May 27th 2024.
Life on the Island of Jura is a unique experience, one that has been captured by the people who know it best – the locals who call it home. Recently, the renowned photo collective, Document Scotland, had the opportunity to travel to the island and collaborate with the community, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the islanders.
With the participation of about 20 community members from all age groups, including the students of Small Isles Primary School, the project involved going out and taking photographs. These images were then woven together to create a series of photo stories, showcasing different aspects of life on the island. From high school students to retirees, everyone had a part to play in this project.
One of the participants was Mary Ferguson, a resident of Jura for 40 years. Despite being confined to her home, she worked closely with Document Scotland to contribute a series of images that offered an insightful perspective on her life as an islander, both past and present. Meanwhile, the four professional photographers from the collective – Sophie Gerrard, Colin McPherson, Margaret Mitchell, and Craig Easton – created their own photo stories, highlighting the contemporary life on Jura.
These stories included a portrait of Rowan, a gillie working at Ardlussa on the north end of the island, captured by Sophie Gerrard, as well as a diptych featuring Willie Mack on the Isle of Jura, along with his handwritten testimony about how daily walks on 'The Long Road' helped him recover from an illness, taken by Craig Easton. Margaret Mitchell focused on young islander Rosie and her connection to her childhood home, while Colin McPherson spent time with the after-school running club at Corran Sands, documenting their efforts against the backdrop of the famous Paps of Jura hills.
The Small Isles Primary School and Nursery students also had the opportunity to take part in the project, with Margaret Mitchell facilitating a two-day workshop where they learned how to take self-portraits using a camera and cable release. The community was brought together at Craighouse, the main settlement on the island, to showcase all the images created during the project.
Document Scotland was thrilled with the response they received from the island community for the project, with Colin stating, "The photo stories and individual images made by the participants helped build up a picture of island life today, allowing us a window into their world." He also noted the uniqueness of Jura, with its stunning landscape and close-knit community, making it a special place to work on this project.
Thanks to the support of Creative Scotland, the Jura Development Trust, Street Level Photoworks, and care charities Snowdrop Argyll and Dochas, Show Us Jura was able to capture the essence of life on this Scottish island. To read more about this and other news stories, be sure to subscribe to Scottish Field and get the latest issue.
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