Photography Lecturer Iain Campbell Releases New Book Exploring Scotland’s Transitioning Energy Industry

Big news for photography students and fans alike: our very own lecturer Peter Iain Campbell is releasing his photobook, We Drift Like Worried Fire, this January. The book has been ten years in the making and is influenced by Iain’s long-held fascination with deindustrialisation. If you are interested in the idea of exploring North Sea energy infrastructure and how the industry has shaped the world around us, this one is for you. Published by Another Places Press, the book is packed with stunning images and personal reflections, all documenting the slow shift in Scotland’s offshore oil and gas industry. For years, Iain has been capturing everything from towering platforms rising out of the North Sea to the dismantling of these structures as they reach the end of their working lives.

From the Classroom to the North Sea

Iain has been part of City of Glasgow College since 2017, first as a Bank Lecturer in Photography and then as a permanent part-time member of the team from 2019. He is a firm favourite among students for his passion and encouragement. “I love helping students at the very start of their photographic journeys,” he says, and his teaching is full of advice drawn from his own experiences in the field.

His fascination with Scotland’s industrial heritage inspired a decade-long project that saw him hopping on and off Platform Supply Vessels in the North Sea. With his camera, he has captured the dystopian nature of oil rigs and platforms, and during lockdown, he shifted his focus to the onshore dismantling of these structures, which included regular visits to sites in Shetland and northern England.

The Stories Behind the Images

One of Iain’s favourite shots in the book comes from Dales Voe in Shetland, where he photographed the collapsed Ninian Northern Platform during its gradual dismantling. “This image is special to me because it captures the surreal collision of nature and industry - it reminds me of work by one of my biggest photographic influences, Richard Misrach.”

Accessing these sites was not easy. Iain had to negotiate with oil and gas operators, demolition companies, and even sneak into some locations in order to gain the perfect shot. His persistence took him as far as Norway, proving that capturing the story of Scotland’s industrial shift was no small feat.

Why This Matters for Students

Having a lecturer like Iain that fosters an understanding of the real-world challenges and creative triumphs of professional photography is inspiring. His stories from the North Sea show how patience, resilience, and curiosity can turn an idea into a decade-long project. For students, his experience is an inspiration to tackle ambitious projects of their own and develop their voice as photographers.

You can now pre-order We Drift Like Worried Fire. 

Find out more on Iain's Instagram @peteriaincampbell