- 01 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Edinburgh Blue
This gallery brings together photographs made almost entirely within a one day walk to record Edinburgh bookshops and men's barbers in and around the city centre. I was interested in the variations in contextual architecture, façade design, lettering, colour and individuality in both across the city. Simple rules set monochrome in mind with squared frontal compositions free from people and cars. IMAGE: Edinburgh Blue is in the New Town. Within the façade the image records window glass reflections, a variety of shelved hairdressing objects, a model boat and hints of the interior.
- 02 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Razor Sharp
An interesting day was in prospect even though the skies suggested that there could be a variety of weather ahead. Rain showers did come and go across the day. The images are not in the order as made and are from a larger collection. The light and many of the subjects confirmed black and white as better than colour. IMAGE: Razor Sharp occupies part of a classical New Town building fronted by a flight of stone steps flanked by cast iron railings. Some sources suggest that its wide avenues, squares, terraces and gardens, built between c.1760 and 1850, form the most extensive intact Georgian era townscape anywhere.
- 03 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Sirs
I'd already made a tentative start on this theme nearer home but shot by chance rather than plan. In passing, I'd already thought as to why I should want to photograph barber shops and realised that they related to other themes under slow exploration. IMAGE: Sirs is set in a row of ten shops retaining their original cast iron façade design details. The short Doric columns with Corinthian capitals repeat on all of them, continued upwards as attached stone columns through four floors of apartments. Carved relief panels and empty sculpture niches add further detail. The classical orders anticipate the larger scale Ionic columns in Image 05.
- 04 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Rag & Bone
Unless we lose our hair or never have it cut, visits to a hairdresser are a lifelong routine. I remember my first barber and his haircuts for which I gave a sixpenny piece (2.5p). Employed on the railway, he had a comb, scissors and a pair of hand clipper. I recall sitting on a tree trunk stub set in a dimly lit space used to store track working tools and equipment. Unheated, it had a memorable odour of oil, grease, metal and dust. Above, a huge plate iron tank supplied water to steam locomotives in the village station. IMAGE: Here at the Rag & Bone I could have reminisced on those days whilst perched on their bench constructed from a wooden sleeper once part of a railway track.
- 05 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Victoria Barbers
Eventually I graduated to a barbershop on the high street of my local town. Short back and sides, crew cuts and perhaps a very few more related styles were on offer. ‘Teenagers' and the changes they brought were a relatively new phenomenon. The proprietor's name was hand painted on the shop fascia and a trademark spiral red and white pole jutted out at forty five degrees or so. IMAGE: Both my boyhood barbers' premises are insignificant set against the classical formality of this Victoria Barbers building and the architectural style and balance of the red ribbons. The railing mounted sign is a bad design decision.
- 06 EDINBURGH BARBERS | boombarbers
As the years passed my barbers offered a growing range of styles and much greater comfort for increasingly more than sixpence. IMAGE: This spare facade presents "boombarbers" in lower case white set against an enveloping matt black: the font seemed appropriate. I noted the see-through and reflected images in the window glass framing the wrought ironwork and its light globe. A bar occupies the space below.
- 07 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Duke's of Marchmont
Compulsory military service prompted evasive action to escape the very tight crop for which their initiating barbers were renowned. I donned uniform presenting a well cut style they thought acceptably short. IMAGE: Set beyond The Meadows south of the University, the ‘Duke's of Marchmont' was the farthest call from my starting point. I'd walked through streets lined with fine domestic architecture and sometimes attractive gardens. Here the finely chiselled shopfront stone is painted a battleship grey. The pull-down canvas awning was made by Irving & Co in Manchester at some unknown date.
- 08 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Ross McCulloch Hair
In my now far off early days unisex hairdressing was so rare that I can't recall passing even a city example. IMAGE: Seeing the ‘Barbers' lettering below the canopy I wrongly assumed it advertised a retreat for men. A later walk brought enlightenment. Shooting across a wide street through busy traffic is my excuse. Perhaps not a true barbers but the ornate picture frame on the fascia suggested that it be included. It's in marked contrast in style to the Victoria Barbers directly across the street.
- 09 EDINBURGH BARBERS | Vagabond
These days my barbershop visits are more by necessity than vanity. IMAGE: A parked car blocked the view on my day tour so this is a later image. Its street offered a variety of interesting shops including a bookseller I've yet to see clear of parked cars. The thoughtful Vagabond exterior detailing prompted curiosity about the style of an interior invisible from the street. Perhaps I could match a future need for a cut with a visit to Edinburgh? Stockbridge Is set roughly half way between the Botanic Gardens and the two Museums of Modern Art: All lie on part of the fascinating twelve-mile Waters of Leith walk.
- 10 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | The Old Town Bookshop
I clearly recall acquiring the alphabet and reading skills that led to a lifelong interest in books and reading. Miss Dixon, my first teacher, was a major early influence. IMAGE: This day's attempt to photograph The Old Town Bookshop was denied by a parked car. A later clear visit gave me this photograph. Sadly, on a summer 2018 visit I found it sold to new owners who retained a few of its books but seemed to be stocking other items more likely to attract the many city visitors.
- 11 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | the edinburgh bookshop
At junior school, books were given as class prizes for achievement at the end of the school year. An afternoon presentation event was followed by evening performances in drama and music. The prospect of both encouraged a competitive streak but none of my awards survived my leaving home. IMAGE: I sheltered inside ‘the edinburgh bookshop' to escape another sharp shower. The high ceilings, new décor and shelving, book presentation and staff are all memorable. A fine cast iron façade frames door and windows. As part of the British Bookseller awards, it's the Scottish Independent Bookshop of the Year 2018.
- 12 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Bookshop….Amnesty
Having missed my family home clearance I only have one book from childhood days. I can't remember a time when books lacked appeal. They require shelves: designing and making free standing examples in jointed wood without using glue and metal fixings has been a satisfying task. IMAGE: This Amnesty Bookshop was one of several charity bookshops passed. I spent a very brief time inside, inevitably concentrating attention on their art, design and photography section. My local Amnesty shop is a ‘must' destination for a pot luck purchase.
- 13 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Armchair Books
Secondary school years involved travelling to another town by train and bus. I now had easy access to a public library which supplemented the school's offering. A frustration in the former was entry to the reference and adult sections was for those over twelve or perhaps thirteen. In its farthest recess was a small gallery showing a collection of paintings and objects donated to the town: I recall Degas as one of the artists. The reference section was a revelation. IMAGE: I returned to browse Armchair Books on a later visit. Small in space but large in books it's an explorer's bookshop.
- 14 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Blackwells
I eventually began to buy books, mainly art titles, sporadically and in small numbers. Visiting the Edinburgh Festival in teenage years opened up whole new worlds in art, design, music, theatre and books. I lived in Oxford for a few years where Blackwell's and Parkers (now gone) to name but two were frequented. Somewhere along the way I began to explore second hand bookshops. Book choices include architecture, travel, transport, engineering, art, design, photography, ceramics, jewellery, fiction and others. IMAGE: This Blackwell's offers new and remaindered books and an involving recorded music department.
- 15 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Oxfam
Charity bookshops have added to the mix and also offer a home for the few books I decide must go. IMAGE: Almost without stopping I photographed this Oxfam shop south of the city centre. Another is located in Stockbridge and is sometimes visited. My home village has a fine independent bookshop and a nearby town offers a beautiful second, plus a ‘chain' shop and two well stocked venues run by charities: I feel blessed!
- 16 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Peter Bell Books
Visiting children's bookshops as a parent was something new and novel as is shopping for yet another generation. IMAGE: Peter Bell Books' stock includes antiquarian books: it's literally next door to Armchair Books and a few doors away from Edinburgh Books. Past and contemporary bookbinding design and construction including the unique and idiosyncratic are always interesting.
- 17 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Tills Bookshop
Early "Are we there yet?" and later "That's not a bookshop Dad" are family comments recalled from years ago. "Can we visit Barter Books" is a 2018 update and a request readily agreed. One of Britain's largest second hand bookshops, it's housed in the grand iron and glass structure of Alnwick's former train station. IMAGE: Till's Bookshop is set on a street corner behind a sharply curved façade. Afternoon sun cast the entrance and a flanking window into shadow but I preferred this composition anyway. Here, I bought a copy of Frank Hurley's "Endurance" photographs from Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic expedition.
- 18 EDINBURGH BOOKSHOPS | Edinburgh Books
Addictions can be harmful but one involving book buying is not unless it depletes one's wealth too far. I hope to continue visiting familiar and newly discovered second hand bookshops and forgetting a vow that the last book I bought would be the last. IMAGE: An Edinburgh Books' website quote: “This off-beat Edinburgh bookshop has a huge, wide ranging stock of second-hand and antiquarian books……. Clarence the water buffalo keeps a beady eye on proceedings aided by Graham, the rather stuck-up grouse.” Always crammed with books it's a place to explore and discover. One of four basement rooms is rented by Alpha Musick to offer sheet music. (A seemingly permanent and large refuse skip on the street prevented a square view.)