Ireland Journal
Irish Friends - A Wrapup
April/10/2008
Today I heard
from several of "The Irish Six," who are back at work
in Ireland. Donal sent me these two photos of the
group on a shopping outing and of them just generally
enjoying Chicago on their last night in
America:
These pictures will always remind me of the magical time we shared together. I know we have forged lasting friendships, and I will follow their personal and professional exploits with the utmost interest. With a little bit of luck and planning, I'll get to see each of them again when Jim and I visit Ireland in the fall. I can't wait!
These pictures will always remind me of the magical time we shared together. I know we have forged lasting friendships, and I will follow their personal and professional exploits with the utmost interest. With a little bit of luck and planning, I'll get to see each of them again when Jim and I visit Ireland in the fall. I can't wait!
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Irish Friends - Day 7
April/09/2008
On the last
day of their "downstate" visit to Illinois, the crew
from Ireland packed up and traveled to the Chicago
suburb of Mokena, where we were graciously received
by Bert and Cindy Behnke at their spectacular
residential studio. I feel like I've know one Behnke
or another for all of my photographic life. One of
the very first professional programs I attended was
presented by Bert's Mom, Connie, who is known
throughout the industry for her business acumen. I
learned so much from her that day, and I am
enormously proud to be associated with her as a
recipient of the Charles H. "Bud" Haynes Award for
promoting business awareness in the professional
industry. So it was a special treat when Connie
arrived to visit with us, and it was great to see her
husband, Dom, as well. It was my extreme pleasure to
serve on the PPA Board of Directors with Bert, who
distinguished himself as PPA president in so many
ways, most especially as the force behind the
creation of PPA Charities, which today Bert serves as
Development Director. I first met Cindy shortly
before her marriage to Bert, and it's been a delight
to serve with her on print judging panels, including
last year's International Competition in Florida.
I've always wanted to visit the Behnke's studio, so
this was a very special opportunity.
Behnke Photographers was founded in 1956 in Cicero, Illinois by Bert's parent's Al and Connie, and Bert purchased the studio from them in 1985, when they moved to Clearwater, Florida, and opened another studio. Bert and Cindy relocated the business to a beautiful two-acre wooded site in Mokena six years ago, creating a home with a dedicated studio wing, making it one of the most accommodating residential studios I've ever seen, not to mention the most beautifully decorated. We all marveled at Bert's contracting skills and Cindy's taste in creating a such a stylish, yet welcoming, environment that highlights photography as decorative art.
I was enchanted by the antique camera, which welcomes you at the studio entrance.
As you walk into the studio you are treated to this beautiful focal point, which showcases the decorative power of family portraiture.
Throughout the studio portraiture continues to take center stage among other beautiful home furnishings.
Here Bert, who was on a break from jury duty, answers questions for the Irish visitors, after which we enjoyed a delightful luncheon prepared by Cindy and Connie.
Bert and Cindy, at left, join the visitors, and Mom Connie, on the exquisite staircase of the home's elegant foyer.
Eventually we found our way to the airport, where I bid a reluctant goodbye to my Irish friends, who headed into Chicago for a final night's fling. Here I am in a last-minute photo with Donal. The trip back to Pennsylvania was uneventful, but it was a bit of a letdown to leave such delightful friends behind. Tomorrow it will be back to the real world.
Behnke Photographers was founded in 1956 in Cicero, Illinois by Bert's parent's Al and Connie, and Bert purchased the studio from them in 1985, when they moved to Clearwater, Florida, and opened another studio. Bert and Cindy relocated the business to a beautiful two-acre wooded site in Mokena six years ago, creating a home with a dedicated studio wing, making it one of the most accommodating residential studios I've ever seen, not to mention the most beautifully decorated. We all marveled at Bert's contracting skills and Cindy's taste in creating a such a stylish, yet welcoming, environment that highlights photography as decorative art.
I was enchanted by the antique camera, which welcomes you at the studio entrance.
As you walk into the studio you are treated to this beautiful focal point, which showcases the decorative power of family portraiture.
Throughout the studio portraiture continues to take center stage among other beautiful home furnishings.
Here Bert, who was on a break from jury duty, answers questions for the Irish visitors, after which we enjoyed a delightful luncheon prepared by Cindy and Connie.
Bert and Cindy, at left, join the visitors, and Mom Connie, on the exquisite staircase of the home's elegant foyer.
Eventually we found our way to the airport, where I bid a reluctant goodbye to my Irish friends, who headed into Chicago for a final night's fling. Here I am in a last-minute photo with Donal. The trip back to Pennsylvania was uneventful, but it was a bit of a letdown to leave such delightful friends behind. Tomorrow it will be back to the real world.
Irish Friends - Day 6
April/09/2008
After a final
morning of working on marketing plans, Jed treated
all of us to a Photoshop class that, unlike most you
attend, had to do with profitability. Jed's message
is simple: Time is Money! if you save time on routine
Photoshop matters, your business will be less
confusing, less chaotic, and more profitable. AMEN.
Here he is explaining how essential a
Wacom tablet and stylus are
to saving time and improving artistry. I learned
this from my dear friend Helen Yancy, who routinely
informs her Photoshop/Painter classes that "You
can't retouch with a rock," and "You can't paint
with a rock," referring of course to the mouse
that way too many photographers want to use.
I was awed by Jed's instructional style, as well as the incredible actions and templates he has created. I was quick to purchase the "V Gallery eVolution" package, which includes these items that will save me countless hours. You can learn about everything contained in this helpful resource by clicking here.
At the end of the day we packed up our belongings and and captured a few fun images at Haven.
Tomorrow my "Illinois Odyssey" will be over when I deliver "The Irish 6" back to Chicago and head for home. We'll have one more stop on the way: Behnke Photography in Mokena, a suburb of Chicago. I'm certain that we will never forget the wondeful days we spent learning together at Haven, and we can't thank Jed and Vicki Taufer enough for this opportunity!
I was awed by Jed's instructional style, as well as the incredible actions and templates he has created. I was quick to purchase the "V Gallery eVolution" package, which includes these items that will save me countless hours. You can learn about everything contained in this helpful resource by clicking here.
At the end of the day we packed up our belongings and and captured a few fun images at Haven.
Tomorrow my "Illinois Odyssey" will be over when I deliver "The Irish 6" back to Chicago and head for home. We'll have one more stop on the way: Behnke Photography in Mokena, a suburb of Chicago. I'm certain that we will never forget the wondeful days we spent learning together at Haven, and we can't thank Jed and Vicki Taufer enough for this opportunity!
Irish Friends - Day 5
April/06/2008
After a
morning of marketing, we took a lunch break with Jed,
who is holding down the fort and preparing for an
in-studio class while Vicki is on a visit to
Guatemala.
Getting back to class, everyone checked out BellaGrafica marketing products.
Ever the gracious host, Jed prepares prepares dinner at the Taufer homestead . . .
. . . where we discovered a virtual Fun Zone of electronic toys! So after a delicious dinner, the gang settled down for a room-rocking viewing of the high-decibel movie Transformers.
Here Jed spends some face time with Vicki who iChatted with him from Guatemala and waved to the rest of the group, which included Jed's brother, Kip, and other friends who came by for dinner and to watch the Final Four basketball semi-finals. So the Irish delegation got a great look at what goes on on a Saturday night in middle America . . .
. . . including a truly unforgetable Irish/American romping, stomping high-tech rock-and-roll karaoke session. That's Kip Taufer on drums.
By the end of the evening everyone was suffering from laughing pains. Trust me, you had to be there.
Getting back to class, everyone checked out BellaGrafica marketing products.
Ever the gracious host, Jed prepares prepares dinner at the Taufer homestead . . .
. . . where we discovered a virtual Fun Zone of electronic toys! So after a delicious dinner, the gang settled down for a room-rocking viewing of the high-decibel movie Transformers.
Here Jed spends some face time with Vicki who iChatted with him from Guatemala and waved to the rest of the group, which included Jed's brother, Kip, and other friends who came by for dinner and to watch the Final Four basketball semi-finals. So the Irish delegation got a great look at what goes on on a Saturday night in middle America . . .
. . . including a truly unforgetable Irish/American romping, stomping high-tech rock-and-roll karaoke session. That's Kip Taufer on drums.
By the end of the evening everyone was suffering from laughing pains. Trust me, you had to be there.
Irish Friends - Day 4
April/05/2008
What's the
best reward you can give to a group of Irish
photographers who've spent two days in the classroom
working on financial and marketing plans? That's
easy: take them on a studio tour! So mid-afternoon
yesterday we packed up and drove a short way to the
uber-chic studio of Jeff and Julia Woods in the
nearby town of Washington, Illinois. There we
received a tour of the urban-style studio that is a
perfect reflection of the Woods' personalities. As
was the case with our previous studio visits, Jeff
and Julia's hospitality, friendship, and willingness
to share with the us was spectacular and very much
appreciated.
Julia presented her sales philosophy, which is central to the studio's business concept . . .
. . . while Jeff provided insight into his approach to creating cutting-edge products.
It's been a while since I've had some time to visit with Julia, so this was a special treat for me.
There was plenty of time for Q&A with the Woods . . .
. . . as well as just soaking in the studio's fabulous ambience.
And there was time for laughs as well.
With hardly any prompting, the fearless Donal O'Connell took the driver's seat for this group photo before we moved on to a wonderful dinner at a nearby Italian/Irish restaurant: Basta O'Neils.
What a great adventure with Jeff and Julia! Tomorrow it will be back to work on marketing plans. Thanks to the Woods for their warmth, wit, and wisdom!
By the way, the Woods have just posted a May 19-20 date for another session of their always-sold-out in-studio workshops . . . a fantastic educational opportunity. To learn more, click here.
Julia presented her sales philosophy, which is central to the studio's business concept . . .
. . . while Jeff provided insight into his approach to creating cutting-edge products.
It's been a while since I've had some time to visit with Julia, so this was a special treat for me.
There was plenty of time for Q&A with the Woods . . .
. . . as well as just soaking in the studio's fabulous ambience.
And there was time for laughs as well.
With hardly any prompting, the fearless Donal O'Connell took the driver's seat for this group photo before we moved on to a wonderful dinner at a nearby Italian/Irish restaurant: Basta O'Neils.
What a great adventure with Jeff and Julia! Tomorrow it will be back to work on marketing plans. Thanks to the Woods for their warmth, wit, and wisdom!
By the way, the Woods have just posted a May 19-20 date for another session of their always-sold-out in-studio workshops . . . a fantastic educational opportunity. To learn more, click here.
Irish Friends - Day 3
April/03/2008
Today it was
strictly down to work, as the Irish 6 used
SuccessWare to analyze their businesses. Tomorrow,
they'll take their findings and develop new
profit-building strategies. Of special interest to me
was the burdensome and confusing Irish VAT tax that
thank heavens U.S. photographers don't have to
contend with!
Irish Friends - Day 2
April/03/2008
Our first day
of instruction started with a warm welcome to
V Gallery and Haven from Vicki and Jed
Taufer.
Vicki delighted everyone with fast-paced insights as to how V Gallery approaches marketing and management, including a live sales demonstration of ProSelect.
Those who have visited V Gallery and Haven marvel at how Jed and Vicki have created such unique and appealing spaces within a building that once was a bowling alley. After taking a late-afternoon tour of Jed's parents' home, we gained special insight into at least one source of their creative inspiration: Jed's wondrously talented father, Dana Taufer. We were thrilled to be invited to visit the mind-boggling house that Dana hand-built himself, over 8 years, with help from his sons. With no plans to guide him, other than the remarkable vision in his head, and using recycled materials, Dana created what Jed described as "kind of a 'hobbit house for adults,' " which, as you can see from the photo below, is a delightfully apt description.
Here Suzanne and Padraic enjoy the wit of the architect himself, Dana Taufer.
Photographs of this intriguing house simply cannot convey the brilliant creativity that is revealed when you see it in person. With a ceiling height of 37 feet and 70 different exterior wall angles, this one-of-a-kind home literally defies description. It's the type of dwelling you would expect to see on an HGTV program about spectacularly unique homes. What an totally unexpected and absolutely delightful experience . . . a rare reward after a busy classroom day!
Vicki delighted everyone with fast-paced insights as to how V Gallery approaches marketing and management, including a live sales demonstration of ProSelect.
Those who have visited V Gallery and Haven marvel at how Jed and Vicki have created such unique and appealing spaces within a building that once was a bowling alley. After taking a late-afternoon tour of Jed's parents' home, we gained special insight into at least one source of their creative inspiration: Jed's wondrously talented father, Dana Taufer. We were thrilled to be invited to visit the mind-boggling house that Dana hand-built himself, over 8 years, with help from his sons. With no plans to guide him, other than the remarkable vision in his head, and using recycled materials, Dana created what Jed described as "kind of a 'hobbit house for adults,' " which, as you can see from the photo below, is a delightfully apt description.
Here Suzanne and Padraic enjoy the wit of the architect himself, Dana Taufer.
Photographs of this intriguing house simply cannot convey the brilliant creativity that is revealed when you see it in person. With a ceiling height of 37 feet and 70 different exterior wall angles, this one-of-a-kind home literally defies description. It's the type of dwelling you would expect to see on an HGTV program about spectacularly unique homes. What an totally unexpected and absolutely delightful experience . . . a rare reward after a busy classroom day!
Irish Friends - Day 1
April/02/2008
Anyone who
knows me, knows how much I love Ireland, the Irish
people, and especially Irish photographers. So this
week is a much-anticipated opportunity for me to pay
back some of the wonderful hospitality I've received
in Ireland by hosting six Irish photographers on a
learning and studio-visiting odyssey in Illinois.
Several of my terrific photographer buddies are
sharing their hospitality as well. Our ultimate
destination is V Gallery, Vicki and Jed Taufer's
extraordinary boutique studio and their education
center, called "Haven," in Morton IL.
Our first stop on the way was Springfield, IL, where Sarah Petty hosted the group at her fabulous home, which is beautifully decorated with her portraiture. Our group is shown below with Sarah, outside her home. They are, from left: Padraic Deasy, of Newbridge, County Kildare (deasyphotographic.com); Donal O'Connell, of Douglas, County Cork (imagesphotography.ie); Frances Muldoon, of Rosses Point, County Sligo; Mary McCoullough of Nenagh, County Tipperary, (sourcephotography.ie); Suzanne Toal, of Monaghan, County Monaghan (zanni.ie); Maria Dunphy, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny (oliverofkilkenny.com).
Once inside, Sarah explained her philosophy of interior design using portraits . . . in the same manner that she provides this information to clients. Her home literally is the perfect showcase for portraiture as decorative home furnishings. Joining us was daughter Grace Petty, one of Sarah's favorite subjects.
Grace was proud to show off her room . . .
. . . as was son John.
We enjoyed a great meal together in the retail plaza where Sarah Petty Photography is located. Joining us was Sarah's associate Andria Crawford, and graphic designer extraordinaire Beth Camplain of Hotdog Design.
During our visit to Sarah's studio, I FINALLY got to meet Sarah's husband, who I've been referring to as "Virtual Joe." It was wonderful to finally meet the real Joe Petty! What a handsome couple!
After an explanation of how she works in the camera room . . .
. . . Sarah moved on to a discussion of her favorite subject: marketing and branding.
From the enthusiastic conversation in the van as we journeyed on to Morton, the feeling of our Irish friends was that it would have been worth the trip to America, just for this experience with Sarah. But we're just getting started. Stay tuned for more adventures of "The Irish Six."
Our first stop on the way was Springfield, IL, where Sarah Petty hosted the group at her fabulous home, which is beautifully decorated with her portraiture. Our group is shown below with Sarah, outside her home. They are, from left: Padraic Deasy, of Newbridge, County Kildare (deasyphotographic.com); Donal O'Connell, of Douglas, County Cork (imagesphotography.ie); Frances Muldoon, of Rosses Point, County Sligo; Mary McCoullough of Nenagh, County Tipperary, (sourcephotography.ie); Suzanne Toal, of Monaghan, County Monaghan (zanni.ie); Maria Dunphy, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny (oliverofkilkenny.com).
Once inside, Sarah explained her philosophy of interior design using portraits . . . in the same manner that she provides this information to clients. Her home literally is the perfect showcase for portraiture as decorative home furnishings. Joining us was daughter Grace Petty, one of Sarah's favorite subjects.
Grace was proud to show off her room . . .
. . . as was son John.
We enjoyed a great meal together in the retail plaza where Sarah Petty Photography is located. Joining us was Sarah's associate Andria Crawford, and graphic designer extraordinaire Beth Camplain of Hotdog Design.
During our visit to Sarah's studio, I FINALLY got to meet Sarah's husband, who I've been referring to as "Virtual Joe." It was wonderful to finally meet the real Joe Petty! What a handsome couple!
After an explanation of how she works in the camera room . . .
. . . Sarah moved on to a discussion of her favorite subject: marketing and branding.
From the enthusiastic conversation in the van as we journeyed on to Morton, the feeling of our Irish friends was that it would have been worth the trip to America, just for this experience with Sarah. But we're just getting started. Stay tuned for more adventures of "The Irish Six."
Music On My Mind
October/17/2007
The last stop
on each of our three trips to Ireland has been the
western seacoast town of Dingle. The instant I laid
eyes on Dingle in 2003, I was hooked. I can't imagine
a trip to Ireland without a stay in this magical town
on the wildly beautiful Dingle Penninsula in County
Kerry.
The last time Jim and I were in Dingle, we stopped in at The Music House, shown below with proprietor David Moul in the doorway. I inquired about the CD that was being played, and David introduced me to the music of singer-songwriter Kieran Goss. By wonderful happenstance Kieran was playing an intimate concert in an old church under reconstruction that very night. Of course we went. The venue was wonderful and the music and conversation with Kieran even better, so I've been a Kieran Goss fan ever since. PPA board member Ronnie Norton, from Dublin, has kindly supplied me with Kieran's CDs since the first one I bought at The Music House.
So we stopped by The Music House yesterday and picked up the latest Goss release, along with collections by several other artists David was kind enough to recommend. And once again, as luck would have it, one of those musicians, a local Dingle singer, was performing in nearby pub that evening. At the Marina Inn we were entranced by the vibrant, yet soulful voice of Pauline Scanlon, whose album "Red Colour Sun," I had purchased earlier that day. She is as beautiful as her voice, and I look forward enjoying more of her music. Thanks, David, for expanding my musical horizons.
There's nothing I enjoy more than live music in the friendly atmosphere of an Irish pub. It was music, in fact, that focused my desire to travel to Ireland in the first place. In recent years I've come to love Celtic music of all kinds. I've noticed that there are so many beautiful Celtic songs written about Irish places — from specific towns to regions — that I decided to visit as many of those locations as I could. It's quite a long list, so I'll just have to keep coming back!
I can't imagine a better place in the world to write music about or listen to music in than Dingle. David Moul agrees. He is a transplanted Englishman who says that moving to Dingle is the smartest thing he ever did. So if you are lucky enough to visit Dingle, stop in and meet David at The Music House, 6 Orchard Lane, Main Street. He'll be happy to tell you what's going on in the Dingle music scene. Tell him hello from Jim and Ann in America!
The last time Jim and I were in Dingle, we stopped in at The Music House, shown below with proprietor David Moul in the doorway. I inquired about the CD that was being played, and David introduced me to the music of singer-songwriter Kieran Goss. By wonderful happenstance Kieran was playing an intimate concert in an old church under reconstruction that very night. Of course we went. The venue was wonderful and the music and conversation with Kieran even better, so I've been a Kieran Goss fan ever since. PPA board member Ronnie Norton, from Dublin, has kindly supplied me with Kieran's CDs since the first one I bought at The Music House.
So we stopped by The Music House yesterday and picked up the latest Goss release, along with collections by several other artists David was kind enough to recommend. And once again, as luck would have it, one of those musicians, a local Dingle singer, was performing in nearby pub that evening. At the Marina Inn we were entranced by the vibrant, yet soulful voice of Pauline Scanlon, whose album "Red Colour Sun," I had purchased earlier that day. She is as beautiful as her voice, and I look forward enjoying more of her music. Thanks, David, for expanding my musical horizons.
There's nothing I enjoy more than live music in the friendly atmosphere of an Irish pub. It was music, in fact, that focused my desire to travel to Ireland in the first place. In recent years I've come to love Celtic music of all kinds. I've noticed that there are so many beautiful Celtic songs written about Irish places — from specific towns to regions — that I decided to visit as many of those locations as I could. It's quite a long list, so I'll just have to keep coming back!
I can't imagine a better place in the world to write music about or listen to music in than Dingle. David Moul agrees. He is a transplanted Englishman who says that moving to Dingle is the smartest thing he ever did. So if you are lucky enough to visit Dingle, stop in and meet David at The Music House, 6 Orchard Lane, Main Street. He'll be happy to tell you what's going on in the Dingle music scene. Tell him hello from Jim and Ann in America!
How Cool to Spend the Night in a Castle!
October/16/2007
I swore I
would stick to photographing today, as we are about
to leave for our last stop, the Dingle Peninsula,
County Kerry, before heading home. But I just had to
post some pictures of the incredible placed we have
stayed for the past two nights: The Castle, at
Castletownshend, County Cork. Jim found it on the
Internet, and I'm so glad he did.
The Castle is the ancestral home of the proprietors, Anne and Malcolm Cochrane Townshend. The massive stone edifice has been the seat of the Townshend family in Ireland for many generations. The center part was built around 1650. The origintal castle towers were destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries, but they have been restored, using stones from the ruins. The Castle contains much of the original furniture, portraits of Townshend family members, and gorgeous oak panelling.
A place like this can make your imagination work overtime. At breakfast before we left, we compared notes with two English couples, who also swore they heard steps on the ancient staircases below our rooms, but none of us saw anyone arrive on the second or third floor landings.
Speaking of breakfast, check out the dining room: It was big enough for eight tables, and it was full of family portraits. Wouldn't the Townshends be good clients to have!
The portrait below hangs in the drawing room. Its subjects are the current owner's great-grandfather and his two sisters. As you can see, it is huge! These folks are definitely not into 8x10s. Isn't the posing wonderful! A great reminder that classics never go out of style.
Here's The Castle exterior . . . well guarded by the Townshend family watchdog.
And can you believe that I actually drafted and emailed a blog post while sitting in front of a 17th century building? Amazing.
The Castle overlooks Castletownshend Harbor. I took the shot below, just after sunrise, from our bedroom window on the third floor . . . no doubt where household servants used to stay. The room was spacious, but homey, and quite comfortable.
Jim also was right at home in The Castle. It was really fun to turn back the clock . . . way back!
The Castle is the ancestral home of the proprietors, Anne and Malcolm Cochrane Townshend. The massive stone edifice has been the seat of the Townshend family in Ireland for many generations. The center part was built around 1650. The origintal castle towers were destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries, but they have been restored, using stones from the ruins. The Castle contains much of the original furniture, portraits of Townshend family members, and gorgeous oak panelling.
A place like this can make your imagination work overtime. At breakfast before we left, we compared notes with two English couples, who also swore they heard steps on the ancient staircases below our rooms, but none of us saw anyone arrive on the second or third floor landings.
Speaking of breakfast, check out the dining room: It was big enough for eight tables, and it was full of family portraits. Wouldn't the Townshends be good clients to have!
The portrait below hangs in the drawing room. Its subjects are the current owner's great-grandfather and his two sisters. As you can see, it is huge! These folks are definitely not into 8x10s. Isn't the posing wonderful! A great reminder that classics never go out of style.
Here's The Castle exterior . . . well guarded by the Townshend family watchdog.
And can you believe that I actually drafted and emailed a blog post while sitting in front of a 17th century building? Amazing.
The Castle overlooks Castletownshend Harbor. I took the shot below, just after sunrise, from our bedroom window on the third floor . . . no doubt where household servants used to stay. The room was spacious, but homey, and quite comfortable.
Jim also was right at home in The Castle. It was really fun to turn back the clock . . . way back!
Giles Norman: A Study in Black-and-White Success
October/15/2007
The plan for today was to visit the southern seacoast town of Kinsale, which in recent years has become known as a center for creative cuisine. I had also heard that it was the home to a first-rate landscape photographer who works strictly in black and white. So when I asked at a local craft shop where I might find the gallery of Giles Norman, the proprietor knew exactly where to send Jim and me. I expected we would find a small storefront that is typical of most retail photographic galleries I have visited. Was I in for a surprise!
The light-and-airy gallery was at least twice the size I was expecting, and it it skillfully organized to exhibit Giles' work at its best and also to make it easy for shoppers (like us) to make their image selections. I quickly settled on a richly detailed study of a ram guarding the path to a county cottage with the air of a defiant watch dog. You can see the image on Norman's website, which will give you an idea of the breadth, depth and excellence of his portfolios.
I loved the simplicity of the single-choice black framing, which is both artistic and practical, and I was particularly taken by the simple, yet powerful statements of Giles' floral close-ups. The artist wasn't in today, but his assistant told me that Giles has operated the gallery in this building for more than 10 years, and he also has a gallery in Dublin.
I would suggest that any photographer who is considering the feasibility of opening a retail gallery for any type of fine art photography to look at the model Giles Norman has created by visiting his Kinsale gallery. With three brilliant reasons to come to Kinsale . . . the gallery, the cuisine, and the fabulous images around every corner (I made over 300 exposures there today) . . . Kinsale should indeed be on top of the itinerary for any photographer's visit to Ireland.
Getting it Right: A Visit to Gerry O'Carroll's Studio
October/14/2007
This morning I realized that if we did a little backtracking before our next stop along the eastern sea coast, we might be able to drop in on Jerry O’Carroll’s studio in Waterford, a city of 40,000 and the home of world-famous Waterford Crystal. We were in luck, as Jerry had a lunchtime break in his busy Saturday schedule, and we could travel there in time. Shortly after we found the studio, Jerry’s wife Ann and daughter Ellen arrived, and I was able to catch a snapshot of them in front of the business.
I’ve heard so many good things about Jerry’s studio, and now I can certainly see why. He is doing so many things right, including excellent space planning . . .
. . . an eye-catching window display . . .
. . . great use of floor space, and an intelligent choice of portraits on display in the reception area . . .
. . . contemporary image styles and framing . . .
. . . a comfortable projection sales room . . .
. . . and efficient work spaces and camera room.
Top all this off with beautifully designed marketing pieces and a handsome website, and everything works seamlessly to help clients recognize they are dealing with a professional organization and appreciate the fact they are about to purchase something of value.
Jerry gives credit to several influences that have helped his business to prosper. “Families in Waterford, he explained, “have a long-standing tradition of using the services of professional photographers to record their family histories. Today there are two storefront studios in Waterford, and we greatly benefit from this tradition, which goes back to around 1870.” One photographer for whom he had special praise is the late Annie Brophy, whom he credits with elevating portrait photography to the status of valuable heirlooms. Interestingly, Patricia Cantlon, our hostess at Cullintra House (see October 12 entry), had mentioned being photographed by Annie Brophy, whom she pronounced was “a legend,” a description that Gerry confirmed was an appropriate one. You can read about this fascinating lady by clicking here.
Jerry’s entire approach to business compares favorably to the most progressive U.S. studios, because he has kept his business concept simple and highly focused. He credits this approach to what he learned at PPA’s Specialty Conferences, the first one of which he attended in 2003, the same year that he bought his studio building. Speaker after speaker at that conference, he recalls, stressed the benefits of specialization. When Jerry and Ann returned home, they began implementing what they had learned: First they priced weddings to assure profitability, which meant they lost those that weren’t, providing the studio with more time to emphasize family and children’s portraiture. These were watershed events in the bringing stability to the business.
As we went on our way, I couldn’t help but think that American photographers, who have such easy access to management information, would be well advised to put to work what Gerry had to travel across the ocean to learn! And learn it he has. Even better . . . he’s proving that it works!
Oh yes . . . he wins portrait awards as well. See below.
Very well done, Gerry!
Off the Beaten Path
October/13/2007
If you've
seen the film adaptation of Maeve Bench’s wonderful
novel, "A Circle of Friends," you might remember its
captivating countryside and charming village
settings. The film was shot in and around the tiny
village of Inistioge, which is only a few miles from
Cullintra House. We spent part of yesterday driving
the narrow roads to photograph the magnificent
countryside, ending the day at in the village so that
Jim could enjoy his pint of Guinness. I know it will
take me a while to prepare a slideshow of these
images, but in the meantime, here’s one of my
favorites, right out of the camera: It was shot in
the late afternoon from a narrow bridge across the
River Nore, a few miles from Inistioge. It’s my
favorite image of the trip so far. There are lots of
cropping possibilities, but I’ll worry about that
later.
Because the scenery in Ireland is so abundant, I decided to challenge myself to improve my digital skills, since I would have plenty of practice over the next few days. Moving from medium format to a 35mm body has not been easy for me, and like most digital shooters, I’ve been relying entirely too much on the “idiot box” and “P for professional.” I used to use a light meter for every photograph; but before I pointed it, I had to decide what I wanted to accomplish in the photograph. That meant using my brain. Well I've decided that its time to start thinking again, so I’ve issued three challeneges to myself: 1. Look for interesting lighting situations that involve dramatic highlights and shadows. 2. Work more in aperture priority mode. 3. Pay special attention to leading lines. Oh yes . . . nail those histograms, but make certain they make sense, given what I’m trying to create, which definitely means using the brain once again.
Here’s a late-afternoon shot from the side of a narrow road. I loved the low sun angle that gave depth to what otherwise would be an ordinary shot. Thanks to Jim for shading my lens to prevent the inevitable flare.
For most of the days that remain on our trip, we'll be off the beaten path, looking for the beautiful scenes and interesting adventures that so often in Ireland lie just around the bend.
Because the scenery in Ireland is so abundant, I decided to challenge myself to improve my digital skills, since I would have plenty of practice over the next few days. Moving from medium format to a 35mm body has not been easy for me, and like most digital shooters, I’ve been relying entirely too much on the “idiot box” and “P for professional.” I used to use a light meter for every photograph; but before I pointed it, I had to decide what I wanted to accomplish in the photograph. That meant using my brain. Well I've decided that its time to start thinking again, so I’ve issued three challeneges to myself: 1. Look for interesting lighting situations that involve dramatic highlights and shadows. 2. Work more in aperture priority mode. 3. Pay special attention to leading lines. Oh yes . . . nail those histograms, but make certain they make sense, given what I’m trying to create, which definitely means using the brain once again.
Here’s a late-afternoon shot from the side of a narrow road. I loved the low sun angle that gave depth to what otherwise would be an ordinary shot. Thanks to Jim for shading my lens to prevent the inevitable flare.
For most of the days that remain on our trip, we'll be off the beaten path, looking for the beautiful scenes and interesting adventures that so often in Ireland lie just around the bend.
The Lady of the Manor
October/12/2007
During our visit in and around Kilkenny, we stayed some distance out of town near the ever-so-tiny village of The Rower (which means "red clay"), at the family home of Patricia Cantlon, which she operates as a farm-holiday establishment. Cullintra House is an elegant 18th century farmhouse set amongst 230 acres of fields and woodlands that are as romantic and picturesque a setting as I've ever seen. Billed as a "cat-lovers paradise," it is all that and more. We got to know all five cats from Patricia's "boss," an elegant Tom cat named Oswald, to the rest of the clan: Penelope-Jane, Melanie, Libby-Muffin, and Mitsy.
To say that Patricia has created a magical environment at Cullintra House is an understatement. Each room is furnished with creativity and flair. And Patricia's sumptuous candle-lit dinners, set in front of an open-log fire, are not to be missed. Her cuisine features fresh produce that is skillfully prepared and artfully presented.
The property has been in Patricia's family since the turn of the last century, and it is full of lush vegetation, winding paths, and enchanting gardens. Around midnight, Patricia feeds the day's dinner scraps to as many as seven local foxes who wait to hear her call. Each of our two nights there, we stood quietly and watched a fascinating scene unfold as the foxes barked out calls to one another that "dinner is served," then quietly stole into the back garden to carry off their gourmet morsels.
There is so much to tell about this magical kingdom, it's delightfully eccentric lady of the manor, and the cats who rule it. But what I'd prefer to do is to show you a selection of the images I made there. This will have to wait until I get home, where it's easier to work on such a project. Check back later to see some of the extraordinary views of Cullintra House. In the meantime I hope you'll enjoy this portrait of Patricia Cantlon, the lady of the manor.
Oliver and Daughter
October/11/2007
In far too many small family-run studios, generational differences can jeopardize the future of the business. That’s why it is so refreshing to meet a father like Oliver Dunphy, who eagerly redesigned his store-front marquee to proudly proclaim that what once was simply “Oliver of Kilkenny” is today the province of “Oliver (& daughter) of Kilkenny.” And it is daughter Maria’s sparkling fantasy portraits that adorned the building's window when Jim and I visited after the Irish PPA October Conference in Athlone.
Oliver Dunphy founded what was to become a highly respected High Street studio in the heart of the medieval city of Kilkenny in 1966. Maria’s earliest memory of working with her father was at age four. By 1988 Maria was working there full time. Having learned classical posing and lighting from her father, Maria has developed her own distinctive style by attending classes and conferences through the IPPA and abroad through professional associations in the UK, Italy, and America.
According to Maria, her father was not always been convinced about contemporary portrait styles, but he most certainly has been supportive of her plans for it since she became the studio’s primary photographer and he has largely retired. In fact Oliver was quite eager to tell me about plans to convert space previously allocated to cameras and photo accessories to a gallery of Maria’s award-winning contemporary portraits of families and children. “Tell her to get those portraits ready and up there,” he said to me with a twinkle in his eye. I had a wonderful time viewing some of those images with Maria, and a few of them are shown below.
During our visit we had a lovely lunch with Maria and her Aunt, Sister Nina, a member of the Columban Sisters since 1964. Before recently moving in with Maria and Oliver, Sister Nina worked abroad practicing alternative medicine through her order. She now helps out at home (and even occasionally at the studio), while also providing social services for refugees and asylum-seekers in the Kilkenny area. Jim and I are convinced that Sister Nina could solve most of the world's problems if given a chance to take them on. She says, however, that the family's newest member, a rescued Cavalier King Charles spaniel, being held tightly by Maria below, is giving her fits. Fortunately his other two canine companions are much better behaved.
As far as the studio goes, Maria is preparing to make some significant changes that will build on the solid foundation her father has created. Of the new gallery she says: "Just watch this space." Sounds like another reason for me to come back to Ireland for a visit!
Old Friends and New: Irish PPA Fall Conference
October/09/2007
There are only a few volunteers I know who are as passionate about the benefits of trade association membership as Ireland's Gerry O'Leary, a highly acclaimed architectural photographer from Dublin. I first met Gerry at PPA's Imaging USA several years ago. A year ago this month I once again met Gerry at the UK Master Photographers Association Awards weekend in Coventry, England, where I was invited to give a business program and assist at the awards presentation in my capacity as PPA's Chairman of the Board. Gerry was busy keeping lots of balls in the air as president of the UK group. This year Gerry assumed duties as president of the Irish PPA, so it was no surprise to find him hard at work on Association business, as you can see in the photo above. He continues to be just as relentless about urging Irish photographers to take advantage of the educational opportunities that associations provide as he is to get them involved as volunteers.
Jerry is one of several Irish friends I have made in recent years. Also present at the IPPA conference in Athlone was Jerry O'Carroll from Waterford, whom I have visited with in both the U.S. and in England, and Maria Dunphy, who has attended several PPA Women's Retreats, including this year's Chicks Who Click conference in the Bahamas. More about Maria and her business in a new post. To Jim's and my great delight, also on hand was Alan Hastings, a photographer who attended our week-long Art and Business of Photography class at our Annville studio back in 1993. In 1986 Alan had immigrated from Ireland to New York, where he had taught high school chemistry at Fordham Prep and later began working part time at the nearby studio of Rick Rustiano. By 1993 photography had become his passion, so Alan began working at it full time. Eventually he married, had children, and four years ago the family returned to Ireland and opened a studio in Westport, County Mayo. It was wonderful to talk about old times with Alan, who now enjoys both U.S. and Irish citizenship. Jim snapped this photo of Alan and me.
The audiences for my two programs couldn't have been more cordial. I sensed that their interest in management issues parallels that which of late has grown so strong in America. Not surprisingly, the Irish are experiencing all of the challenges of U.S. photographers — from technological changes to prosumers who produce digital images that are "good enough." Just like Americans, they are learning that clever marketing is no longer "good enough" . . . you must understand how to manage money, people and time in order to succeed in today's challenging marketplace, so they hung in there for every step of my "12-Step Program." Many commented that they found the benchmarks published by PPA's Studio Management Services to be very helpful. On day two I presented my "Boutique Studio Revolution" program. I believe the Irish audience got a kick out of hearing a presentation that won't be debuted in America until Imaging USA in January.
As Gerry O'Leary so passionately pointed out, anytime photographers get together what they learn is priceless. One of the aspects of the conference that I enjoyed most was a session that featured two of IPPA's "Bright Young Things" . . . younger members who have demonstrated their photographic competence by passing their IPPA "Associate" qualification. Young and old alike learned from portrait photographer Emma Clarke, who works with her father Paddy, and who displays, among other skills, a mastery of lighting technique that is rarely achieved by young photographers in the U.S. Emma is shown below with architectural photographer Gareth Byrne, who demonstrated why veteran commercial photographers say he is giving them a run for their money.
Veteran photographers were ably represented as well: Wedding photographer Tony Tang, provided insight into creating digital albums and treated everyone to a slideshow of a complete wedding and the resulting album; Suzanne Toal explained the recent changes she has made in her business (see previous post); and Neil Warner demonstrated that his business sense is as strong as his award-winning corporate photography. Suzanne and Neil are shown below during a Q&A session.
The conference also included two presentations of exceptional image collections. Ger McCarthy showed a variety of his favorite award-winning images, but none was as stunning as his photojournalistic series taken at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear plant disaster, at an institution for children born with profound birth defects. His message about the power of photography to illuminate the need to act in the face of human suffering was clear . . . something that in fact his images have been used to do.
The second program was by Vincent O'Byrne, one of Europe's most honored fine art photographers, who presented over 50 prints that had achieved the coveted IPPA Diamond Award. It was wonderful to hear this master of composition and creativity remind us of the simple precepts that govern fine artistic design — fundamental lessons that today often are eclipsed by interest in technology. Many of the Diamond award-winners were created by Vincent himself, so take a moment to view his exceptional work by logging on to vincentobyrne.com.
As in America, women are flocking to the business of studio photography, so "we girls" had a lot to talk about between programs. We're already plotting a way to get together again. So I thought I thought I would close this entry with this "Circle of Friends" photo. From left, we are: Maria Dunphy of Kilkenny, Suzanne Toal of Monaghan, myself, Neda Collins of Eden Derry, and Tanya Crosbie of Dublin.
What's in a Name? A Visit to Zanni Photography
October/08/2007
Knowing that I would be speaking to Irish photographers on the subject of "Boutique Studios," I asked whether this new business model was gaining a foothold in Ireland as it is in America. Yes, I was told, some studios were moving in that direction, one of them being Zanni Photography, in Monaghan, a town of 8,000 northwest of Dublin, quite close to the border of Northern Ireland. The owner, Suzane Toal (she was called "Zanni" as a child), welcomed me for a visit the day before we were due to arrive in the midlands town of Athlone for the fall meeting of the Irish Professional Photographers Association.
A portrait/wedding photographer for 11 years, Suzanne has a host of photography awards and a vivacious personality to match. Having always traded under the name Suzanne Toal Photography, she decided to change the name of her business to Zanni Photography some eighteen months ago after having taken the even bolder step of purchasing and remodeling a wonderful bungalow to house her growing business. Doing so as a single woman took a great deal of courage, but the move made sense for Suzanne, as she has never operated her business at a loss, and she felt the time was right to plan for her future security by gaining property equity.
Suzanne's aesthetic goal was to create a contemporary environment that retained the warmth of the home's original architecture. She did just that by painting the walls and fireplaces a crisp white and replacing dated carpeting with warm random-plank hardwood floor boards. An eclectic mix of furnishings, including handsome metal stands for her wedding album display, complete the appealing interior, and a fresh coat of pink paint on the building's exterior assures that Zanni Photography is easily recognized from the street.
Suzanne was one of the speakers at the Athlone conference. I took lots of notes, and one of the most interesting comments she made dealt with the decision to change her well-established business name. "When I was trading as Suzanne Toal Photography," she said, "I felt that I was selling myself because everyone wanted me for every aspect of the work. With the new name, I'm feeling a lot less emotional pressure, and the door is now open to take the studio in any direction I wish." To give meaning to the new Zanni Photography brand, Suzanne has launched several new projects, including featuring the studio name on framed samples, window display prints, and on large fabric hangings; offering a cute kids contest in which every child photographed leaves with a balloon that proclaims "I've Got a Zanni Photography Smile;" and involving the business in a highly successful charitable calendar project.
Suzanne's next challenge is to construct a covered veranda at the rear of her building to use for outdoor shoots and to create a number of outdoor sets in her expansive back garden. I've promised that I'll come visit her when the projects are finished. You see . . . that's how this magic country and the wonderful people you meet here — people like Suzanne — affect me: Even though I'm only on the first week of my two-week stay in Ireland, I'm already planning to return!
A Day in Dublin
October/07/2007
Although Jim
and I have visited Ireland twice, this was our first
trip to Dublin, so we were delighted to visit the
studio of PPA board member Ronnie Norton, who,
happily, I had gotten to know during my board
service. It would have been fun to see Ronnie under
any circumstances, but from my perspective as a
portrait photographer, getting to see Ronnie's
bustling commercial studio at work was a special
treat. I made the photograph of Ronnie, below, in the
studio's cheerful lunch room. I chose a spot in front
of his portrait of super-star musician and
humanitarian, Bono, as that image has particular
meaning to me: At PPA's 2006 Imaging USA convention,
Ronnie donated a print of this image to the PPA
Charities' auction. It was purchased by Shannon
Barry, of Marathon Press, whose office I have used
for consultations during Marathon's Marketing
Workshops. It can be rather disconcerting when
talking to photographers to have them stare right
past me into Bono's hypnotic gaze.
Because Ronnie's lovely wife, Pat, was in New York for a visit, we missed her at dinner at a wonderful old restaurant in a seaside community followed by a round of live music. Much of our dinner conversation centered around music, as Ronnie's has gained quite a following as a photographer of musicians, and he and I share an interest in folk music of many different kinds. In fact, Ronnie is quite an authority on blue grass music and even hosts a program that airs on CMRNASVILLE.net called Lonesome Highway. It plays on Friday afternoon from 4-6 and repeats on Sunday morning from 10-12. You can take a listen to Ronnie's show by clicking here. It's wonderful fun to hear an Irishman comment on a distinctly American music form. And it was wonderful fun to get to see a slice of Dublin through Ronnie's eyes!
Because Ronnie's lovely wife, Pat, was in New York for a visit, we missed her at dinner at a wonderful old restaurant in a seaside community followed by a round of live music. Much of our dinner conversation centered around music, as Ronnie's has gained quite a following as a photographer of musicians, and he and I share an interest in folk music of many different kinds. In fact, Ronnie is quite an authority on blue grass music and even hosts a program that airs on CMRNASVILLE.net called Lonesome Highway. It plays on Friday afternoon from 4-6 and repeats on Sunday morning from 10-12. You can take a listen to Ronnie's show by clicking here. It's wonderful fun to hear an Irishman comment on a distinctly American music form. And it was wonderful fun to get to see a slice of Dublin through Ronnie's eyes!