The first photographs were black and white. Ironically if colour had been possible all those years ago when the medium was ‘born’, pioneer photographers would still have chosen to shoot some subjects in b&w. Why? Well, it’s an abstraction of reality; you could say it makes us visualise our world in a different way. Robbed of the distraction of colours we see the familiar with new eyes. This is why I chose black and white to record the powerful sky I saw over the South Beach in my hometown, Arklow.
Black and White
'Old' Castlemacadam Church, Avoca, Co Wicklow
About 6 miles from Arklow you’ll find the ruins of 'Old' Castlemacadam Church, Avoca. An imposing sight, even in the overgrown state I found it when I last looked (if it has been ‘tidied up’ since, I apologise). It has a haunting quality; ‘elegant decay’ is the nearest term that springs to mind. I took this picture some years ago on Kodak Infra Red film – this material sees infrared energy rather than the visible light that our eyes see. Notice how the blue sky is rendered black and grass is turned white. I chose this technique to enhance the ‘ghostly’ aura from the place; ironically, I shot it on a bright sunny day; the ‘eerie’ quality is down to the film. The picture has been used many times, including in a programme of a London theatre as well as a couple of photographic magazines.
Billy O'Neill Shoemaker
So when I heard that Billy O’Neill, a local shoemaker was closing his shop on Arklow’s Wexford Road I knew it was too good a chance to pass up. So I’d like to share with you some of the pictures I took of Billy in his workshop a week before he colsed up for the final time.
Film or Digital?
Irish Professional Photographers Association's Video
I have been a member of the IPPA for nearly 20 years. During that time I have learned so much from the many colleagues I met there. The association has over 300 members working in virtually every area of professional photography. The IPPA prides itself on running training programmes for its members; this keeps all of us 'up to speed' not just with the latest technological developments but importantly, gets our creative juices flowing. Each year sees a busy schedule of seminars, talks from leading experts and of course their 'IPPA Photographer of the Year' competition which receives literally thousands of entries. All members must be fully insured and adhere to a code of conduct. Recently the IPPA commissioned a short video for couples choosing a photographer for their wedding. It only lasts a minute or two, hope you like it. TO SEE THE VIDEO JUST CLICK ON THE TITLE 'Irish Professional Photographers Association's Video' ABOVE
Engagement shoot in Wicklow
Just a few weeks to go before their wedding Maria and Craig travelled to Wicklow where we met up for an engegement shoot. Here are just a couple images from that day.
Heather and Colin
Dodging the showers was all part of Heather Kinch and Colin Darby's wedding in St Saviour's Church, Arklow. Happily the weather improved later that afternoon allowing us to stop off at Ballymoney Beach for 10 minutes of pictures before going on to the reception at the nearby Seafield Hotel.