One, two, three.

Last year we produced a series of images at Dunboyne Castle Hotel which included this one…

.. which we talked about shooting here: Boardrooms.

Well, we were back last week as they have now renovated this and their other meeting rooms, by basically turning them all into one much larger room…

.. which can then be divided back into smaller rooms again, using a ‘roll out room divider’ system.

And so that was what they wanted to show, i.e. how this newly renovated corporate/meeting room can be used in different ways.

Executive Boardrooms

Dunboyne Castle Hotel features three contemporary boardrooms. The Alder & Copper Beech Suites can cater for up to 20 guests, while Cedar Suite caters for up to 60 delegates. The Suites overlook the mature woodlands on the estate and are ideal for intimate business meetings.

One done, two to go – type of thing – as 2 rooms would look like this…

.. which after some fine tuning, both inside…

.. and out…

.. looked pretty good…

.. especially when Dianne & Claudio stood in for a test shot…

.. just before everyone arrived…

.. the overhead projector was turned on…

.. and a few minutes later…

.. we were all happy with that:

Two done, one to go – as I moved the camera back…

.. everyone moved in…

.. and did their thing…

.. so before you know it, I was pressing the button once again…

.. to produce the final image before packing the wagon…

.. to head home.

And so there you have it – one…

.. two…

.. three…

.. at this Georgian estate in County Meath called Dunboyne Castle Hotel from Dianne, Claudio & me

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Twinkle

Life sometimes has a way of carrying us all in different directions…

.. as change does seem to be the only constant.

Anyway, it’s been a while since I have done a shoot with Marie – however, we do stay in touch and hook up from time to time, as over the years we have created a pretty major picture library together – plus being good friends for so long, we do talk about lots of other stuff too…

.. which included her laughingly telling me about this new project she had started on – which was this 20-year-old “granny wagon”…

.. is how she described it

“Sooooo – what’s my vision ?????

I’d actually like to give it a kind of Neptune feel…

.. It will be fun”

– she wrote a few months ago.

Anyway, long story short, last week we decided to combine a business catch up with a fun shoot of her little caravan – which she called Twinkle btw!!

And all I can say is her vision…

.. and ability to transform something so ordinary…

.. into something like this…

.. once again amazed me.

So here’s to a day filled with good food…

.. and good friends – on Valentine’s Day with a Twinkle

I want to explore the world.

With just two things in my hands – and from the top of the Altare della Patria, or Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele ll, or the wedding cake building (take your pick!)…

.. one has a backdrop second to none – so yes, it really was beautiful, especially at the end of the day as the sun began to set – and therefore the perfect place to take a selfie

Anyway, the Colosseum or Coliseum…

.. also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre…

.. is an oval amphitheater in the centre of the city of Rome.
Built of travertine, tuff, and brick-faced concrete…

.. it is the largest amphitheater ever built.
Construction began under emperor Vespasian in AD 72…

.. and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir Titus.
It is situated just east of the Roman Forum…

.. also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum…

.. is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings…

.. at the center of the city of Rome.
Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space…

.. originally a marketplace…

.. as the Forum Magnum…

.. or simply the Forum.

“I want to explore the world with just two things in my hands, a camera in one & your hand on the other.”

And so that was Rome for me

Divine light.

On the ceiling in the Gallery of the Candelabra…

.. “Arts pays homage to Religion” – and there is even an old plate camera to be seen…

.. in the Vatican Museums – which are obviously inside the Vatican City…

.. which is a country located within the city of Rome that I always wanted to see.

The light was beautiful – so like everyone else I took lots of pictures in the “Courtyard of the Pinecone”…

.. and of the various statues, including the Laocoön…

.. as well as in the Gallery of Geographical Maps…

.. where once again there was just so much to see.

All of which reminded me of this work I did some years ago…

.. for St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, which was definitely an assignment I will never forget for many reasons – but that’s another story for another day

Anyway, back in Rome, our tour guide, Arianna, pointing out many very interesting things to us…

.. incuding one of the most famous paintings in the Raphael Rooms, which is the School of Athens…

.. before we entered the Sistine Chapel, were one is not allowed to take pictures, unfortunately.

Still, like I said before, the light was beautiful throughout – and inside St. Peter’s Basilica…

.. it was no different – as well as outside too…

.. where the Pontifical Swiss Guard wore their tricolor uniform, which was lovely to see.

And so there you have it, a little bit of divine light within the city of divine inspiration…

.. for millions throughout the world, by little old me

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

While enjoying a cold beer…

.. last week, I tried to figure out what I should do next.
Because if you know where you are and you know where you want to be, then obstacles are [just] those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal – as Henry Ford once said.

So while I waited to hear where I should be, as well as went I should be there – I when to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore first…

.. which is a is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome – before heading to the Spanish Steps…

.. to see lots of people looking at their phones…

.. from every angle…

.. before heading to the Trevi Fountain…

.. to basically see more of the same…

.. with one of the most famous fountains in the world…

.. in the background this time.

Then it was over to the Pantheon…

.. with its circular domed cella – which created absolutely beautiful light inside…

.. which I tried to capture…

.. as well as others too…

.. from every angle…

.. which was interesting to see…

.. and obviously, take pictures of too…

.. as everyone was looking at their phones…

.. but then again they do say…

.. when in Rome…

.. do as the Romans do

Black Friday.

“No room lights on” is one of the things that a lot of editors insist on these days, which actually became like ‘a rule’ 12 years ago. So when shooting a home which we are hoping a national or international magazine will run with, that is something that we would obviously keep in mind.

Which for the most part isn’t a problem, as many homes are quite bright to start with, as most of their walls and ceilings will often be painted white or a light colour.

But that wasn’t the case here as you can see…

.. in the sitting room of this townhouse which overlooks Ballyholme Bay – which did look good with all the room lights and lamps turned on – however, when turned off, well as you can see here…

.. even with two 3K’s blasting through the windows on this rather dull day, it was still looking pretty dark in there.

And so yes, this one required some serious lighting – and that look on Dianne’s face here…

.. kind of summed up how I was feeling too when trying to shoot this up-stairs sitting room area

Should definitely have hired an assistant for this, as I reckon I actually had to pump about 3 times as much light into this room than I normally would; however, I must say I was very pleased with the final result here…

.. as Peggy posed to perfection.

A house which as you can see here…

.. I had actually shot before – and talked about here: House of fun.

Couldn’t be more different – but yet in some ways it was the same, as it was all about the details…

.. as every area was like picture perfect.

Still, it was black…

.. and the weather didn’t help – however, I have to say that it did look good in the end…

.. and definitely a little bit different to the norm.

Which is something that we would always be on the lookout for, as would the editors too.

A challenge…

.. especially when I need to turn the room lights off…

.. but then I guess if it were easy, everyone’s images would look like this…

.. and then it really would be a Black Friday for me

Anyway, just want to say a big thanks to Peggy and Phil for inviting us into your amazing home and to Sean too, from Dianne & me on this Black Friday.

Tucked snugly away from the city streets.

The other main shot that they wanted, was this one…

.. of the terrace area in the centre of the hotel – which we knew the sun would pretty much naturally light from about 3pm onwards.

“Adjoining Dylan Bar, the Terrace is an outdoor oasis. Tucked snugly away from the city streets, it features modern mood lit panelled walls and bamboo planting. The décor is finished by a feature red brick wall, giving it a Japanese Garden meets New York terrace appeal. The cosmopolitan space features comfortable lounge seating, providing the perfect space to relax after a long day at work, or to meet friends on the weekend.
The terrace is also the perfect space for watching any sporting event. It features two outdoor TV’s, and the most highly anticipated events are shown.”

So with 3 images now done and time to spared, we quickly set-up the 4th shot in the bar, to show this seating area…

.. which was the area behind where we had taken this shot from the year before…

.. which I talked about shooting here: Five images.

So while Dianne did a bit of polishing…

.. as well as some heavy breathing…

.. Claudio worked on the lighting…

.. as well as his modelling career

Happy with that…

.. as this was the final image produced to show this area…

.. which does have a very different feel to it than this area…

.. which is on the other side of bar.

Anyway, the 5th and final image, as I said before, was of this area:

OUR THINKING: Terrace area.

“Day time – after 4pm.

We like this angle as it shows the different wall surfaces in this area, giving us lots of interest.
4 people plus 1 staff member.
Small cacti for tables or something small with a modern feel.
Drinks for the table in the foreground, light beer and nibbles.
Throws. More planting.
Could the people be dressed in casual, nothing too bright let’s keep the colours soft.”

And so we once again started to set it up for the camera…

.. check…

.. and then waited for a blink of sun…

.. before capturing the team in the positions we felt everyone should be…

.. just before they all arrived…

.. and we made some hand gestures…

.. while Claudio here…

.. once again, worked on his modelling career

Seriously though, between his lighting and the Big Guy’s lighting…

.. with everyone now in their place…

.. it wasn’t long before I was standing back…

.. saying: “That’s a rap” – which it was as you can now see…

.. on their website.

And so that was it, time to pack & rack…

.. for the second time that day – smiling from ear to ear…

.. as we were all delighted.

Which just leaves me to say a big Thanks to everyone involved here once again – especially to Elaine & Barry and not forgetting the Big Guy up above – from all of us @ ampimage.com

Creating images to tell a story… just for you

So a decision had to be made.

After shooting the Experience suites the day before – which I talked about here: Between the showers – it was out to shoot the front terrace…

.. the follow morning.

OUR THINKING: Front terrace.

“We like this angle as it shows your unique wicker seating and the contrasting facades.
We would also like the grey storage box removed so we would see a clean line of your wonderful large pots with the olive trees.

6 people, 1 staff would give this area a buzzing atmosphere.
2×2 male and female and 2 ladies.
The 2 ladies would be in the foreground, so how they look would be very important, think ladies in their 30s.

Smart casual dress as they have been shopping, props to suggest.

Food requirements: Coffee and biscuits for the ladies. Club sandwiches and drinks for the table in the background with staff serving.”

So with the camera in roughly the same spot…

.. on what was looking to be another dull day – Claudio when ahead and set-up the lights…

.. but as you can tell from the look on Dianne’s face here…

.. she wasn’t impressed when she looked at this image on the screen…

.. as those three 3K’s were doing very little, as you can see.

No, it wasn’t looking good…

.. as there was no sign of the sun – and I really couldn’t see that it was going to appear anytime soon

So a decision had to be made – as I obviously couldn’t light up the whole world, never mind the front of this building, to make it look like the sun was shining – and so as you can see I wasn’t too happy…

.. as we said our farewells…

.. and started to load the wagon…

.. because there was no pointing in me wasting everyone’s time here.

But then for some strange reason, the Land Rover refused to start…

.. which as strange as it may sound – could have been because of what could be seen on the bonnet – because yes, that was a blue sky…

.. which by the look of it, I still wasn’t too happy to see

Seriously though, I couldn’t believe it – so with the camera back in it’s place…

.. the next image on the screen confirmed…

.. the sun was now shining – and so just one light was required this time…

.. to add a touch of fill…

.. to where the main group of people were going to be.

In…

.. and out…

.. just like the sun…

.. but we where almost there…

.. as I explained how I saw them…

.. to myself by the looks of it

Still the ‘Big Guy up above’ must have been listening…

.. because a few minutes later, I was smiling from hear to hear – at this the final result…

.. which may never have happened had the Land Rover started

Which it did I’m pleased to say, after a little boast – and so that’s the story behind this image…

.. which you can now see on their website – with Claudio & Dianne way in the background too.

So a big thanks to everyone involved here – and especially to the ‘big guy up above’ – because I know I could not have pulled this off without your help

To make it look like we did nothing at all.

After shooting the Superior guest rooms – it was up to the top floors to shoot the Executive Suites at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel.

“The Executive Suites are spacious and contemporary, styled with our guests comfort in mind to ensure complete relaxation.”

Having already recced them back in April, it was this angle…

.. that we had agreed on.

OUR THINKING: “Room 521 – This room as a feminine feel to it – so let’s play on that by adding personal items to suggest that she has just returned from a days shopping.
Nice big flower arrangement as pictured below.
A person in this room would work – clothes dark navy or beige trousers and light long sleeved shirt or light sweater.

Smart casual.”

So with the camera in pretty much the same spot…

.. we when from that to this…

.. after Claudio and Ivan here…

.. lit it up, both inside…

.. and out…

.. while Dianne sat and read a magazine…

.. I made some suggestions…

.. and took a picture every now and then…

.. because as you can now see on their website…

.. we do actually work very hard, to make it look like we did nothing at all

The last one was this one…

.. which again was on the top floor.

OUR THINKING: Room 519 – Personal items to suggest a couple.
High tea on​ the coffee table.
1 member of staff either at the window or at the bed.
2nd red strip for over the end of the bed.
Flower arrangement as below or something with a modern feel.

So with the camera in place, we went from this…

.. to this…

.. after the lights had been put up…

.. and Claudio did a bit of modelling…

.. which I wasn’t quite sure about…

.. although showing off a bit of leg did help…

.. after taking a selfie…

.. as one naturally would – but we didn’t think any of those looked quite right…

.. so sorry Claudio – because as you can see…

.. they decided to run without you

And so that was it – time to pack…

.. and rack…

.. but not before the sun came out – so we made the most of that too – because like I said before: we do work very hard…

.. to make it look like we do nothing at all

From Claudio, Dianne, Ivan & me – creating images to tell a story, about our wonderful time during the shoot, at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel in Limerick.