Release Note

The subject of this portrait was playing violin in the Edinburgh Festival, and wanted a publicity shot that made a visual reference to his nickname.

The violin on which he performed belonged originally to Paganini, who was used to giving recitals in churches dimly lit with candles. He had an extremely fast and high-stepping bowing action which, in the candlelight, occasionally gave the appearance of another ghostly hand upon his shoulder. For that reason Paganini, and by association, our subject, became known as "The Devil's Fiddler".

The ghostly green skin tones and psychedelic sky were both achieved in-camera using Kodak Ektachrome Infra-red film, process E-4, and a neutral grey wedge over the sky.