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Anna, Linda and Dervilla with Dave McKane, the head of the Institute of Photography in Dublin Pearl Phelan
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Meet the three finalists in our up-and-coming Irish photographer competition
We had a chat to Dervilla, Anna and Linda about their work.
TWO WEEKS AGO, we asked budding amateur photographers around the country to submit their work to us.
We wanted to see great, original photography that gave us a new eye on modern Ireland – and in return, together with Canon, we’re offering the three finalists a photography master-class, the use of a Canon EOS 750D DSLR camera and a compact Canon PowerShot SX710, and exposure of their work on TheJournal.ie.
Our call was answered in droves, with over 500 entries flooding in from all around the country. But only three could move on to our shortlist.
One of the three chosen will then go on to win a Canon 750 DSLR camera of their own, a Selphy CP910 compact photoprinter and a half-day photography training course. The two runners-up will win a Selphy CP910 photoprinter each.
The results are in and our three finalists have been chosen. Allow us to introduce you…
Dervilla Keegan
Dervilla lives in Leitrim with her two kids, aged 5 and 10, and her husband. She got into photography initially from using the camera on her iPhone – she says, though, that buying a better camera “opened up a whole new way of capturing things. It’s been nice to move up and try it on a new level.”
Living in north Leitrim, Dervilla mostly takes landscape photos in her locality, mostly when out walking with her children, adding that she feels “deeply rooted” to the area. She brings her kids out walking with her, or on trips in the family campervan, and takes her photos as they go along.
“I’m always trying to keep them busy, keep them walking and moving. It’s great learning for them. It’s like a playground to explore, nature.”
She cites when nature and history collide as her favourite thing in Ireland to photograph – the mix of nature and archaeology or culture together: “the hand print from other generations, the historical aspect.” Check out her photography here.
Anna O’Rourke
Anna lives in Greystones, Co Wicklow, with her two sons. She says she was “always interested in photography” ever since she was a teenager, taking photos on the small camera she had at the time. It ran in the family, with her Dad also “big into photography” she adds.
Four years ago, her interest grew when a group of 10 people got together to form the Greystones Camera Club. In that time, the club has grown to 100 members, putting on competitions, courses and trips away.
It is absolutely my dream job. I think about photography all the time. I live it. I would love to be able to sell my photography, in a big way.
Anna’s main focus is landscape and macro photography, taking pictures of nature like flowers and insects. You can take a look at her work here.
Linda Foley
Linda Foley is a mother of five from Dublin and has lived in Donabate for 30 years along with her husband.
When her husband and sons got into golf several years ago, as she tells it, she used to go for the walk on the golf courses – when she noticed the abundance of wildlife all around. These pictures of wild birds, rabbits and deer progressed into a love for photographing “absolutely everything”.
I don’t leave the house without my camera, not even to the shop. I don’t have a handbag any more – I’ve a camera bag. I could be standing at the cooker, but then I notice a rainbow and I’m gone – or a sunset or some clouds.
Due to travelling around to golfing tournaments, Linda says there isn’t a county in Ireland she hasn’t photographed, but that one place she’d love to return to is the Skellig Islands down in Kerry. To see some more of Linda’s photography, click here.
Over the next few weeks, all three short-listed photographers will be given the use of a Canon EOS 750D DSLR camera and a Canon PowerShot SX710.
Week by week, we will profile each photographer’s work with the camera, and finally will put it to a poll to determine the winner. Stay tuned…
The world is full of fascinating stories and experiences. Come and see it with Canon. Follow the three photographers’ work over the coming weeks on TheJournal.ie. #ComeAndSee
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