In an effort to promote inter-racial harmony, and world peace, – essential to our well being and prosperity after Brexit, our studio at Dundonald is open to everyone, no matter what part of the globe they hail from, or how unusual their appearance. So, it was with pleasure that we welcomed these two oriental friends this afternoon!
Yes, they are Broker and Fluffy, the Chinese Crested Dogs. (well – almost!) And they were greeat to work with and natural posers!
What a delight it is to welcome little babies (and their parents of course) to our Dundonald Studio to make memories that will endure. Especially when they are there for a ‘Baby’s First Year’ photo-package. It’s wonderful to see the babies throughout their first year of life, and watch them growing.
Today Baby Alice came with mummy for her 4 month + session, and what a lovely girl she was…
On a visit to North Belfast I drove past the old Courthouse on the Crumlin Road, and decided that on my return journey, I stop and make some photographs. The courthouse was, like many old buildings in Belfast, designed by the architect Charles Lanyon and built in 1850. It closed in 1998 when the new court buildings at Laganside were opened, and it has remainded derelict since. Continue reading Crumlin Road Courthouse
At our professional studio at Dundonald, we have a variety of posing aids and props to suit all ages, including Sydney – the Studio Snake. Snakes are well known for mesmerising their victims, until they are under their influence. So when baby George came in for his second ‘Baby’s First Year’ portrait appontment, he fell under Sydney’s charm and soon was totally spellbound! Here they are together…
I’m getting desperate. Now I really can say I’d photograph anything! Literally. I know this to be true because I stood in the rain at Portstewart, just to see if I could get a photograph of Hugo Duncan* of BBC Radio Ulster fame as he did a live broadcast. Don’t ask me why. I don’t even like C&W music.
Yee-haaaa – probably better just to pack up your melodion, and get off home. Continue reading Hugo Duncan in Portstewart
The famous ‘Frosses Trees’ (original spelling ‘Frocess’) on the road between Ballymena and Ballymoney. The road runs through boggy ground,
and the Pine trees were planted in 1840 on the instructions of Sir Charles Lanyon (architect and civil engineer) so that their roots would join under the road to provide support… Continue reading The Frocess
Love it or hate it, the Twelth of July celebrations are a huge part of the culture in Northern Ireland, and by and large they are synonymous with marching bands. Flute Bands in particular!
Over the next couple of weeks there’s plenty of opportunities for some really good photography outings.
Most obvious of course is the annual ‘OrangeFest’ (as they now call it) on July 12th. Whether you like it or loathe it, there’ll be parades and celebrations right across the province. Where there’s people there’s photographs just waiting to be made. Don’t do the obvious. It’s easy to photograph bands. Instead find a street or a town centre and make it your studio for the day. Watch the street life. Look for interesting happenstances, quirky moments. What’s happening around you on the streets that’s not in the parade? Continue reading What’s to see? w/c 8th July 2018
Friday, 6th July 2018 – and a business trip to Coleraine became a good excuse for a walk around the town of Bushmills. Although I can’t quite put my finger in it, here’s something I really like about Bushmills.
Bushmills is, of course, famous for its Whisky, but the town has a lot of history forby. Continue reading Bushmills, Co.Antrim
Ballygowan Presbyterian Church Hall.
Originally known as ‘The Olivet Home’ it was built to be an orphanage in 1886 by Alexander Orr Reid as a memorial to his only son who was killed in a shooting accident. It was purchased by Ballygowan Presbyterian Church in 1918 and used as a school and church hall. The inscription on the building is ‘The Time is Short’ – thought to be a reference to the death of one of the construction workers, who fell to his death from the roof. A white stone on the top of the tower marks the event.
