The Gallery of Photography

The Gallery of Photography in Temple Bar is a place I like to drop into occasionally. Situated just off Meeting House Square in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar it is easily accessible and has a wealth of books and images for any passer-by or photographer to look over.

Founded in 1978 it hosts various photographic exhibitions as well as training courses. With full studio and darkroom facilities it is a gem within the photographic arena of Ireland.  The gallery is non-profit and relies on donations from members to keep going.

One of the upcoming courses is Wet Plate Collodion photography. It takes place over the weekend of 26/27th of October 2013 in the gallery. This intensive weekend workshop led by experienced wet collodionist Monika Fabijanczyk gets you preparing plates, making exposures, developing, and varnishing your own wet collodion plates. Ideal for any photographer who wants to try something new over the weekend you can achieve results you will be proud of, and of course you get to keep your work. Everything is supplied, including 5 x 4 cameras, lights, all chemistry, clear glass, black glass and metal plates. Bring a steady hand and be prepared to fall in love with this most bewitching of processes!

2 upcoming exhibitions that will be worth a visit are firstly STILL, WE WORK, an exhibition featuring artists Sarah Browne, Vagabond Reviews, Miriam O’Connor and Anne Tallentire and presented by the National Women’s Council of Ireland. The exhibition has been devised as part of NWCI’s Legacy Project to mark their 40th anniversary year. The exhibition will run from October 18th to October 27th.

The second exhibition is Aftermath, which runs from October 30th to November 10th. In 1969 the largest evacuation of refugees since World War II took place in Ireland as thousands of people fled across the border to escape the unfolding conflict in Northern Ireland. In subsequent years the border counties continued to be heavily impacted; many people were injured or killed in bombings and shootings whilst others were imprisoned or displaced. Following the Good Friday Agreement and the cessation of overt conflict the issue arose of how to address the legacy of conflict. Aftermath sets out to explore hidden histories, unresolved antagonisms, and personal hopes and dreams. The project brings together people directly affected by trauma to share their experiences through photography, film and music.

So add the Gallery of Photography as a place to visit in Dublin and enjoy all that it has to offer. Visit Gallery of Photography website for more information

My Journey through Photography 2

Starting my Career as a Photographer

Turning 18 and having a proper job allowed me to purchase my first 35mm SLR, a Praktica MTL 5B. A big heavy sturdy camera which still is in complete working order today, nearly 20 years since I first used it. I was now taking photographs every weekend and starting to build up a portfolio and a huge amount of negatives as well as a huge bill in the local chemist for printing. I needed options so I purchased a darkroom kit and started to develop and print a lot of my own black and white films in my bedroom. Turning a bedroom into a darkroom was a challenge but great fun at the time.

Moving on from the Praktica I purchased a Pentax P30, a superior camera to the Praktica but not as well built or solid as I got only two years out of it before I sold it on and got a second hand Olympus OM10. It was at this time that I started work in the Defence Force, having just turned 20. It would take another 18 months before I managed to get myself a place in the Air Corps Photographic Section, and what followed was 23 years as a Defence Forces photographer, travelling all over Ireland as well as overseas photographing the Defence Forces in action. It was one of the best jobs going and I thoroughly enjoyed most of it. Starting back in the late 1980’s in a darkroom and black and white film, with Nikon F3 cameras to finishing up using Canon 5D Digital cameras and Photoshop.

So here I am today, in my mid 40’s and the proud owner of 2 Canon cameras, a full portable studio set up as well as other photographic bits and pieces. My career to date has seen me work through huge leaps in technology and that’s why as a photographer you are always learning.

In my next article I will cover my career since I left the Defence Forces and how I feel my role as a photographer at events is ever changing and evolving.

365 Photo Project Week 1 Gallery

Here is the gallery of week one photos. Only 6 photos this week as I didn’t start till Jan 1st. Hopefully each Sunday I will be able to do a weekly gallery and at the end of each month I will hopefully post a monthly gallery.

Day 1 Indo Cover

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Something for the weekend

Well what to do. Whatever it is it will involve myself and my son…… And we will have camera with us. 

Tomorrow night we are out to Dublin Airport so hopefully may be able to get a low light shot of the terminal building if the airport police don’t tell me to put the camera away. And this brings up another issue, taking pictures of public buildings and over zealous security personnel.  A little common sense goes a long way on behalf of both,  the photographer and the security personnel.

If you are going to be somewhere like an airport and trying to take night time photos, make a courtesy phone call and explain exactly who and what you want. I have done this and never had a problem yet the one time I didn’t I was asked to put tripod and camera away.  Rather than cause a row, i did and walked away. Followed it up the next day with a phone call and explained what had happened and that I normally do call. Don’t burn bridges even if you think you are in the right, you actually may not be totally correct.

Some image posts sorted for tomorrow already otherwise it’s time to enjoy my time with son so won’t be back on blog till monday.

Another Old Camera

This Yashica TLR camera (Twin Lens) was my father’s camera.  It was used to take all the family pictures when we were younger. Family occasions were captured using this. It now takes pride of place at the center of my camera collection.

Unfortunately it no longer works but i hope to get it repaired and get it back up and running again.

Kodak file for bankruptcy

Ah i remember all those happy rolls of film.  Was always a kodak film user, never really liked fuji. Used Ilford for B+W but Kodak for colour. Even when the job used Fuji or Agfa I still preferred Kodak.

Kodak story on CNN Blog

To Touch-Up or to Not: A Very Good Question — January 2012 © Camera Review Labs

http://www.camerareviewlabs.com/debates/to-touch-up-or-to-not-a-very-good-question/

The question all photographers should ask. And the answer is important. Touching up every photo just just for the sake of doing so is now the norm. Older photographers (and yes I one of them) prefer to capture the image correctly ‘in camera’ but there are times when an image will benefit from a simple crop, levels adjustment etc but over doing it can ruin the image.