Silly Season

I think this year I learnt why summer is sometimes called ‘silly season’. This is a phrase that was coined by the media somewhere back in the eons of time, to describe the summer period when there wasn’t a whole lot of news, so journos went ahead and, uh, made some up.  Now I’m no journalist, but I haven’t updated the blog all summer. Not due to a lack of news, more to do with a lot of work, and three kids home from school looking for fun. Hard to turn down a swim or a bike ride with the kids in favour of blogging! Not what the average four year old wants to hear anyway!

But last week the two big kids went back to school, and the four year old (the boss) started playschool, and we actually have three childless hours every morning, five days a week – so no more excuses!

I had a great summer and shot a bunch of weddings. I also did a one day training course / seminar with the excellent Morag MacDonald and learnt a lot, and had a lot of fun. It was a most enjoyable day, very entertaining. You never stop learning in this life, and it’s a great way to meet some fellow photographers.

The photo above is of Anna, our fantastic model for the day, and came about when Chris, one of my fellow students, challenged Morag to take a great photo in the fairly run-of-the-mill hotel lobby. Morag succeeded in spades – barely a challenge to her. My photo is pretty much over her shoulder, so all credit goes to Morag for this one!

I had grabbed my old D70s camera on my way to the training course. This camera is about 6 years old and worth maybe €200 second hand, which shows that photography is all about the photographer, and never about the gear.

Anyway, now that silly season is over I’ll get my ass in gear and show you some of the great weddings that I shot over the summer. Look out for more posts here over the next couple of weeks! Silly season indeed …

- Rory

 

 

Charity Shave for Cystic Fibrosis

A charity shave was organised to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis charity Build4Life at Poc Ar Buile pub in Ballinrostig in east Cork. I was asked to take part by making posters to advertise the event and then to take photos to try and capture the drama and fun of the night.

Poc Ar Buile is a real old traditional pub, fairly unchanged over the years. The pint is fantastic, the owners are friendly, and on a busy night the craic is fantastic. I converted all the photos to b+w, which suits the character of the face and gnarly faces of the lads being shaved!

The shaving was done by the team from The Barber Rooms Turkish Barber in Middleton.

Build 4 Life was founded by friends and family of Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Cork and Kerry.

Ireland has the highest rate of CF in the world. This year’s aim for Build4Life is to raise €1.5 million to build a dedicated Children’s Unit in the Cork University Hospital.

Here’s some more photos from the night

Paddy, Mike and Eddie

Paddy being prepared - he's had the beard for 20 years!!

And the first shave is on!

Lightning strike Mike!

Ciaran's turn!

The Powell brothers pre shave (Paddy's beard isn't dyed, honest!)

Paddy post shave. Gemmo from the Barber Rooms preparing the hot towel

Job done! And Paddy Powell wins the Rose of Ballinrostig!

Le Chat Noir

I’m delighted to say that I played a small part in Le Chat Noir Vintage Fair, which takes place in Cork this coming weekend, May 7th & 8th. I took some pics for the event at the fabulous Ballyvolane House near Castlelyons in Cork a couple of weeks ago, with stunning model Susan Cox and styled by vintage fair organiser and florist extraordinaire, Jill O’Keeffe. Photographer Dragan Tomas also took promo photos for the event.

The fair takes place at the Flying Enterprise Complex, Southgate Bridge on Saturday and Sunday, 7th & 8th. It will host stalls from Corks top vintage stores, and demonstrations from hair and makeup artists for vintage looks. If you love vintage style, do come along for ideas and some fun. It’s also the place to visit if you are planning a vintage themed wedding, or just like the idea of some vintage elements from how the you are dressed to how the tables are dressed!

Here’s some photos from the shoot at Ballyvolane House. They have just completed a beautiful new space for wedding receptions, and the bedrooms (and bathrooms!) in the house are just amazing. It’s small and cosy, full of antique furniture, and hidden away in the heart of the countryside, yet only 45 mins from Cork city.

- Rory

Catherine & Paul

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of photographing Catherine & Paul’s wedding at Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork. They held a beautiful civil ceremony in the hotel – an option becoming increasingly popular amongst many couples. It’s a great option, as the couple and their guests are all assembled in one spot, with no traveling required from he ceremony location to the reception.

Vienna Woods is a beautiful location for a wedding, just 5 minutes drive from the city center, and yet an oasis of calm and tranquility.

For the wedding party photos we took a quick spin up to Ennismore Retreat Center, Montenotte, Cork. Another great location for couples who are getting married in the city, and want a nearby location for photographs. It has beautiful gardens and views, and again is just 5 mins drive from the city center.

Thursday (and indeed most of the Easter Holidays this year) was another cloudless day of sunshine and warmth. A fabulous day for a fabulous couple!

Here’s a few photos from the day

- Rory

Natacha & Greg

Natacha is an old friend from college, who contacted me a while ago via Facebook. Truth be told, we hadn’t met in years, but we met again last month after she asked me to photograph her wedding. It was great to meet and catch up again, and to meet her partner Greg and their son and families.

The weather was amazing as we all gathered at the civil registry office for the ceremony, and then travelled on to Howth for some pictures on the pier. It was like mid summer, not the day after St. Patricks Day!

Greg and Natacha knew that these buskers played most days on the pier, and so they were there again that day. And so we were treated to their first wedding dance on the pier on that sunny afternoon.

Here’s some more photos from the day, enjoy!

- Rory

 

At the English Market on Saturday morning

I

I was printing for the Faces Project with a bunch from Cork Analogue Photographers on Saturday morning. Afterwards we went for sandwiches in the English Market – best sandwiches in Cork if you ask me – and afterwards spotted this gent outside. Couldn’t help but raise the camera to my eye mid conversation!

- Rory

Congratulations to Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam

The first Irish same sex civil partnership took place today, as Hugh Walsh married Barry Dignam. Congratulations to both! The following is from RTE -

GLEN Chairman Kieran Rose said Irish society used to be one of the most repressive when it came to gay rights, but that this legislation along with other developments now made it one of the most progressive in terms of legal status.

He said he was hopeful this was the first step towards giving gay couples the same rights as married couples.

He is quite hopeful that there will be further progress in this area in the near future, he added.

The General Register Office has received 267 notices of intention to enter into a civil partnership to date.

Six ceremonies have taken place since 7 February by couples who obtained a special court exemption from the notice period. These couples asked for their ceremonies not to be publicised.

But today’s ceremonies are the first to take place without a court exemption.

See more on RTE’s news bulletin here

 

- Rory