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Happy New Year
Well, like everyone else, we’ve been having the same cold and snowy weather here in Dun Laoghaire.
Here are two photos taken in Crosthwaite Park on New Year’s Day – most of the snow had melted at this stage :
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas everyone – hope to hear from you all in the New Year
Photograph of Christmas Tree in Trim, Co. Meath
Wedding – Mount Falcon, Mayo
Had a lovely day for the wedding of Barbara and Mark last Saturday. Despite the dire weather forecasts for various areas, we had a lovely bright Winter-sunny day. Mount Falcon is a lovely venue with wonderful grounds – including many fine trees, like the ones in this photo :
This was a genuine vintage Packard Presidential from 1930 (see the classic numberplate). The owner (Getaway Limos) mentioned that this car was once owned by Buster Keaton (the silent movie era Hollywood star).
After the ceremony, we managed to get a few photos down by the lake in the hotel grounds. It was a lovely evening, but getting quite dark as it was pretty close to sunset (and a bit chilly too – so thanks to all the wedding party for their perseverance) :
Then, back to the hotel, where there was a warm fire and champagne waiting
The main reception room was stunningly lit with a huge number of candles – the main lights were turned down very low to add to the atmosphere
A final view of the hotel, as the reception continued
Mansion House, Dublin – Wedding Reception
Just thought I’d post two quick pictures from a wedding yesterday. Donna & Jason got married in Mount Argus church and had their reception in the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dawson St. (with pre-reception drinks in Café en Seine). It was my first time to have a reception there, and I was very impressed with the lighting and overall setup. (Mind you, although the lighting was fantastic – it made some of the the photography more difficult e.g. The Wedding Cake).
Dun Laoghaire FOWC – 2009
Just as a change from wedding photography – I was at the DLR FOWC (Festival of World Cultures) last weekend. I didn’t have much free time during the weekend, so just managed a few quick photos. But I did manage to see Jane Birkin in the Pavilion theatre that night. I suppose the phrase ‘living legend’ might be a little too over the top, but an amazing performance nonetheless.
Adam & Eve’s Church
I’d often heard of this church, but never been there before. It’s hidden away, just off Merchant’s Quay. I had a wedding there earlier in the week, and was really impressed by the size and light inside. Its real name is the “Church of the Immaculate Conception” but the more usual name comes from a Public House in Winetavern Street through which it was entered during Penal times.
Charleville Castle – pre-wedding shoot
I’m calling this a “pre-wedding” shoot, rather than the more usual “engagement shoot”, as it took place only a few days before the wedding itself. Originally, we had planned to get some photos in the castle on the wedding day, but there was another event on then. Eventually, we decided to do it a bit early. For these three photos, I was trying out a bit of different processing – which gives them a more informal look.
The warm/brown tone of the images was partly chosen to complement the colours of the extensive wood-panelling throughout Charleville.
Lighting Workshop
Despite just having our (rather wet – as is traditional) bank-holiday weekend, for this photographer, the work just went on. Photographed a wedding in Tullamore on Saturday, and then drove on to Cork for a lighting workshop run by Neil Van Niekerk on Sunday. Apart from being a Wedding Photographer based in New Jersey – USA, he is very widely know among photographers via his lighting website Planet Neil.
So, on Sunday, I was lucky enough to attend one of his workshops in Hayfield Manor in Cork.
We covered a variety of lighting options, and here are some of my photos from the day, showing a variety of lighting options demonstrated and discussed by Neil. These are more or less as taken, with just a smidgin of Photoshop work :
Bounced flash :
Using a video light :
Video Light again, with Black & White conversion :
Last but not least – Natural Light from a window :
Overall, a brilliantly informative day. Many new ideas, as well as consolidating existing concepts.
The model in these photos was Eimear Varian Barry – find out all about her on Facebook page
Makeup by Dawn Ryan
Budapest Trip
Of course Ireland isn’t the only place where it rains a lot – when you don’t want it to.
I took the following photos on a recent trip to Budapest. The rain was quite heavy, but the people sitting outside the café, under an awning, don’t seem to
notice.
Budapest has many beautiful old buildings – in various states of repair – from beautifully restored, to ‘almost falling down’. Here’s a photo of part of the facade of the Franz Liszt academy of music :
Last but not least, one street seemed to be ‘Wedding Dress Central’ for Budapest. Lots of shops, advertising photos on the walls and in the streets like this one :
by Frank
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