Exhibition celebrating 40 years of Scotland's national photography collection

An exhibition celebrating 40 years of Scotland’s national photography collection has been launched at the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh.

The display takes a look a snapshots of Scotland through the years as well as portraits of the country’s most famous faces.

While the collection began in 1984, the pictures within it date much further than that, with it’s earliest photos dating back to the 1840s after the invention of photography was announced.

Pioneering Scottish photographers David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, from Edinburgh, produced the very first social documentary photography in Newhaven which influenced the medium worldwide.

Exhibition curator Louise Pearson said: “Hill and Adamson were pioneering early Scottish photographers based in Edinburgh and they are really kind of why Scotland is so important for the history of photography and the foundation of the collection here.

“Their series of Newhaven fisherwomen when they made some of the very first documentary photography down in Newhaven and these women are the first example of named women being photographed.

“So we’re really excited to show them as a group for the first time in this kind of formation.”

From the Glasgow Gorbals to Aberdeen’s Union Street – the new exhibition takes a look at snapshots of Scotland’s past and present day – including some familiar faces, such as actors Ewan Mcgregor and David Tennant, music duo The Proclaimers and journalist and author, Amy Liptrot.

Also featured is Frightened Rabbit’s frontman Scott Hutchison, who took his own life in 2018.

Photographer Ryan McGoverne said: “It’s a strange one in that this picture is always going to be tinged with sadness, the reason why it’s in the collection is because Scott’s not with us anymore.

“It’s nice to see that Scott is surrounded by living artists who have been recognised while they’re still producing.”

And from famous faces to ginger hair – the exhibition also highlights Scottish photography projects like this one celebrating gingers across the world.

Photographer Kieran Dodds said: “I use the trait to connect people around the world. It’s very rare, it’s more common in Scotland and people think of it as unusual, sometimes odd.

“But I’m using it to try and make connections across the world, across political boundaries and cultures.”

The exhibition is running from October 26 until March 2025.