Won’t Be Back

Three boarded up houses on Bohermore, Galway City. I prefer the black and white photo but posted up the colour version as well, which one do you prefer?

This for me is a good example of finding a photograph in something mundane, a scene most would just walk past and not give it a second glance. Some boarded up houses, not very interesting? But looking and thinking as a photographer it’s a different world. Here I saw a reflection of the economy, a pattern in the houses and like the lines (straight lines rock!).

Post title ‘Won’t Be Back’ is a song title from ‘Recovery’ album by Eminem (Marshall Mathers). I think it fits very nicely to this photo as it portrays a broken home and poverty.

This is the coastal town that they forgot to close down

A selection of abandoned houses on a drive from Kilkenny to just outside Galway (150km journey). I’ve often observed old, abandoned buildings when driving along the roads of Ireland. Normally I’m with my family so I don’t have the opportunity to stop multiple times and spend time photographing. Recently I was in Kilkenny for a weekend and drove down on my own. So I took this opportunity to stop and shoot any old building I drove past.

It was quiet a ‘funny’ drive; I’d be driving along keeping an eye out, spot an old house, glance in my mirrors and if the road was clear do a u-turn, pull in (safely somewhere), jump out, snap-snap-snap, jump back in and turn around again and drive on. It was fun for the first hour or so but became quiet repetitive and tedious towards the end of my journey but interesting to see the different states of ruin. Eventually they’ll all end up a bare skeleton of bricks overgrown by greenery.

Post title taken from the timeless classic ‘Everyday is like Sunday’, taken from Morrissey’s debut solo album ‘Viva Hate’.

Give It Away

This is my 2nd photograph giveaway competition. Two lucky people will receive a signed 8″ by 12″ (inch) photograh of your choice, with free worldwide delivery.
To be in with a chance of winning simply leave a comment on any photography in my blog section (not on this page).
Closing date for entries is midnight (Pacific time), 25th March 2012. Winners will be selected at random and I’ll contact them for details (to let you know you’ve won, give you time to pick which photo you’d like and delivery address.)

GOOD LUCK!

Blog post title is taken from the song ‘Give It Away’ by the Irish band Something Happens, a great band from the 1980s and early 1990s. Tom Dunne, the lead singer, is now host to a daytime radio chat show.

Not Men but Giants

John, my dad, died on the 4th of March 2000, after 7 years of Alzheimer’s Disease. He would have been 75 this year, which is virtaully impossible for me to imagine. I would have loved for him to see me getting married or playing with his four grandchildren (two mine, two my brothers).
Pictured with him is his brother, my uncle, Dick Dineen who also died too early, from cancer. Both were dentists, worked together in their pratice on Patrick’s Stret, Cork City. Both were also avid golfers and Dick was captain of Cork Golf Club (Little Island).
I don’t know when this photograph was taken (some wedding I presume) or by whom but it’s a treasured photo. Quality isn’t great as this was sitting in my attic for years and I scanned it.

Post title ‘Not Men but Giants’ is taken from the title of an Irish band called ‘Not Men but Giants’, link to band

Let’s Get Ready To Rumble

The last set of photographs in my series from Pearse stadium home to Galway GAA hurling and football.
I particularly like the ‘Sales Office’ photo.

Post title Let’s Get Ready To Rumble taken from the song ‘Lets Get Ready To Rumble’ by Ant and Dec and also used in many sports, mainly boxing before big fights.