FLASHBACK: Snapshots of life in Ross-shire are a lasting legacy of much-missed award-winning photographer Gary Anthony

By Hector MacKenzie

Published: 11:38, 05 January 2024

| Updated: 11:41, 05 January 2024

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Gary Anthony, who died last year at the age of 58, is also fondly remembered in Ross-shire.

THE tributes that flowed freely following the untimely death last year of multiple award-winning photographer Gary Anthony spoke volumes of the respect he quietly commanded amongst so many across the north.

Gary, who had worked in the industry for 40 years, died aged 58 after a long illness.

Gary came to mind again this week during an office discussion of Primary1 photographs, those milestone moments that so often trigger treasured memories for years to come as time marches on.

One now grown-up pupil photographed by Gary back in her first days at school still well remembers the "tall guy" who popped in from time to time to capture such moments. She was just five when she first encountered him and was part of several group pictures he returned to take down the years up until her late teens.

She remembers his quiet determination to get just the right shot, the patient herding of scores of excited, squirming kids – many with untucked shirts and runny noses – and the fun of getting out of classes for a while for to be part of this strange ritual. She recalls his quick eye for the best composition, arranging the disparate cast of characters placed in front of him with the consummate skill of a composer plucking just the right notes out of the air for the perfect score.

It occurred to me then that he would be instantly recognisable to hundreds if not thousands of people who have appeared in the Highland News and Media Group titles down the years. Moments of happiness, despair, anger and grim determination in the most challenging of situations. Situations requiring tact, diplomacy and, sometimes, deep empathy and compassion.

I recall trying to persuade him –based as he was in Inverness – to make the trip to Portmahomack in Easter Ross for a job I was particularly keen to get covered.

"Portmahomack?" he shot back, a look of scepticism crossing his face as he considered the already choc-a-bloc diary of demands cluttering his pocket notebook.

"I need a passport to get there, do I not?"

But there was a wry smile that suggested it might just be worth pressing the case...

It was always a joy (though sometimes a challenge) to coax Gary north of the Kessock Bridge, such were the multiple demands on his time. Yet the results always made the effort worthwhile.

One of those Portmahomack visits, incidentally, contributed to one of his many award-winning portfolios as I'd be more than happy to remind him next time I was looking for a favour.

I'd sometimes make those requests in the tea room of our former headquarters' office, looking out to that very bridge I'd be hoping to get him to cross. From there, the Black Isle seemed to be within touching distance with the county town of Dingwall and Wester and Easter Ross not so very far beyond. Why even Portmahomack was within easy reach when you looked at it like that...

Aside from the demands of work, that was the place people would go to catch up, let off steam and share plans for the weekend. Gary's soft-spoken contributions were often hilarious and his laughter instantly recognisable wherever you were in the office.

Remembering those times, I thought it would be nice to collect just some of these Ross-shire images into one place by way of a tribute from The Shire to one of the best. Another of our excellent snappers, Callum Mackay, took the time to dig out these pictures which will doubtless spark a few memories for some of those in the pictures.

Thanks for the memories, Gary. And cheers for being prepared to cross that bridge as often as you did.