Lights, camera, action from the trenches

Lately I’ve been producing a Digital Story to bring to life letters in our collection from the First World War trenches. We are using some letters of Captain Willie Bennett Clerk of the Royal Scots regiment from 1915-16. Working with the Audio Visual team we’ve recorded an audio track starring our very own Learning Officer, Scott Neil, reading the letters. For images we are sourcing archive images from the First World War from the National Library of Scotland and contemporary images from Flickr .

The highlight of the Digital Story so far has been the ‘male model’ that took part in a photography session in our studio at the National Museums Collection Centre. Dave Clarke (actually a history teacher and part-time facilitator) wore his own collection of First World War military uniforms in a two hour session – it was hot work for him wearing a gas mask and goat skin under studio lighting but look at the super results.

Dave Clarke modelling as First World War soldier wearing winter kit

Dave Clarke modelling as First World War soldier wearing kilt

Soldier’s personal items of kit from First World War

Dave Clarke modelling as soldier from First World War wearing gas mask

Dave Clarke modelling as First World War soldier reading document

Photo shoot of model for First World War Digital Story

Photography of objects for First World War Digital Story

Preparation for photography shoot for First World War Digital Story

Dave Clarke positioning for photograph for First World War Digital Story

Have a look at the finished production of Letters by Captain William Bennet-Clark of the Royal Scots here,

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/14737860]

You can find out more about the First World War at the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle.