John MacPherson
@johnmacpherson.bsky.social
Mostly a photographer: https://www.john-macpherson-photography.com
I sometimes write: https://www.duckrabbit.info/blog/author/j-macpherson/
Scottish Highlander, left-coast, interested in all sorts of things. I make stuff, some of it even works.
I sometimes write: https://www.duckrabbit.info/blog/author/j-macpherson/
Scottish Highlander, left-coast, interested in all sorts of things. I make stuff, some of it even works.
Pinned
I like stories. I posted this one on The Other Place and many people liked it. So I thought I'd post it here for anyone who missed it. It's about travel, but mainly it's about trust, risk & reward and a reminder that we're all strangers to others at some point. But only temporarily... 1/12
Reposted by John MacPherson
am I even awake right now?
November 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
am I even awake right now?
'The Hands Of My Father'
What's in a picture?
Some people say: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But the story those "thousand words" might tell often depends on the reader. And in the digital age of billions of images, finding an image that truly speaks to us is a matter of luck. 1/9
What's in a picture?
Some people say: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But the story those "thousand words" might tell often depends on the reader. And in the digital age of billions of images, finding an image that truly speaks to us is a matter of luck. 1/9
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
'The Hands Of My Father'
What's in a picture?
Some people say: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But the story those "thousand words" might tell often depends on the reader. And in the digital age of billions of images, finding an image that truly speaks to us is a matter of luck. 1/9
What's in a picture?
Some people say: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But the story those "thousand words" might tell often depends on the reader. And in the digital age of billions of images, finding an image that truly speaks to us is a matter of luck. 1/9
Reposted by John MacPherson
maybe i am going insane
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
maybe i am going insane
Reposted by John MacPherson
Children. Teens. Pregnant women. Victims of domestic violence. Anyone from an ethic minority. Care home residents. People with disabilities. The list of overlooked vulnerable groups goes on & on.
The lesson is to build processes that include them next time.
Not to airbrush away 250,000 Covid dead.
The lesson is to build processes that include them next time.
Not to airbrush away 250,000 Covid dead.
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Children. Teens. Pregnant women. Victims of domestic violence. Anyone from an ethic minority. Care home residents. People with disabilities. The list of overlooked vulnerable groups goes on & on.
The lesson is to build processes that include them next time.
Not to airbrush away 250,000 Covid dead.
The lesson is to build processes that include them next time.
Not to airbrush away 250,000 Covid dead.
Reposted by John MacPherson
November 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by John MacPherson
Gaza is one of the richest archaeological landscapes on the planet, with thousands of years of continuous occupation and layer after layer of history going back to the Neolithic. The destruction of that is nothing next to the human cost, but it's still a cruel, thoughtless act of destruction.
July 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Gaza is one of the richest archaeological landscapes on the planet, with thousands of years of continuous occupation and layer after layer of history going back to the Neolithic. The destruction of that is nothing next to the human cost, but it's still a cruel, thoughtless act of destruction.
Reposted by John MacPherson
#PeatlandRestoration is not the most photogenic of subjects, but this blog from our partner #AssyntFoundation explains why it's important & what those diggers are doing on the heather. 👉 buff.ly/0yI3qFP Thanks PeatlandACTION. Great to see more carbon storing work happening in Assynt.
Peat Bog Restoration - Blog of photographer Chris Puddephatt - Chris Puddephatt Photos of North West Scotland - Peat Bog Restoration
Blog of photographer Chris Puddephatt
buff.ly
November 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
#PeatlandRestoration is not the most photogenic of subjects, but this blog from our partner #AssyntFoundation explains why it's important & what those diggers are doing on the heather. 👉 buff.ly/0yI3qFP Thanks PeatlandACTION. Great to see more carbon storing work happening in Assynt.
Rather a splendid morning on Cairngorm yesterday, limited uplift though (so only 100 tickets) & forecast to deteriorate in the early afternoon & it did, the wind got up, temp rose, it clagged out & we called it a day having enjoyed some rather lovely soft powdery snow. Scotland doing it!
November 22, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Rather a splendid morning on Cairngorm yesterday, limited uplift though (so only 100 tickets) & forecast to deteriorate in the early afternoon & it did, the wind got up, temp rose, it clagged out & we called it a day having enjoyed some rather lovely soft powdery snow. Scotland doing it!
Reposted by John MacPherson
I'm no art critic but the very reaction to it suggests the artist has hit the mark.
Shame it's going.
Shame it's going.
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
I'm no art critic but the very reaction to it suggests the artist has hit the mark.
Shame it's going.
Shame it's going.
Reposted by John MacPherson
Postcards from our Outreach team who were conducting a survey of ancient woodland on Loch Veyatie in #Assynt recently.⛵
Lots of ancient ‘graveyard/bone' tree specimens found including this 'harp' tree (as christened by Doug). Also an encouraging amount of tree regeneration appearing.🤞
Lots of ancient ‘graveyard/bone' tree specimens found including this 'harp' tree (as christened by Doug). Also an encouraging amount of tree regeneration appearing.🤞
November 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Postcards from our Outreach team who were conducting a survey of ancient woodland on Loch Veyatie in #Assynt recently.⛵
Lots of ancient ‘graveyard/bone' tree specimens found including this 'harp' tree (as christened by Doug). Also an encouraging amount of tree regeneration appearing.🤞
Lots of ancient ‘graveyard/bone' tree specimens found including this 'harp' tree (as christened by Doug). Also an encouraging amount of tree regeneration appearing.🤞
Reposted by John MacPherson
This graphic explains SO much about U.S. truck/SUV mania & consumer culture generally.
“As pickups transitioned from farm/ranch workhorses to lifestyle vehicles, their design shifted accordingly: Cabs expanded to accommodate more passengers, while beds shrank. The first generation of F-150s were 36% cab & 64% bed by length. By 2021, the ratio had flipped.
www.axios.com/local/housto...
www.axios.com/local/housto...
November 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This graphic explains SO much about U.S. truck/SUV mania & consumer culture generally.
The Unintended Art Of Others
The shipyard painters who cleaned their brushes on the shipping container they store their paint in.
Banff
Scotland
The shipyard painters who cleaned their brushes on the shipping container they store their paint in.
Banff
Scotland
November 19, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by John MacPherson
Morgan McSweeney: "OK Keir, hear ne out. We need to project a different look for the Party, now that we have an 80 seat majority."
Starmer: "Righto - brilliant. How should we be portraying ourselves Morgan...?"
McSweeney: "As utter cunts..."
#Labour #HostileEnvironment
Starmer: "Righto - brilliant. How should we be portraying ourselves Morgan...?"
McSweeney: "As utter cunts..."
#Labour #HostileEnvironment
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Morgan McSweeney: "OK Keir, hear ne out. We need to project a different look for the Party, now that we have an 80 seat majority."
Starmer: "Righto - brilliant. How should we be portraying ourselves Morgan...?"
McSweeney: "As utter cunts..."
#Labour #HostileEnvironment
Starmer: "Righto - brilliant. How should we be portraying ourselves Morgan...?"
McSweeney: "As utter cunts..."
#Labour #HostileEnvironment
Reposted by John MacPherson
My portrait of Lord Dubs will be in the immigration and asylum section of the Rebellion! exhibition along with his story and three other positive stories about people who were granted asylum.
Alf Dubs is a 92 year old man who spent his life fighting for refugees, and in particular for refugee children. He fought the Tories tooth and nail during their last three terms, only to see Labour adopt far-right policies on immigration.
“But to use children as a weapon ... I’m lost for words.”
“But to use children as a weapon ... I’m lost for words.”
Labour Peer Who Fled The Nazis Condemns His Party's Immigration Crackdown
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:09 AM
My portrait of Lord Dubs will be in the immigration and asylum section of the Rebellion! exhibition along with his story and three other positive stories about people who were granted asylum.
Reposted by John MacPherson
Once again baffled how blatantly anti-enlightenment this is, "isn't it great how we can produce knowledge while being evidently clueless about the subject, isn't this just like 👼divine inspiration uuh 🪄magic uuuuh yeah ok we don't use this words any more, let's call it 🎨art"
November 19, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Once again baffled how blatantly anti-enlightenment this is, "isn't it great how we can produce knowledge while being evidently clueless about the subject, isn't this just like 👼divine inspiration uuh 🪄magic uuuuh yeah ok we don't use this words any more, let's call it 🎨art"
Reposted by John MacPherson
«Today, the artistic prompt typed into a chatbot is itself becoming a form of expression. The difference between a clunky query and an inspired one is as wide as the gap between a finger painting and a Van Gogh.»
No, it's not. At best, prompting is to artistic practice what googling is to research
No, it's not. At best, prompting is to artistic practice what googling is to research
The Prompt Engineer Is the Artist of Our Age
Just as the camera once challenged painters, AI is giving rise to a new kind of creativity.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 AM
«Today, the artistic prompt typed into a chatbot is itself becoming a form of expression. The difference between a clunky query and an inspired one is as wide as the gap between a finger painting and a Van Gogh.»
No, it's not. At best, prompting is to artistic practice what googling is to research
No, it's not. At best, prompting is to artistic practice what googling is to research
Reposted by John MacPherson
Several media outlets and political voices are in a feverish grip of deportation/remigration fantasies, that do not reflect public views.
State lacks capacity to identify, detain, remove those without legal status. Politicians/media keep adding groups of legal migrants to a deportation wishlist
State lacks capacity to identify, detain, remove those without legal status. Politicians/media keep adding groups of legal migrants to a deportation wishlist
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Several media outlets and political voices are in a feverish grip of deportation/remigration fantasies, that do not reflect public views.
State lacks capacity to identify, detain, remove those without legal status. Politicians/media keep adding groups of legal migrants to a deportation wishlist
State lacks capacity to identify, detain, remove those without legal status. Politicians/media keep adding groups of legal migrants to a deportation wishlist
There were sparklies in the stillness this last few days, only until the breezes began their demolition.
November 18, 2025 at 5:40 PM
There were sparklies in the stillness this last few days, only until the breezes began their demolition.
Reposted by John MacPherson
When states like Colorado passed policies requiring employers to disclose salary information in job postings, what happened?
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
When states like Colorado passed policies requiring employers to disclose salary information in job postings, what happened?
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
For anyone with an interest in Scottish history, here's Gavin (Ring of Bright Water) Maxwell's shark fishing station on Soay (off Skye), which I photographed some 20 years ago for a project. Fascinating place. (book is worth reading) www.amazon.co.uk/Harpoon-at-V...
November 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
For anyone with an interest in Scottish history, here's Gavin (Ring of Bright Water) Maxwell's shark fishing station on Soay (off Skye), which I photographed some 20 years ago for a project. Fascinating place. (book is worth reading) www.amazon.co.uk/Harpoon-at-V...
Reposted by John MacPherson
I wonder if anyone has explored the intersection with disability studies? My mom used a rollator and a motorized scooter, and I realized one day that skating around her town allowed me to have an intuitive sense of what would work for her and her wheels.
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban landscapes.
Seeing Like a Skater: Skateboarding as Poetic Technology
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban lan...
www.mediapolisjournal.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I wonder if anyone has explored the intersection with disability studies? My mom used a rollator and a motorized scooter, and I realized one day that skating around her town allowed me to have an intuitive sense of what would work for her and her wheels.
Reposted by John MacPherson
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Yorkshire Water: it’s time to end the rip-off
Handing the company back to local people would return both control and value to those who need it most
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Reposted by John MacPherson
I will never get tired of watching meteorites blast new craters on the Moon.
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
Vous assistez, quasiment en direct à la formation d'un cratère sur la Lune, avec un impact filmé ce matin !
November 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I will never get tired of watching meteorites blast new craters on the Moon.
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
Reposted by John MacPherson
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
Reposted by John MacPherson
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/