LAST WEEK WE introduced you to our three finalists in our up-and-coming Irish photographer competition.

This week, we’re going to showcase the first of the three finalists, Dervilla Keegan from Leitrim, and see what she’s been up to since she got her hands on her Canon cameras.

Pearl Phelan Pearl Phelan

Dave McKane, the principal of the Institute of Photography in Dublin, selected the five shots here which Dervilla took this week using the Canon EOS 750D DSLR camera and Canon PowerShot SX710 camera that she was given to use for the competition.

Two farmers making hay while the sun shines Dervilla Keegan Dervilla Keegan

She’s delighted with the photographs that Dave selected, saying she ‘tried to give a real feel of Leitrim’ through her eyes and to show the diversity of the county.

I really wanted to show a snapshot of Leitrim and how much goes on across the county – from outdoor theatre productions to demonstrations of traditional Irish dancing attended by the Roses of Tralee.

Blue Raincoat Theatre performing Yeats in the open Dervilla Keegan Dervilla Keegan

The bigger camera, the DSLR, where you can control everything manually, was a much steeper learning curve, but Dervilla found herself well able to manage it – surprising herself with how much she learned in a week.

Historically, I’ve always used an  iPhone or a compact camera – I’m very much the novice.

Leitrim in the palm of her hands Dervilla Keegan Dervilla Keegan

Dervilla found the Canon PowerShot SX710 camera really handy to ‘have in your pocket’ and was ‘amazed at all the features on it that were also on the bigger camera’.

A sean nos dancer and former Rose of Tralee Dervilla Keegan Dervilla Keegan

Dervilla says the whole experience has been a great learning opportunity.

I feel like my skills have improved a lot even in a short period of time.

Eagle's Rock Dervilla Keegan Dervilla Keegan

Dave had this to say about Dervilla’s work -

Dervilla Keegan is obviously deeply in love with the landscape and the people that populate her world.

She is a visual correspondent, recording what she sees as she moves between these different worlds. She essentially points her camera at what interests her, which is pretty much everything she sees in Leitrim.

All three finalists will have their work mounted and exhibited at the gallery at Teeling Whiskey Distillery in September where the winner will be announced. TheJournal.ie has limited tickets for readers which will be available soon – so keep your eyes peeled.

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