Short winter days here in Ireland, means either having to work much quicker than usual or having to put 2 days aside rather than one, to get the job done.
Well one of the the job in question this week was at Rosemary’s cottage near Fivemiletown in County Tyrone – which we decided to go to the day before we had planned to shoot it, to see if we could at least make a start.
And I’m very glad we did, because due to the weather it was very dark, even in the middle of the day – but like they say, the show must go on.
Anyway, we decided to kick-off in the sitting room – so after we had moved a few things to where we thought they would work best for the camera, I took my usual first shot…
.. to see how it looked – before adding some directional light…
.. which just didn’t seem right – or should I say, feel right, as it’s that feeling of wanting to be there that we often try to create or capture when doing this type of work.
So while I played around with the lighting, Marie played around with what was in front of the camera – as we both watched it getting darker and darker outside…
.. even though it was still only about 3:30 in the afternoon.
Anyway, leaving the shutter open for about 16 seconds after a blast of light – and this was the result…
.. which we were both very happy with in the end – as it now looked like something you’d see in a magazine – which was obviously our goal here
Anyway, that was it for the day – but at least we had made a start – which was good – and so it was time for a beer in front of the fire, as there was “No work in me” as Marie would often say
Next morning we were up bright & early of course; however, it wasn’t until after 8 before there is any real sign of some light – and so it wasn’t until about 9:30 before we really managed to make a start on the kitchen area…
.. by which time help had arrived – as Claudio jointed us…
.. and so we started to move more quickly as a result.
Anyway, 20 minutes later and it was time for Rosemary to smile for the camera…
.. as the rain poured down outside – on what can only be described as a very missable winter’s day here in Ireland.
Still, “the show must go on” as they say – and so with Claudio helping on the lighting, it wasn’t long before we were heading upstairs to shoot the bedrooms – which once again were rather dark on a day like this…
.. until Claudio lit them up…
.. and Marie had styled to ‘within an inch of her life’ of course – which she has normally done long before I arrive.
Anyway, that was basically it – and the good news is, that it was all well worth it too, as we got a “yes please” the following day from the Editor of 25 Beautiful Homes magazine, who said they would love to run with it in one of their Spring issues next year
So big thanks to Rosemary for inviting us in – and to my team, thank you for all your hard work too – as I know I simply couldn’t do any of this without you guys.
Cheers from me in sunny Ireland, where it only rains about 225 days a year