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Photographer John Maher, once the drummer with punk bank Buzzcocks, travelled to the Outer Hebrides to photograph abandoned crofters’ cottages – many of which, like this one, have seemingly been untouched since. Here: “Blue Chair Last”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

Photographer John Maher, once the drummer with punk bank Buzzcocks, travelled to the Outer Hebrides to photograph abandoned crofters’ cottages – many of which, like this one, have seemingly been untouched since. Here: “Blue Chair Last”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Waiting Room”. Wood-effect wallpaper peels away to reveal real wood underneath. Maher’s photography career follows not just his Buzzcocks days, but also a successful business working on customised VW Beetles. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Waiting Room”. Wood-effect wallpaper peels away to reveal real wood underneath. Maher’s photography career follows not just his Buzzcocks days, but also a successful business working on customised VW Beetles. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Green Room”. A sheep skeleton lies in the corner of a kitchen, surrounded by 12-inch records. The roof has since collapsed, burying everything inside. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Green Room”. A sheep skeleton lies in the corner of a kitchen, surrounded by 12-inch records. The roof has since collapsed, burying everything inside. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Peat Fire”. Taken in March 2013 on the east coast of Harris. The fire is from muir-burning, when farmers burn off grasses and heather to improve grazing for their sheep. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Peat Fire”. Taken in March 2013 on the east coast of Harris. The fire is from muir-burning, when farmers burn off grasses and heather to improve grazing for their sheep. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Tin and Stone”. Taken the same night; the muir-burning can just be seen on the horizon. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Tin and Stone”. Taken the same night; the muir-burning can just be seen on the horizon. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“TV Set”. Maher says: “What started out as a personal project – documenting abandoned croft houses in the Outer Hebrides – has had an unexpected side effect. As a result of displaying my photographs, there’s now a real possibility of seeing at least one of the properties becoming a family home once again”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“TV Set”. Maher says: “What started out as a personal project – documenting abandoned croft houses in the Outer Hebrides – has had an unexpected side effect. As a result of displaying my photographs, there’s now a real possibility of seeing at least one of the properties becoming a family home once again”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“The Dog, the Cat and the Bird”. “Nobody’s Home is about more than pictures on a gallery wall. It shows that looking through a lens to the past can help shape the future”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“The Dog, the Cat and the Bird”. “Nobody’s Home is about more than pictures on a gallery wall. It shows that looking through a lens to the past can help shape the future”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Bedroom and Chapel”. The only house on the now uninhabited island of Ensay, looking across to the island’s tiny chapel. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Bedroom and Chapel”. The only house on the now uninhabited island of Ensay, looking across to the island’s tiny chapel. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Rust in Peace”. A house on the Isle of Scalpay, built from stone blocks at either end, with tin sheets making. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Rust in Peace”. A house on the Isle of Scalpay, built from stone blocks at either end, with tin sheets making. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Parallel Lines”. “One of the first houses I entered, discovering many personal items had been left behind by the former occupants”, says Maher. “I was also surprised to see the brightly coloured interior. A stark contrast to the often drab exteriors”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Parallel Lines”. “One of the first houses I entered, discovering many personal items had been left behind by the former occupants”, says Maher. “I was also surprised to see the brightly coloured interior. A stark contrast to the often drab exteriors”. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“No Job Too Small”. A six-minute exposure under the light of a full moon – unimpeded by any street lights or other light pollution. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“No Job Too Small”. A six-minute exposure under the light of a full moon – unimpeded by any street lights or other light pollution. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)



“Nobody’s Home”. “The symmetry of this house on the Isle of Lewis reminds me of the houses I used to paint and draw at primary school”, says Maher. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)

“Nobody’s Home”. “The symmetry of this house on the Isle of Lewis reminds me of the houses I used to paint and draw at primary school”, says Maher. (Photo by John Maher/The Guardian)
19 Aug 2016 11:39:00