Monday, May 31, 2010

Child with Net


I was just leaving the beach at Achill and I saw this boy with his net by the edge of the sea. He was sort of fencing with the wave.I was packing up but I pulled this old MPP press camera from my car and shot one frame, holding it up and setting the focus to infinity.
Strange for a photographer but I hate cameras. So,when i was asked to contribute to the "tools of the trade' exhibition at south street studios in July this image was first to mind. After many years of working with almost every available camera and format I believe the camera is not important. Photographers with basic equipment still manage to produce great work. Now I travel light and only bring to a shoot what I may use, no extra lenses or anything, i tailor to suit the job at hand.  Today I don't think I would take this image of an unknown child, due to the changes of how we perceive photographers photographing children.
That said, it feeds into my current project which is about childhood and the way in which we watch over children. Now I use my own children sally and Hazel or my friends children as subject material.

Friday, May 28, 2010

My man in China

My ex assistant Dan filmed this in China.
He's now working in Beijing.
Beautifully shot.

http://vimeo.com/11203583



Saturday, May 8, 2010

Childhood Horizons














                                                



Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they ever find? Samual Johnson [1780]

Mike O’Toole’s interest lies in using photography to make comment about the changing horizons of childhood In this series children are the subjects of his voyeuristic observations or willing participants in some kind of performance. Part social commentary,part fiction, part autobiography, O’Toole’s work plays with the underlying tension and the culture of fear that surrounds childhood. “Never have children been more restrained and watched-over than today”says O’Toole.
(Short version)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

PhotoParley Dublin

Photoparley
 Photoparley Dublin, is a real place where Photographers who are serious about their photography can meet to discuss and debate issues relating to their own work and gain valuable feedback and support from others.The first meeting was this week and the energy and ideas were flowing,it was fantastic.

Here is how Photoparley will work
One evening ,six times a year, eight Irish based photographers will meet to show our current work in progress,to six other Photographers plus two other non photographers, such as a filmmaker, a storyteller, artist or curator or graphic designer to discuss their project and any issues relating to the development of those projects.
http://photoparleydublin.blogspot.com/2010/04/revolution-no9.html