Irish Photographer

I prefer to work on a 5″ x 4″ film camera, stripped to the bare essentials. It always seemed to be the perfect tool for capturing landscapes. The combination of the lens and the format captures each scene with immense detail providing a true representation of that moment. I work in colour, use negative film and usually carry twenty four sheets at a time, making about six exposures at each location.

Drawing inspiration from the surrounding countryside, I spend a lot of time researching locations and waiting for the right conditions to appear. Once I’ve decided on the image I am attempting to capture, I make a sketch and note the elements of weather and light required. I then return with my equipment and simply wait, hoping for everything to align. I rarely capture a good image without planning in advance, I am meticulous about returning though and know I may have to wait for the scene I had envisioned to appear.

Most of my work is taken as long exposures with minimal camera movements, using only a couple of soft neutral density filters. I like to use the camera stopped down as much as possible. Light and weather are key and the more unusual the better. I often work at dawn and witness a scene move from darkness to light.

Once the images are captured, I send the film to be processed. It is a great and rewarding experience to have the film returned. I then move to a digital process, scanning each sheet and making selections until I choose my favourite image. This then becomes the master print.

I am proud of the work I have made to date and enjoy the life of a landscape photographer.