Charlie MacLeod, Digg
Dòmhnall Angus Aonghais Ruaidh agus a mhac, Scott
Donald Angus MacDonald and his son, Scott
Aonghas ‘Cheanaidh’ Stiùbhart, Am Breacaradh
Angus Stewart, Breckrey
Calum MacDhòmhnaill, Steinnseal
Calum ‘The Herd’ MacDonald, Stenscholl
Dùghall Ros agus a nighean, Caroline Iseabail, (Rosaich Chnoc an t-Sìthein), Eiliseadar
Dugald and Caroline Iseabail Ross, Ellishadder
Holly NicIlleathain, Lochan an Stòir
Holly Maclean, Storr Lochs
Michelle Hickman, Grèalainn (Grealin)
Helen Shandaidh agus a mac, Eòghann, An Gàrradh Fada
Helen and Ewen MacLeod, Garrafad
Hannah NicDhiarmaid, Tòrabhaig, aig a bheil ceangal ris An Leth-allt
Hannah MacDiarmid of Torvaig, who has family connections to Lealt
Iain Alasdair Dheirg, An Gàrradh Fada (an-diugh ann an Sealtainn)
Iain MacInnes, Garrafad (resident in Shetland)
Sìm agus Ciorstaidh, Cùl nan Cnoc
Simon and Kirsty Wallwork, Glenview, Culnacnoc
Marion Dhonaidh Sheonaidh Ruaidh, Brògaig
Marion Mortimer, Brogaig
Donnchadh agus Cairistìona MacDhaibhidh, An Gàrradh Fada
Duncan and Christine Davidson, Garrafad
Allan Ruaraidh Gobha, An Clachan
Allan ‘Goa’ MacLeod. Clachan
Dòmhnall Alec Ros, Mairiseadar
Donald Alex Ross, Marishader
Fiona Cruickshank, An Gàrradh Fada