14 for ’14 – A Year In Review
When I sat down at roughly this time last year, to write my 2013 review, I had no idea of the changes that would unfold in 2014. That’s the nature of life I guess, but maybe it wasn’t something I was prepared for. When I established this business in 2010, I created a regimental routine, which I worked from month to month and year to year. I had a set way of doing things which helped me stay organised and on top of my duties. I took great pride in this ‘system’ because not only did it keep my occupied but it meant I could be relied upon. There were two issues though with this routine. One, it was focused entirely around one client. And two, it didn’t allow for any down time to recover. From April 2010 until April 2014, I estimate I had maybe a total of two weeks holidays (not including sick leave). That sort of pace catches up with you very quickly and is quite counter-productive in the long run, especially for a creative. If you don’t crash and burn, you just end up on autopilot. In April of this year, after more years than most realise (I started contributing to the project whilst still a college student), I parted ways with Speedhunters. Looking back, I think it was the best thing for both sides. They weren’t getting the best of me, and I was becoming more and more frustrated with the direction they were going in at the time. It was an amicable parting, but a parting none the same. On the first of April, I was a solo artist with no regular income (something Speedhunters provided). It was time for me to sink or swim. April was a particularly scary month. If I worked a single paid job during […]
2013 – A Year In Review
It’s been a funny sort of year two thousand and thirteen. My immediate thoughts on the year are not particularly positive, and when looking back through what I’ve shot, I should be feeling much happier. But I’m not. Instead, and like previous years, I’ve again come away feeling frustrated and knowing that I should have done better with the opportunities which presented themselves. I’m not saying that the work is shit, but it always feels like I’m missing that certain little something to bring my work to the next level. I’ve made quite a lot of changes in how I approach a shoot and have been working on my processing but I still feel like I’ve a long, long way to go. One promise that I’ve made to myself is to undertake more personal work in the coming weeks and months. Without the pressure of deadlines or strict briefs, I can experiment with different techniques and shoot things that I normally would have no outlet for. It also re-introduces fun and enjoyment back into my photography, something which I feel has been missing for quite some time. The collection of images below may not necessarily represent my absolute best of photographs of 2013, but they do evoke the best memories. Some may have been seen before and some may not. None of these photographs would have been possible without the help and kindness of so many people. In no particular order I would like to thank the following for their support and contribution, no matter how big or small: My parents Gerry & Sheila, my girlfriend Laura, Derek & Philomena Troy, Martin Ffrench, Larry Kehoe, Ben Chandler, Neil Sheehan, Rod Chong, Rob Bullough, Bryn Musselwhite, Annika Goksu, Jonathan Moore, Suzy Wallace, Sean Klingelhoefer, Larry Chen, Keith Charvonia, Dino Dalle Carbonare, […]
New York City – Part Two
It’s almost impossible to talk about New York City today and not mention September 11th – a tragedy so great that we now only need to refer to it by date. There have been much larger losses of life throughout the course of history but there is something about happened on that Tuesday morning that hit us all so deeply. I’ve wanted to visit the World Trade Centre site for quite some time to pay my respects to all of those who lost their lives. I was expecting to walk into a quiet area filled with sadness but instead I found a place full of energy, recovering from the disaster in the only way they know how – with pride, passion and dignity. Nothing else sums up the people of New York City like the World Trade Centre site. The recently opened 9/11 Memorial is a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11 and during a separate terrorist attack on the WTC in February 1993. Part two of this story begins with the WTC site and the 9/11 Memorial before exploring the rest of what this incredible city has to offer. If you’d like to contribute to the 9/11 Memorial fund, I’ve included a link to the official website at the bottom. Read on for more images after the break …
New York City – Part One
Growing up, I’ve really only ever had one dream. It was a dream that always stayed with me when others would fade away or would be forgotten as time passed. It was a realistic dream – sure, we’d all love to win the lotto or a couple of Nobel prizes but it’s healthy to keep your feet planted firmly in reality – and one that I knew I would someday be able to make happen. Earlier this year, all the planets and stars aligned for me and I was finally presented with the ability to travel to the greatest city on earth, New York. Ever since I travelled to the USA as a child with my parents, I’ve always had a place in my heart for those United States. This was more of a holiday than a job but being a photographer is something you can never turn off. Armed with my beloved Canon 5DMKII (minus a battery grip to save weight), the Canon 35 F1.4 L and the Canon 135 F2 L, I was sure I was ready to take on the city that never sleeps. This is the first of two parts and I’ll hopefully have the second part online later this week. Enjoy …