Celtic Connection

Is the title of our latest published work which can be seen in the November 2020 issue of 25 Beautiful Homes magazine…

.. on pages 74 to 77 – featuring Louise McGuane and her husband Dominic McCarthy’s renovated extended stone cottage called ‘The Safe House’ near the village of Cooraclare in County Clare.

“Natural light, eclectic street art and open space have turned an 18th-century cottage into an idyllic Irish hideaway for Louise McGuane and her husband Dominic McCarthy.”

Which I talked about us shooting here: The Safe House.

So congratulations once again to Dominic and Louise here…

.. for making it into this beautiful national magazine which has more inspirational homes than any other – from Marie, Mandi and me

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Farm cottage renovation.

Is the title of our latest published work in the March 2016 issue of Real Homes magazine…

.. on pages 70 to 77 – which features Dominic and Louise McGuane’s renovated farmhouse called ‘The Safe House’ near the village of Cooraclare in County Clare.

“Louise McGuane used natural light, modern design and open space to transform her 18th-century stone cottage into a contemporary masterpiece.”

Which I talked about shooting here: The Safe House – at the end of July of last year.

So just want to say a big Congratulations to both Dominic and Louise here…

.. for making it into this top selling national magazine – because this was indeed an amazing renovation, whereby you differently did manage “to create something unassuming from the outside but utterly modern from the moment you step inside” – from Marie, Mandi & me @ ampimage.com

The Safe House.

From the road, it may not look like it’s much more than a few old barns on the top of the hill – however, if you go around to the back, then you will start to realize​ it’s a lot more than that – as you can see here…

.. which is the renovated farmhouse of Dominic & Louise, which they call ‘The Safe House’ near the village of Cooraclare in County Clare.

And inside – with the help of Swiss Architect, Jean Claude Girard – well as you can see here…

.. it wasn’t quite what one would expect to see neither in this part of the world.

Anyway, after Marie had done her thing and I had done mine – we were ready for our first main shot of the day, which was of Louise and her little Jack Russell dog…

.. in the living room – before turning around towards the dining and kitchen area…

.. which really did look pretty amazing…

.. as this huge window…

.. the largest I believe in any home in Ireland – and that huge amount of white, did make it feel very spacious – as well as make even this large dining table look quite small…

.. and then there was the stairs…

.. and kitchen…

.. which believe it or not, required me having to use every light I had with me, as I wanted to draw your eye through the image.
Because even the bathroom didn’t look like what one would expect to see inside a few old barns on the top of a hill…

.. especially over on the west coast of Ireland.

Anyway, impressive to say the least – as was the rest of the place – but to see that you will have to wait for it to appear in a magazine, as this is what I’d also call a Safe House for us to shoot

So big thanks to both Dominic & Louise for inviting us into their Safe House – and we will keep you posted once we know more.

From Marie & me @ ampimage.com having fun in County Clare.

A lighting challenge.

After a relative easy week shooting in the marquee at the five-star Doonbeg golf resort (which I read this week in the Irish Times, has now been bought over by US property mogul Donald Trump), where it was basically all lit – this week wasn’t so easy.

So we were back down in County Clare again, this time to shoot a number of areas inside Dromoland Castle, with the Land Rover fully loaded…

.. as I knew this was going to be a lighting challenge for sure.

Anyway, first up was to create a meeting style image in the newly decorated Terrace Room – so after Marie had finished setting it up…

.. Carl blocked the sunlight, which I wasn’t actually expecting…

.. and we had our first image in the bag…

.. before heading to the Lounge area, where it was clear from the start that this is where we’d have to work for our money…

.. but thanks to everyone and especially to Carl here…

.. who worked hard on the lighting – and then posed as the waiter while Marie lit the fire…

.. it only took us 2 hours to create this image…

.. which I was very, very pleased with – as this one had really worried me.

Then it was back into the Terrace Room again…

.. this time to shoot it as it would be setup for a banquet during the day…

.. and /or at night…

.. so basically we shot it both ways – to be sure, to be sure, as they word say here in Ireland

The following morning it was into the Cocktail bar…

.. which was formerly the Castle library – so while Carl set up the lights outside…

.. we moved the furniture so as to see the fireplace…

.. before adding the finishing touches to create this image…

.. which again I was personally very pleased with – as this one had worried me too, mainly due to how I would light it.

After that, it was over to The Inn at Dromoland to shoot the Presidential Suite, which required a bit of work as they wanted just one image to capture it all – so while Marie did her thing…

.. Carl & I did our thing – and for the fun of it, being close to Valentines day and all that, I decided to add a scene from the film Gone with the Wind – staring Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara…

.. and Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes – who I was named after it seems

So that was it – after what I can only describe as a major lighting challenge – it was time to load-up the Land Rover once again…

.. and head home in the rain – very tired but very pleased with the end results.

Anyway, just like to say big thanks to everyone involved – especially to Mark & Fiona from Dromoland Castle for making us feel so welcome.
From Marie, Carl & me @ ampimage.com in County Clare.

Adventures in Wonderland

Christian Dior were at the Lodge at Doonbeg in County Clare this week, so we were asked to come along and cover the event – which was being held in their marquee…

.. and I have got to say it looked amazing…

.. for such a business event.

Anyway, the following day they set-up for the ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ party…

.. so from my point of view it was simply a case of setting up the camera and waiting to see what would un-fold…

.. then making some last minute changes to the lighting, to capture the stunning set-up…

.. with and without their staff in it…

.. minutes before everyone began to arrive…

.. to enjoy a wonder meal…

.. and a night to remember…

.. which I did my best to capture…

.. going around the various tables to record the laugher…

.. the hugs…

.. the dancing…

.. and the smiles…

.. before the Mad Hatters Tea Party…

.. which I think almost everyone enjoyed…

..as they took it in turn to climb in..

.. to the Hatter’s tea cup..

.. quickly posing for the camera…

.. before climb out again…

.. one after the other…

.. as this was the ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ party…

.. thanks mainly to the guys from the Lodge at Doonbeg – who then worked throughout the night to have it all set-up for the next morning…

.. for the final business meeting…

.. which once again looked amazing.

So there you have it, the marquee being used in a very different way by Christian Dior – to how we shot it before…

.. for the Lodge at Doonbeg back in 2009 – and their Adventures in Wonderland party.

From Marie & me @ ampimage this week in Doonbeg.

Real Estate

Back at Doonbeg last week…

.. to shoot a number of cottages and suites that are currently for sale – so basically we were being asked to do what some would call ‘Real Estate photography’, which really is the same as ‘Advertising photography’ as far as I’m concerned, as these images will, in fact, be used to advertise & market that these properties are for sale.

“Real estate at Doonbeg Lodge combines luxury accommodations and five-star amenities for good times with your family and friends. Each of the cottages and suites has been constructed to the highest specifications, with French limestone floors, marble bathrooms, expansive bedrooms, spacious living areas and gourmet kitchens – as well as spectacular panoramic views across the fairways and surrounding coastal landscape”.

Anyway, started as usual by taking a quick picture of the first of the cottages to get the ball rolling…

.. and then as usual turned off the lights to see how the natural light looked…

.. and so while Carl then started to work on the lighting…

.. Marie, as usual, added the finishing touches to what was in front of the camera – and so before too long, we had our first image of this room…

.. in the bag.

A quick bedroom shot and then it was over to the next cottage, where once again I started by taking a quick shot…

.. while Carl worked this time on blocking the light…

.. as well as adding some too – and after Marie had done her thing, it wasn’t long before we had the living room area in this second cottage done…

.. which when compared to this bedroom in that same cottage…

.. was a doddle – as I reckon it took us twice as long to create the final image of this room, as seen here…

.. due mainly to me struggling to control the light.

Anyway, lots of beautiful detail area throughout the place, so we also produce a series of images like this…

.. as well as the main overall room images too.

Lots of pushing and shoving at times, so it was great to have Carl with us…

.. to not only help with that but to also help with the lighting of course – as I often needed him to hang-out the windows with the 3k, to give me some directional light like so in this living room area…

.. in this suite which was on the top floor.

“Imagine a coastal haven, hidden on a sheltered corner of the wild Atlantic Ocean – luxurious yet unpretentious – where world-class golf meets an intimate spa – where every taste is catered to and every request considered.
Imagine a rugged landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see, across rolling waves and sand dunes and thousands of years of stories, buried within them.
Imagine a grand, Irish country house, where the staff welcomes you home”.

And so it was very much a team effort this one…

.. but what an amazing place…

.. as I just loved these rooms.

Anyway, they say a picture is worth more than 1000 words…

.. so we changed a few words here…

.. as we weren’t there to just take some pictures…

.. we were there because they wanted us to create some images instead…

.. to help them complete the story they wanted to tell – or should I say sell in this case – as they are wanted to be able to use these images to advertise & market these properties are for sale, in various media for the next few years throughout the World.

So that’s Real Estate photography for you – done the ampimage way – by Marie, Carl & me at this coastal haven known as the Lodge at Doonbeg.

Capturing the atmosphere.

There are some stunning Castle hotels in Ireland and we have been delighted to shoot several of them over the past few years.

Last week brought us back down to Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Club – a luxurious, elegant 5 star hotel in County Clare – where they needed some new images produced for their marketing & advertising material – to show not only the new look of their adjoining Country Club bar…

.. and restaurant…

.. but also their newly decorated bedroom suites as well.

Anyway, all went according to plan at first; however, the little snug/library area in the clubhouse proved a waiting game for us – as we felt it was important to capture a cozy relaxed ambiance…

..but of all times, the weather was sunny. And so we just had to sit it out, while Carl poked the fire a few times, as he acted the part of the would-be model…

.. until the sky darkened.

But hopefully, it was well worth the wait…

.. as who wouldn’t want to relax in front of that roaring fire – especially at this time of year, here in Ireland!

The following day – as well as shooting many of their luxury bedroom suites…

.. which as you can see here…

.. are simply stunning – we also shot their new Presidential suite…

.. which had a suitably luxurious new bathroom fitted.

So once again, it was all about team work…

.. and getting the right sort of ambience – lighting, candles, roses, champagne, etc, etc – all of which played their role, to achieve that all important result, where potential guests look at the final image…

.. and say: “I want to be there“

So a big ‘Thank you’ to Mark, the Manager, and all his highly professional team for looking after us so well – it truly was a wonderful shoot – and we hope we managed to capture not only the decor but also the atmosphere, for all the world to see what an amazing place Dromoland Castle is famous for.

From Marie, Carl & me @ ampimage.com

Shooting the fireplace at Doonbeg.

More fun with iMovie.
This time it’s the series of images taken which lead up to the final shot..

… of the lobby fireplace picture at Doonbeg Golf & Spa Resort in Co Clare.

So you can see what all was done… which is kind of fun.

Southward bound.

Also shooting at South Court Hotel this week – which was the last of the 6 Lynch Hotels on this assignment.

Just 3 images to create here – the bar, which started out looking like this…

.. and end up looking like this…

.. with me, as usual, propping it up, while chatting-up a beautiful woman 🙂

The lobby area was next, which started out looking like this…

.. and end up looking like this…

.. and then one of the bedroom suites, which after some re-arranging of the furniture to suit the camera…

.. end up looking like this…

.. all of which took a longer to shoot than I thought.

Still, in and out in a day – before finally heading home for a well-deserved break.

Cheers,
Ashley
www.ampimage.com