Portfolio Workshop By Mike O'Toole

This is the third Annual talk to graduating students at IADT about putting together
their portfolios. The workshop and discussion will focus on everything from various ways of presentation, to marketing and promotion, for commercial and fine Artists.A number of Photographers and Artists portfolios will be on display for discussion.
The talk will include issues such as finding your direction and what a powerful portfolio can do for your career.

New Work

Can we go outside?

A project about childhood, play,learning and adult fears...






I see the benefit of time away from adults/parents as an important way for children to grow up as engaged, self confident,resilient people with some control of their own lives. What's needed is frequent,unregulated,self directed contact with people and places beyond the immediate spheres of family and school and the chance to learn from their mistakes.

Started new project today !

Its about children and how we have created this unnatural lifestyle for them,tethered to the computer and sitting in front of the Tv. We have given no thought to free spaces for children to play and explore .We adults decide everything for them and thats a bad idea if you ask me.
What they need is frequent,unregulated,self directed contact with people and places beyond the immediate spheres of family and school and the chance to learn from their mistakes, on their own.
Inspired by Colin Ward, the 1970's anarchist's book Streetwork,the exploding school and Last child in the woods by Richard louv

What Photography means to me

What photography means to me
It's about noticing things around us that we don't notice.
It's about awareness
It's about the thingness of things
It's about creating connections
It's about showing the joys and the sadness of life
It's about a sort of transcendence photography forces us to connect to the larger universe, by providing an appreciation of beauty, a sense of hope , the humour and playfulness associated with being in the flow and being grateful .
Photography connects us with humanity, our peers and subjects.
To be a photographer is to take up a Nobel way of life that requires bravery , persistance and courage to make a living.
For me it's very much about learning and growth, through photography you learn about all manner of things just by increasing awareness . A photographer must be curious and open minded.
mike

Can i take your picture?

Lets be careful out there!

Another Day

With the passion of the italian photographer Italo Calvino in 'the adventures of a photographer' i set out yesterday and this morning to photograph something from life.
I drove around 40 miles, the day was dry , the light lovely. I was listening to music and looking,being open to something that I might line up with my head and my heart and camera.
but despite the time and space to do so i either drove in the wrong direction or perhaps driving itself was the mistake.
my car was loaded up with gear from digital cameras to Mamiya RZ and 5x4 Wista.
Recently i saw some things i wanted to photograph but i choose to find out or try to discover new one rather than go back to these sites.
I realise this is a crazy way to practice but i trusted the instinct "shooting from the gut" and i was open to discovering something
but it was not to be on these occasions.