Photographer Martin Hunter has turned his attention from portraiture to lighting as part of a major commission by the Council.

The new work by Mr Hunter, who is better known in media circles for photographing the likes of JK Rowling, Jamie Oliver and Peter Mullan, will appear in a new Council publication called Glasgow: City of Light.

The book showcases and celebrates the many projects lit up by the Council as part of its lighting strategy including Anniesland Tower, Crookston Castle, Glasgow City Chambers and the bridges over the Clyde.

An exhibition of Mr Hunter's photographs was launched on Thursday, 24 November, 2005 at the Street Level Gallery on King Street. The photographs will be on public display at the gallery from Friday 25 November 2005 to Saturday 10 December 2005.

Bailie Allan Stewart, Convener of the Council’s Lighting Strategy, said: “The book is a wonderful pictorial record of exactly what we have achieved so far with our lighting strategy.

“Martin Hunter has managed to capture on film the essence of what we were trying to achieve - turn Glasgow into a City of Light. We know Glaswegians love seeing their buildings lit up but Martin’s pictures will allow a wider audience to see the beauty of Glasgow illuminated.”

Martin Hunter, said: “My father was in the building trade. His enthusiasm for the buildings of Glasgow was often accompanied by the advice to “look up!”

“In a sense that’s what something like the Council’s Lighting Strategy does. It raises your sight from the clutter, the noise and singles something out - something that might just convey something of the character of Glasgow and something you never really noticed before.”

Martin Hunter is a freelance photographer specialising in editorial portraiture whose work can be seen in magazines and newspapers including Time Out, Marie Claire, Guardian Weekend, Scotland on Sunday Magazine (Spectrum), Independent Magazine, Management Today and People Magazine  (US).

The photography will be on display at the Street Level Gallery from Friday 25 November to Saturday 10 December 2005. Admission to the gallery, which has disabled access, is free. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.

The book is designed by Tristan & Justine Dellaway and published by the Development and Regeneration Services of Glasgow City Council.

Glasgow: City of Light is Glasgow City Council's city wide lighting strategy.  The initiative was established in 2001. The Council allocated £2.65 million from 2001/02 to 2003/04 to light up the city’s landmarks and buildings. A further £2.75 million net capital has been allocated for 2004/2005 to 2006/2007.

Prominent buildings that have been lit up include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The City Chambers, St George's Tron Church, Tollbooth Steeple at Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Necropolis. On the River Clyde, other structures, which have been lit up, include George V Bridge, the Kingston Bridge, Glasgow Weir, Victoria Bridge and Glasgow Bridge.