Gold Award – SWPP Contemporary Portraiture Competition November 2011

Geoff McGrath SWPP Contemporary Portrait Gold Award Winner

Geoff McGrath SWPP Contemporary Portrait Gold Award Winner

Just thought I’d share this image which recently was awarded a Gold in the December SWPP Competition for Contemporary Portraiture! The shot was taken on 25th May 2011.  Matt and I had headed up to the North West 200 for the day and when we got there… well.. for starters the weather was awful and then there were a lot of delays in the racing until it was finally cancelled.  We headed back home and on our way through Belfast, we thought we’d stop and take a few photos.. that way the day wouldn’t be a total waste! Passing over the M3 we spotted a car park that looked like it had avoided the downpours.  So we spent some time there exploring different lighting and angles and the end result you can see is very dramatic and atmospheric to say the least!

If we hadn’t, then the award would never have happened!  I’ve enclosed another shot from the same session, just for kicks!

 

I decided to enter a few other catagories and awas really pleased to be awarded Bronze Awards for each of these images!!

 

This shot was taken of Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Review at the Fuel 11 Festival in Ballymena, N.Ireland.  This was the first time I’d heard of Mike and all I could say was WOW!  I couldn’t believe I was in the pit front stage at a gig with so much raw energy!  Check Mike out on YouTube.  His backing singers have worked with Bob Dyland and the King himself, Elvis Presley.  Recently Mike performed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Tribute to Aretha Franklin!!

Jime Eastwood, a man with whom the Force IS strong!

I decided to enter this shot of Jim Eastwood for fun really.  We’d met Jim at an event in Newtownards, where he spoke from his experiences on the Apprentice, what Sir Alan Sugar is REALLY like and about THAT mind control trick he did in the Board Room!  Jim’s a really down to earth man, who definately has kissed the Blarney Stone for sure!  There were no Jedi mind tricks though, well, at least I don’t think so!

I added a tilt to the shot, to make it a little more interesting.  I DO love my tilts!

The Doolittle Effect!

This had to be one of the funest (yes the most fun!) shots I’ve taken in a long time!  I had been inspired by some other images I’d seen by another photographer and so couldn’t resist this.  I approached the sheep, rather, err sheepishly (sorry!).  It took me a coupe of minutes to approach them, and since there was noone around, I started to talk to them, hoping they’d stay curious enough to hang around!  It worked! So here I was sitting at a gate on the side of the road into Ballycastle talking to sheep!  I got a few strange looks from motorists that past by.  Just call me Doolittle!

One of my favourite all time images, this was taken as storm clouds rolled in over Downhill Beach, near Castlerock, N.Ireland.

I took this image back in 2003, when I was just starting to take photography seriously.  Its a bit dated now, but its still a great image and worth a Bronze!

I’ll keep you posted on any further awards!  Thanks for taking time to take a look!

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See you soon!

McGrath Photography – A GREAT Wedding Shoot with John Denton and Fredau Hoekstra

Well it was a short drive for me from Donaghadee into Bangor, Co.Down for our SWPP Societies Contemporary Bridal Shoot with

John Denton and Fredau Hoekstra.  John & Fredau were over on a whistle-stop tour of Ireland and Bangor was their last call!  John’s a great professional, with a real passion for his craft and he was in storming form (must have been the windy inclement weather?) today as he gave a masterclass in posing, creating passion and drama in our shots.

The beautiful Fredau Hoekstra

It was a real honour to work with him and pick up some of his good habits!  Fredau was great.  Very comfortable in herself and had a great understanding of the whole process of making images that take your breath away.  She had some great insights into posing and photography from the subject’s point of view… something we photographers tend to forget!

Today was a great lesson in making the most of the situation you find yourself in and realising that it IS possible to get GREAT shots every single time!  Its hard to believe that these first shots were taken in a hallway!!

What bride wouldn’t want to look as captivating and stunning as this on her wedding day!?  Producing great photos is all about developing a great rapport with the wonderful people who choose to allow you to capture their souls!  I love these simple, no flash, natural light images.  Where we have a quiet moment as the bride takes time to think about the amazing rollercoaster ride she has been on for months and the fact that today… she passes from that and is starting on the most amazing adventure of her life with her soulmate…. Marriage is a beautiful thing!

Hope you enjoy the images!!

Another Beautiful Wedding Album

Just putting the finishing touches on another beautiful Italian Leather wedding album… Its such a great feeling to be involved in such a special day

Children’s Portraits – Donaghadee, County Down

Hi once again and welcome our blog!

We recently had a fantasitic session with Caden & Zach McKee and we wanted to show you some of the beautiful images that came out of that session!

Mum and Dad have absolutely LOVED the images and we hope you will too!

Gareth & Michelle are our neighbours so it was a short journey to their  home for the photosession.  We’d talked beforehand and when photographing children, especially babies, its a really good idea to schedule your session for around an hour after their most recent feed. That way, all the little problem will be out of the way and baby will be more settled and content.  You’re going for a lovely angelic look   so you want the baby at his or her most relaxed.  So, when I arrived for the session, Zach was happy and content   We got to work right away and took some close up and intimate photographs.

When I talked to Michell about how I felt we should photography Zach & Caden, we’d decided to take some photographs of Zach first, while he was settled and then to take some time with Caden but one thing I’ve learned a long time ago is that you have to go-with-the-flow.  The most important thing when photographing children is to develop a rappour and bond with them as quickly as possible and the one thing that can ruin that is trying to control their energy too much.  Its best to just allow the session to unroll itself in a natural way.

Caden was in sparkling form!  I think he’d been practising his posing and responses!  His favourite word was “CHEEEEEESE!!!”      He has such a naturally lovely nature, I mean how do you tell a child who REALLY wants you to take his photo and posses for you like this, “You have to wait…”  You don’t!  So, I took some photos of him and then we brought Zach back in for a few more photographs.  I think you’ll agree that we got some great results!

Its best not to expect a baby to perform on queue for you …  at this age, Zach isn’t really smiling much yet, so we just work with him and do our best to be ready when it comes

As you can see Caden was doing his best to get little brother to strike a pose!

“Look Zach… THIS is how you do it!!”

SO,  back comes Zach for another go!

Caden went out to the kitchen to see Granny and so we took advantage of the alone time to concentrate on Zack.  These are just some beautiful natural shots taken of Zach.  I think that Black & White images are so true and natural.  There is an intiamcy in them that sometimes you can’t just quite get with colour.

All of these photographs were taken in Gareth & Michelle’s living room.  We moved next to a lovely net curtain which was just perfect gave us a lovely haloed effect.

Now Zach is starting to realise that he’s the star of the show and decides to look right at the camera for us…

To me personally this is possibly one of the best photographs that I took during this photoshoot.  I just LOVE the intimacy of this shot.  Mum and her beautiful little boy.  I can just feel the close bond between them.  Its just Michelle and her baby boy… no-one else… Just a lovely moment and I was so privledged to capture it so beautifully.

And so, once again, enter our star performer!  Caden.  I’m using my trade-mark black Pellier Noir background.  Its based on the 9×7 lastolite background and unfolds in literally seconds.  When I came over to Michelle & Gareth’s home, I brought my camera bag, the background and 1 light.  A Bowen 400, which was perfect for what I wanted to accomplish.

With such a basic setup, it took me exactly 2 mins to have my background and light set up and ready to go!  Thats the great thing about this setup.. its quick and you aren’t slowing down things.  So, let’s take a look then at some of the results!

 

 

 

 

What a little poser eh!?  Caden has such a natural way in front of the camera he was just a joy to photograph.  Very very quick to pick up on anything I would ask him to do, he knew just where to look.  I mean… take a look at this NEXT shot and you will see EXACTLY what I mean!

I just asked him to look up towards the light and to tilt his head to the side and he got it right FIRST TIME!  What’s the secret to this you might ask me….

To have a really good photo-session you need two things… great kids and a relaxed, unrushed attitude towards them.  You have to be able to get down on your knees and play with their toys too and show an interest in their world.  If you can’t do this, don’t expect them to enter YOUR world!  So, I had Caden show me how his pump worked 

Another great little pose from Caden.

 

To be honest, at this stage there is just nothing else I can say.  Caden was such a natural.  Most of this is down to his interest in being photographed and his willing to smile and pose without too much direction.  I learned that too… don’t try TOO hard to get children to sit a certain way.  They’ll find their own level.. just like water   Just be ready to capture it when it all happens!

 

And this is one of the moments that he said “CHEEESEEEE!”

What a cute little boy!

Thanks so much Zach & Caden for such a delightful experience!  I don’t think I’ll ever photograph two children who were such a joy to spend time with!

Family Portraits at Mount Stewart Garden Fair May 2010

Hi everyone!

Last weekend saw us at the Mount Stewart Garden Fair.  Talk about beautiful weather?!  The venue is one of the most beautiful in the country, with gorgeous gardens, a lake and then there’s the building itself!  Here’s a few photos I took while on a quick break from all the activities!  For those of you who enjoy my landscape style, I hope to return soon to do a range of landscape shots, not only of Mount Stewart, but also from all around the Ards Peninsula.

A side-view of the House

We arrived around 8am and got our background etc set up.  The crowds were out in their thousands, literally!  I’ll attach a view photographs from the activities outside, and then some from our photo sessions!

Some of the children tried taking on the Big Boys with their Sumo Outfits on! Watch you don't fall down! There's no way you can get back up again!

There were loads of exhibitors at the Fair, and one of the most eye-catching was this stand by Chic-Hen Houses.  Of course, these were only demonstation models, the real thing is much bigger!

Chic-Hen Houses, one of the many exhibitors at the recent Mount Stewart Garden & Craft Fair

Our location turned out not to be the best, but at times there’s nothing you can do but do your best and just give it a try!  So, we persevered on, and came up with some lovely results!  Let us know what you think!

Two lovely young ladies were our first visitors! BFF's for sure!!

Daddy and his little girl.  These are the kind of photographs that last a lifetime, because there’s a beautiful memory attached to it.  One day, in the not-too-distant future, a little girl will be walked down the aisle by her Daddy, and this will be one of the cherished moments that will bring a tear to their eyes….

I just LOVE taking photographs and I’m sure you can see why!

There’s a bit of a story behind this shot!  A certain little girl wasn’t really wanting to get her phot taken, but after a quick walk and a fantastic big purple balloon later, the family returned and that’s when we were able to take this gorgeous photograph!