My earliest memory of photography was the excitement and anticipation of waiting, as a child, for a family roll of film to be developed and collected. The thrill of learning to develop my own film came later.
I learnt to take photographs by myself, at college and by learning from others.
I wanted to become a photographer because I have always been interested in art and image-making in all formats.
My first assignment was a portrait of a well-known chef a Sunday newspaper. I made sure to have all my gear already charged, ready to go and that I got to the location, 3 miles across town, early. When I arrived, I went to take some test shots before the chef arrived. I clicked the shutter and nothing happened.
Preoccupied with packing all the right things for the shoot, I had forgotten to take the camera battery out of its charger. The stars must have been aligned in my favour as the chef phoned to say he was running late. So I had enough time to race back across town and grab my batteries!
A senior citizens’ protest in Dublin against austere budget cuts to old age pensions and allowances was the assignment that left the biggest mark on me.
Their spirit and voice was stronger in some cases than their physical health. As some of the most vulnerable members of society, they refused to be forgotten about.
There aren’t many stories and assignments that don’t excite me. Different stories create different impacts and you often never know what that will be in advance.
David Attenborough is the person I respect most. His lifelong enthusiasm and inquisitive mind have illuminated the world’s beauty and brutality.
