A SCOTTISH FESTIVAL SUMMER
Amanda MacEachen
There is something about Scottish summer that I absolutely adore. Yes, we do occasionally get some sunshine if we’re lucky, but more importantly, it means festival season! As a live music photographer, festival season is easily my favourite time of year. I try to fit in as many festivals (as an attendee and a photographer) as possible, before the harsh Scottish winter inevitably comes back around. One festival that has become a particular highlight in my calendar each year, is none other than Heartland Festival in Pitlochry.
I have been photographing at Heartland for the past three years, having started shooting there at its very first year as a festival in 2024. Since then, it has become one of my favourite festivals to photograph, and there are plenty of reasons why. At its core, Heartland is a pure celebration of Scottish artistic talent. This year, 97% of the lineup was made up of Scottish musicians, showcasing just how much incredible talent there is across the country. One of my favourite parts of the festival is the Discovery Stage, where up and coming artists have the opportunity to apply to perform. Some of my favourite artists that I still listen to today are people I first discovered on that stage. Alongside this, the main stage brings together some huge names in Scottish music, to name a few - Skippinish, Skerryvore, Tide Lines, Peat and Diesel, Torridon, The View, Kim Carnie, Sandi Thom, Ben Walker, Daytime TV, Cammy Barnes, Nina Nesbitt, and honestly, the list goes on and on! There is always something for everyone, and every year, there is such a positive and welcoming atmosphere across the site, even when the rainy Scottish weather decides to make its presence known!
Photo: Amanda MacEachen
From a photographer's perspective, Heartland is a fantastic festival to shoot. One of the biggest advantages is the layout, the two stages are close enough together that you’re not constantly sprinting from one side of the site to the other. Meaning, you can realistically photograph every act rather than having to pick and choose between performances, which is usually not the case at other festivals. For anyone looking to get into festival photography, preparation is probably one of the most important things I have learnt (via learning the hard way). My usual setup for Heartland is my Sony A7III paired primarily with my Sigma 24-70mm lens, which I use for the majority of my shooting. I also bring a fisheye lens for any wide shots, as well as a Sony 70-200mm when I want to get any super up close shots. Regarding what I bring in my camera bag, I always make sure I have earplugs - very important when you’re spending an entire two days next to speakers! As well as spare batteries, SD cards, portable chargers and waterproof camera covers, and don't forget the rain coat!
This year, my experience of getting to the festival became quite eventful, while on the journey to Pitlochry my car engine overheated on the motorway causing me to pull over. It was definitely not how I planned my morning, but luckily, roadside assistance had me back on the road within two hours. I unfortunately missed a couple of the earlier acts because of this, it did however, reinforce the importance of leaving yourself extra time while travelling to a festival, because very clearly, you never know what might happen. As soon as I arrived, it was straight to shooting! The majority of my weekend was spent in and around the photo pit, either photographing the artists or catching up with the brilliant team of photographers and Heartland team. One of my favourite things about returning every year is seeing familiar faces. There is a real sense of community amongst the photographers at Heartland, and being able to catch up with everyone each year is one of the best parts of the weekend.
Photo: Amanda MacEachen
Photo: Amanda MacEachen
Of course, I also make sure to step outside the pit. I always try to capture the atmosphere around the entire site, the crowds, dogs, decorations, food stalls, etc. Having that broader range of images makes a festival gallery feel much more complete. After the festival, the work continues with editing. I usually back everything up onto my laptop straight away so I know the photos are safe, before I start culling, and then working through the images selecting the strongest ones for each set, until they’re all done! Heartland for me was 100% one of my highlights of the photographic year, reinstating my love for festival season. So, if you’ve ever considered giving festival photography a go, do it, it is an absolute joy.
The days are long and the editing is even longer, but that’s all the fun of it. My personal favourite bit is the actual shooting of the day, even if you’re on your feet for 12 hours straight, the rush and the sheer adrenaline get you through it. Having edits to do afterwards gives the perfect rundown after a festival, all down to the publishing part where you get to see your images out in the world. Roll on Scottish summer 2027, can’t wait to see what festivals have to offer next year!
This article is part of the PRISMA Editorial Series ‘From the Photo Pit’