The Whiskey Room.

The picture the Killarney Park Hotel sent us a few weeks ago to let us see the area they wanted us to shoot…

.. and the first picture I took last week, didn’t really look that different…

.. so that was basically our starting point…

.. as John, who is the hotel’s Marketing Executive, looked on…

.. and this week you can actually see the final image that we created…

.. on the hotel’s homepage

So below are some of the pictures to let you see what all happened in-between – both inside…

.. and outside…

.. as tables got moved…

.. test shots were taken…

.. and Claudio had to be reminded it was only 10 O’Clock in the morning…

Seriously though, we wanted this image to clearly let the viewer know that this was the “Whiskey Room” – so with that in mind, the placement of some of the whiskeys one could sample; as well as the placement of the people within the room…

.. was all important in my opinion.

Well, the look on my face here says I wasn’t convinced we had still got it right…

.. as the first of our models arrived…

.. but with everyone’s help; as well as the shirt of Dianne’s back…

.. final instructions were given…

.. and I’m very pleased to say that this was the end result…

.. to show the Whiskey Room…

.. in the Garden Bar…

.. at the Killarney Park Hotel in the beautiful Irish County of Kerry

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Family Planning

Is the title of our latest published work which is on the cover and in the June 2018 issue of Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine…

.. on pages 64 to 75 – featuring Siobhan and Barrie McQuillan’s semi detached house in Belfast.

”Siobhan and Barrie took an existing design in Belfast and made it their own to create a contemporary home with open-plan, multi-purpose family spaces.”

So once again, congratulations to Siobhan here…

.. for making it into this beautifully printed interiors and lifestyle magazine; as well as making it onto the cover too – from Marie, Mandi, Claudio and me

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

Unstoppable Force

Is the title of our latest published work which is on the cover plus in the May 2018 issue of Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine…

.. on pages 56 to 69 – featuring Peggy and Phil Bell’s townhouse which overlooks Ballyholme Bay in the County Down town of Bangor.

”When Peggy saw an elegant terraced house overlooking the sea, she knew it had to be hers. So with the right mindset, she went about making it happen.”

Which I talked about shooting here: Black Friday.

So congratulations to Phil and the unstoppable force Peggy here…

.. for making it into this beautifully printed interiors and lifestyle magazine; as well as making it onto the cover too – from Sean, Dianne & me

An experience like no other.

Luxury accommodations, breathtaking views, and unparalleled service await you…

.. at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg.

Set against a spectacular backdrop of rugged landscape and shimmering sea waves, Trump Doonbeg offers a haven to golf enthusiasts, city-escapees, families…

.. and surfers alike.

We treat you to old-world luxury and refinement in 5-star hotel suites…

.. each uniquely crafted to ensure that your every expectation is exceeded.

In addition to world class golf, break away and experience our spa, award winning dining options…

.. and other outdoor activities at our luxury golf resort.

An experience like no other…

.. so make it a great Easter from Bunny…

.. and all of us too

Coastal Cool.

Is the title of our latest published work on the Cover plus in the April 2018 issue of Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine…

.. on pages 56 to 69 – which features Marie and Alan’s renovated 1960’s house near Holywood in County Down.

“Marie transformed a dated mid-century home in Holywood using lots of weatherboarding, tongue & groove panelling and a crisp palette of blues and whites.”

Which I talked about shooting here: Natural direction of light and here: Left or Right, a few years ago.

So congratulations once again to Ms Coastal Cool here…

.. for making it into Ireland’s largest selling monthly interiors and lifestyle magazine, as well as making it onto the cover too

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

Neat Fit.

In Homes & Gardens magazine…

.. on page 154, this otherwise wasted space beneath the stair return…

.. has been put to good use as a display area for shoes in this apartment – which we talked about shooting here: A wee touch of France in Ireland.

So “Way to go” Charlotte…

.. for that very neat fit – in Britain’s oldest decorating magazine that showcases classic design that stands the test of time – from Marie & me

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