The best Scottish music photo of 2009

When we launched
The Pop Cop's competition to find the Best Scottish live music
photo of 2009, what we didn't tell you was that we had lined up a very
special guest to judge the entries - the world-renowned Glasgow-born
photographer HARRY BENSON.

The
man is a legend. He got his first break when he travelled with The
Beatles to America in 1964, taking some of the band's most iconic shots.
Since then, Mr Benson has photographed every US president from
Eisenhower to Obama, as well as the likes of Michael Jackson, Judy
Garland, Mick Jagger, James Brown and Amy Winehouse. He was awarded the
CBE last year for his services to photography and is currently
contracted to Vanity Fair.

After carefully studying every
single entry to our humble competition, Mr Benson picked out Su
Anderson's image of Dananananaykroyd as the winner. Su's prize is a pair
of weekend camping tickets to this year's Belladrum Tartan Heart
Festival and her picture will be displayed down the left-hand side
of this website for the next 12 months. Well done, Su!


WINNER
Photographer: Su Anderson, Edinburgh (website)
Subject:
Calum Gunn, Dananananaykroyd
Location:
T in the Park, Balado; July 12, 2009

Su Anderson:
"I was photographing Scottish bands at T in the Park for Under the Radar,
focusing on the BBC Introducing stage. It was my first time seeing
Dananananaykroyd live. I knew they were an an enthusiastic band, to put
it mildly, but I didn't realise it would be quite so energetic. The two
singers really played up to the crowd, taking turns flinging themselves
around the stage and jumping into the pit area - one almost landing on
my camera gear. The barricade between the stage and the throng of
sunburned festival-goers had a ledge around it wide enough for someone
to stand on. The singer climbed onto it and so did I, and I shot several
frames, but this was the only one where his face was visible. They
really were one of the funnest bands I've ever shot, giving me a wealth
of options, but this one is my favourite."
Harry Benson:
"The photograph is real and not altered in Photoshop, and I like that
straightforward approach. The photographer is right in the middle of the
action, which is where the photographer should be."


2ND PLACE
Photographer: Jessica Newell, Edinburgh (website)
Subject:
Iain Stewart, Bronto
Skylift
Location: Bloc, Glasgow; November
11, 2009

Jessica Newell: "I went along
to Bloc to photograph Rod Jones' (Idlewild) solo set. I was unaware
until I got there that Bronto Skylift were playing. It was a nice
surprise as their live show is extremely energetic and a lot of fun to
photograph. This shot is near the end. All of the drum kit was lifted up
onto a table - with various people holding up various bits of kit -
where it was played for the remainder of the song. This image captures
the excitement of their live show."
Harry Benson: "The
photographer got right to the centre of what was happening and, to me,
that is what makes a good photograph - not standing back, but going for
the centre of the action."


3RD PLACE
Photographer: Martin Senyszak, Edinburgh (website)
Subject:
Robert Stevenson, A
Silent Film
Location: Moshulu (now Warehouse),
Aberdeen; May 2, 2009

Martin Senyszak:
"My mates' band, Indian Red Lopez, were playing and I was working for
them. A Silent Film were headlining and I saw the shot appear so I
ducked to the side of the stage to grab it. It was very much in the heat
of the moment."
Harry Benson: "Very moody, a bit of a film
noir approach, done very well."


Honourable mentions
Andy Thorn - Simple Minds (AECC,
Aberdeen; December 12, 2009)

Bartosz Madejski - The Twilight Sad (ABC
1, Glasgow; May 23, 2009)

Sinéad Grainger
- Twin Atlantic (Studio
24, Edinburgh; October 2, 2009)

Otto Koota
- The Red Hot Chilli
Pipers (Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry; March 10, 2009)

Harry Benson:
"I had to add an Honourable Mentions category. It was very hard to
choose just three. There are many excellent photographs in the
competition, many of which could have been number one and I would say to
all those who entered to keep working and not let anyone discourage
you. The photographs are all very well taken and each has a presence of
its own."


Bonus
photo (chosen by The Pop Cop)
Stephen Hughes
- Gossip (The
Arches, Glasgow; May 30, 2009)The Pop Cop: We just loved
this image of Beth Ditto so forgive us for indulging you with another
photograph - that's what happens when the standard is so high. We'd like
to express our gratitude to Mr Benson for taking time out of his busy
schedule to judge this competition and we'd also like to say a massive
thank-you to everyone who submitted entries.

Dananananaykroyd
- Chrome Rainbow
Bronto
Skylift - Cobblepot
(live)
A Silent Film - You Will Leave A
Mark



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