Tutors Gallery: Diarmuid Moriarty, LIPF

Tutors Gallery

An occasional series of biographies and
images by tutors and staff

Biography

When Diarmuid bought his first SLR camera, a very basic manually operated Praktica MTL50, it was either a case of learning how to use it as a camera or use it as a hammer, the body was that heavy and tough. Fortunately it was the camera that aided him in being completely self educated in photography, though his carpentry skills suffered.

Image 1: Bunratty Ireland

Bunratty Castle in Limerick Ireland has a reconstructed castle that has been carefully restored from ruins. The park also has a complete village recreated to depict a typical rural Irish village set in the early 20th century. This is one of the shops in the village and in reality a shop looking just like this may still be found today in some parts of Ireland.

This image was nice in colour but didn't really display an "old fashioned" appearance. One of my favourite tricks is to age an image and it is quite simple to do digitally in just a few minutes. Color is simply removed and yellows and reds are increased. Add a bit of fade around the edges and some grain and there you have it.

Image 2: Diner

This photo was taken long before digital cameras hit the camera shops. Taken with a film camera the whole effect was created in camera. The idea was to depict a neon "Diner" sign of American 1950's fashion. However this image used no actual sign or neon lighting.

The reflective surface was a mirror with a carefully laid puddle of water. The neon effect was created by cutting out the sign in cardboard and firing coloured flash against a white card carefully placed behind the cardboard cutout. While one colour was used the other part of the cutout was covered using multiple exposure. The tricky bit is to line up the reflector, cutout and water to shine just perfectly. Without the benefit of digital technology a number of photos were taken and fingers were crossed with the hope one would come out just right.

...Most of Diarmuids education in photography came with help from local camera clubs. He first joined the now ceased Tralee Camera Club in the late 1980's. A few years later he was involved in founding the Kerry Photographic Society. Through the Society and the national amateur association; The Irish Photographic Federation, Diarmuid achieved the distinction of a Licenciateship of the Irish Photographic Federation (LIPF)...

Image 3: Busker and "band"

Killarney in Ireland is a popular place for street buskers and there are quite a few resident there due to the large tourist industry. This fellow has a complete band and he doesn't even have to share the takings. These are mechanical dolls that "play" musical instruments, with the aid of a backing track of course! This is just an example of the possiblities if you get into the habit of carrying your camera where ever you go, even locally.

Image 4: Light Mixer

This photo was taken as much for showing how colour is "constructed" as it is for asethetic purposes. The theory is light is made of three colours; Red, Green and Blue. Equal measures of these three colours will create pure white light.

Three exposures were taken using a different coloured filter over the flash for each. As the water poured one coloured flash picked up some water droplets while the other colours picked up different droplets. Where the coloured flashes hit stationary objects (the bottle and glass) the three created white light.

Professionally Diarmuid started photographing weddings on a part time basis. However in order to support this very expensive of hobbies in what he perceived to be an enjoyable fashion, education was the key. When Diarmuid was approached to teach night classes in photography, this opened a whole new world for him. Because of his all round knowledge through a lot of work in the camera club scene, Diarmuid was well able to organise and present full courses in photography, despite any formal education in photography.

Image 5: Squirrel

When we go on a trip the camera is aimed at all the famous sites and travelling companions. The funny thing is though usually after a trip my favourite images are rarely of the famous sites, more of the little things that catch my eye like this squirrel who has adapted itself quite well to the urban lifestyle of Orlando Florida. For me, even a photo of Mickey Mouse didn't compare with this.

Image 6: Bird Island, North Kerry

Panorama format photos work very well with landscape photography. However a proper panoramic camera is quite expensive and it's expense would not be justified for most of us. Digital photography has enabled us to easily create a panoramic image with just a bit of foresight. This image was taken with the format in mind. Three photos were taken carefully across the scene and simply stitched together using an image editing program. I also prefer to stitch the image myself rather than using automated stitching facilities many photographic programs offer. This scene was taken from a pier in North Kerry, Ireland.

Image 7: The Diceman

This is a candid image taken on the street during the Rose of Tralee festival some years ago that worked quite well. The black of "The Diceman's" hair and dress bleeds quite well into the black background. This isn't always recommended but in this case it works. The subject himself, Thom McGinty known as "The Diceman" was one of the more famous street entertainers in Ireland. A mime artist during the 1980's, he became famous on the streets of Dublin and most festivals around the country, in particular for his costumes like the Mona Lisa depicted in this image. In fact, even though he was just a street entertainer, his name was even added to the billing of many events. Unfortunately Thom mcGinty died from Aids, highlighting concern about the disease in Ireland.

Image 8: Starting Young

You should try everything once and with skiing, once was enough for me. After a few failed attempts of facing the slope I was quite content taking photos of others instead. The most awe inspiring site was watching these little kids, who must have been barely able to walk, fly down the slopes as if they were born to it. This group of children were part of a ski school but don't be fooled, their ability surpassed most adult skiiers on the slope. This image was taken in Andorra, a principality high in the Pyrennies mountains where skiing is the main industry of the country.

Image 9: Indian on Harley

Motorcycles have always been a passion of mine both to photograph and ride. This Harley Davidson, which I happened upon parked, was nicely decked out and the helmet was a nice finishing touch. However the bedroll on the back of the bike was red and caught too much attention. So I converted everything except the helmet to black and white. I think this brought up the shades of paint and chrome much better as well.

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