Photographer: Bill Ward.

Where: Celtic Park, Celtic Football Club, Glasgow, Scotland.

When: May 2008.

Why: Tommy Burns was a Celtic Football Club player and manager who had a substantial football career in the UK. He was a well known name locally in Glasgow, and his early death, at 51, from skin cancer, seemed to shock not only the entire football fraternity, but many of the general population as well. His departure was marked by a sense of loss and the tributes paid to Tommy Burns were moving, moreover since football is almost a religion in itself.

click here to view Farewell to Tommy Burns panorama

Bill visited the Celtic Football Club the evening before the funeral with the intention of recording the display of tributes. He was genuinely moved to see the extent to which many people had gone in paying their respects, many of the articles left were obviously well used personal items and signed with touching remarks and messages. Bill affirmed that the scene reminded him of our own mortality.

How/Technical Details: Nikon D3 and a shaved Nikon 10.5mm lens on a monopod, self made pano bracket. Equipment raised about 3 or 4 feet above head height by resting it on the shoulder bag, triggered by a radio remote. The shots were taken quickly without attracting much attention, so to be unobtrusive.

Photographer among Highlanders for his own pleasure, Bill Ward has had the passion for panoramic images since 1998, when he discovered QuickTime object movies, while listening to the radio. Soon after, he was hooked and started saving money to buy a D100. He picked his knowledge online (at Yahoo groups like PanoTools and PanoToolsNG) and he runs today an homepage full of unforgettable images from that wonderful place: Scotland. If asked, he offers professional services.

Related article in this issue:
The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland

Previous articles about Bill:
COWAL HIGHLAND GATHERING DUNOON

Links:
Celtic Football Club
Tommy Burns
BillWard.org
Email: billward at talktalk.net