Corcadal | Smile Please

Dìleab Thormoid (Smile Please) tells the extraordinary story of historic photographs and their photographer. Over 100 years ago, Dr Norman Morrison (Tormod an t-Seòladair) began photographing people in his home village of Shawbost on the west side of the island of Lewis. His remarkable set of glass plate negatives was discovered recently in a barn in the village where they had lain undisturbed for decades. The photographs, of individuals and families from the area, provide a fresh and unique perspective on island life in the early 1900s.

Despite having only two years of education in childhood, Norman Morrison went on to become an expert on the adder, Doctor of Science and fellow of the Zoological Society of Scotland, and co-founder of the Scottish Police Federation. He was the author of five books, including his autobiography, My Story, but doesn’t mention anywhere his interest in photography.

There are clips and more information on this programme’s BBC page.