Urbanity

Comment

Urbanity

I was recently commissioned to shoot Urbanity, a relatively new cafe located in the heart of the Smithfield business district in central Dublin. Its owners, Aisling and Jason, opened this beautifully rustic cafe in early 2016 and is accented with agrarian Scandinavian themed details throughout.

From the earthy textures of the large wooden bench, to the muted surfaces of mini metallic plant pots, Urbanity is full of wonderful details.

The space is flooded with light with the entire facade made from glass, perfect for people watching.

Coffee is roasted on site using their sizeable Probatone 12 Coffee Roaster, a beautiful machine to behold, even for non coffee enthusiasts. Their coffee selection is continually exhibiting new flavours from around the world, with current selections hailing from Rwanda and Columbia.

If you are walking through the area then you should definitely check them out, but get in quick before they sell out again for lunch! 

 

Comment

Dubrovnik

Comment

Dubrovnik

In the middle of May I decided to be about as nearly spontaneous as you can get and get a last minute flight to Dubrovnik without arriving at the airport and going there and then. I booked tickets on a Monday morning and left Wednesday night to fly out to somewhere I have wanted to visit for many years for one week to get a glimpse of this pearl on the Adriatic. 

The entire coastline glows beautiful colours each evening as scenic sights of yachts and galleons dot the horizon, while visitors can catch the sun setting with a glass of wine in hand on a little secluded rocky patch.

Most of my time was spent in the Lapad region of the city. It hosts a beautiful beach and coastal walk with various man-made jetties that you can relax on, and some include handy steps out of the water back to the rocks. The water was a beautiful azure colour and a reasonable 20 C for the end of May.

Dubrovnik hosts some beautiful architecture, with much of it embracing the renaissance period. The extensive use of sandstone really compliments the slightly arid land it sits amongst, while emphasising the soft glow of a sunset more so than other stonework.

Being a coastal city, Dubrovnik has it's fair share of marine vessels, the vast majority of which are as beautiful as the surroundings they sail within. From small fishing boats to large pleasure yachts and the odd galleon, there were plenty of beautiful marine craft to enjoy around the marina and local beaches.

Many evenings were spent within the walls of the old city. The atmosphere here is full of subtle vibrance around dinner time with plenty of live music, much of it instrumental, complimenting diners as they sample the wide variety of Mediterranean dishes. The architecture here is absolutely stunning and the city's relaxed pace is reflected in its visitors as they meander down side streets and discover unique ice cream stalls or street music.

One week was far too short to really take in all of what Dubrovnik has to offer. The weather was perfect for the time of year and the level of tourists was very manageable considering the city's popularity. Friends of mine were attending a mutual friend's wedding during my visit and it would be incredibly hard to beat the incredible scenery and relaxed atmosphere for anyone considering a destination wedding. 

Next time I hope to visit some of the other beautiful areas of Croatia including the stunning Split and the incredible arena in Pula. I hope that these images inspire you to visit and maybe even do so spontaneously!

Comment

Road Trip

Comment

Road Trip

During early February, I had an old friend visit me from the states after his 3 week gruelling cycling tour from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork. As his route never managed to successfully see any more of Kerry than some of Killarney National Park, he managed to ditch the bike for a few days and head out with me on a road trip around the ring of Kerry.

First stop was Torc Waterfall and the surrounding woodlands which offer a great view out over Killarney National Park. With the weather so frequently changeable in Ireland, bright blue skies change to misty bands of rain in a matter of minutes.

The best and worst thing about the Ring of Kerry is the amazing scenery all along the coast line, stunning to look at, but you'll find yourself pulling over every 5 minutes!

We managed to take a little stop at Derrynane Beach and as it was really windy and cloudy, the sky was changing at a great rate which opened up into some beautiful sunset light.

Back when I was in college, I hadn't realised that I shared classes with another islander until my final year. Brian was from Valencia Island and towards the end of college we built up a friendly rivalry. We decided to head out to Valencia as he gave us some recommended viewpoints since he couldn't be there personally to show us. The island is connected via bridge (so, not a real island 😜) but we took a short hike around some of the coastline to some spectacular views.

The views back towards the mainland are stunning. With sea spray and high winds adding a magical atmosphere to the headland.

Having gained further international attention from a certain space themed film, we managed to finally see the Skellig Islands. The UNESCO world heritage site is clearly visible from Valencia and with the weather changing again quickly, a big band of cloud would rise over them.

We continued on towards Rossbeigh Beach. Another beautiful spot on the northern coastline of the Ring of Kerry.

Our final stint back to Cork led us through the Gap of Dunloe. Being from an island, I am used to it being fairly remote and undeveloped, with all the ruggedness that the wild Atlantic Ocean throws at it. However, venturing through the Gap of Dunloe makes one feel like they have stepped back in time into an ancient land  from mythological tales. I genuinely wouldn't have been surprised if a leprechaun jumped out behind a rock! 

The road trip was a great excuse to see another part of the country that I had only seen a snippet of, despite going to college in Kerry for 4 years! I have recently been working on a film out in Allihies which lies on the Ring of Beara, and although I didn't have my camera with me, I will have to take a separate road trip out that way. From what I saw while working around that region for the week, I might even say it's more stunning than Kerry...hard to believe!

Here's to more good memories, Brett. We'll do it again in the future. 👊

Comment

Home Tour

Comment

Home Tour

Carla Benedetti

Last week I made the journey to Dublin to photograph the home of interior designer, Carla Benedetti, for publication at MintMag.ie. The house had been up for nomination for the RTÉ television programme; Home of the Year and was situated in the leafy suburb of Sandymount.

Vintage Bathtub

Carla's home went through a massive redesign and is peppered with a combination of modern and vintage elements that flow throughout her home. The bathroom is the perfect combination containing this beautiful bathtub which sits on the clean white tiles that bounces lots of natural light within the room.

The stunning kitchen area features full floor to ceiling windows that flood light into this new extension space. The kitchen is entirely open plan and leads directly into the living room space that encompasses a vintage leather chesterfield foot rest and rustic cabinets to compliment the modern colour tones.

The dark inky tones of the redesign contrast with the light filled spaces and give a contrasty pop to the spaces within her home. The ensuite bathroom pops with colour with the bright white and turquoise tiling, while the inky blue hues in the hallway are complimented by the warm wooden tones of the stairwell to the 1st floor.

We had our very own miniature tour guide of the day Benjamin, who was vying for my attention and as I wrapped up shooting, he got his own little portrait taken in the living room.

Puppy

If you would like to check out more of Carla's interior design work, you can head over to her site here.

Comment

Night Lights

Comment

Night Lights

On a recent visit home to Clare Island after a long stretch away, I finally got some time to put together new Astrophotography landscapes. Below, you can see the road to the north of the island facing towards Achill Sound with the bright light being the lighthouse on the most northern point on the island. The second faces out towards Croagh Patrick worth the lights of Westport and Louisburgh shining either side of this famous mountain.

I'm very lucky to be from a place with little to no light pollution, so getting the opportunity to photograph the stars comes only as often as the Irish weather allows!
I had been out photographing some of the landscape in the late afternoon but decided to stay out once the sun had set. After a beautiful mild Saturday, the evening stayed the same and with a clear night ahead with a new moon, it was the perfect chance to capture the stars.

Clare Island Lighthouse

The image above shows the lighthouse on the island beneath crystal clear skies. These few images below manage to capture both Knockmore (the island's locally known, big hill) and Orion's belt. It's strange to see the transition of colour even after the sun had set, from the blue hues of the lighthouse skies to the shades of indigo as the night sky darkens even further. We can be really lucky in the west of Ireland to see the stars so clearly, you've just got to pray to the weather God's to capture those beautiful sights!

If you liked these, you can find more images throughout my site featuring other landscape work.

Comment

Sunrise, Sunset

Comment

Sunrise, Sunset

I have been pretty busy all over October, which has explained the fairly quiet activity I have had on my journal. Part of this was due to my involvement in the Clare Island Film Festival held over the 3rd - 5th October this year. Being part of the committee luckily gave me the chance to travel home and produce the event with the other committee members, as well as watch a great selection of up and coming Irish film. This year was the 2nd rendition and we were delighted that our turnout was double that of the first year. As part of the festival, we held a small photographic exhibition with the theme of "The West". This gave everyone the opportunity to showcase some of their photographic talents and I put a few of my own prints on display.


We received excellent feedback from some of the directors that attended and unfortunately for the weather affecting the boat times on the final day, the event was very successful. You can check out more details at the  which has more up to date information.

While at home, I took the opportunity to get out and capture more landscapes that I had not got around to for a while. A part of the island that I have not showcased in my work, were the cliffs by the lighthouse. No matter how many times I have been to this point of the island in my life, it always makes for a refreshing mini venture to absorb the breathtaking views of Achill and beyond. The lighthouse on Clare Island sits 300ft above the atlantic ocean with the waves crashing below. Recently renovated, it is now a private guesthouse that caters to those looking for a unique retreat, right on the edge of Western Europe. It is an incredible place to stay and those who book rooms are rewarded with amazing views. You can find out more here. 

I have always wanted to capture a sunrise rolling over the shoulder of Croagh Patrick, and thankfully I managed to grab this one below after numerous attempts. An icy cold October morning and getting up at 6am to make sure I was positioned in the right place, meant that I was rewarded with the warm colours making a silhouette of Ireland's holy mountain.

The final image below shows a tighter shot of Knockmore and Budawanny as warm sunlight sets over the mountain as it fades over the atlantic. For anyone taking a trip to the island, it is worth the scenic walk to take in the view and hear the ocean crash below. 

Most of these landscapes are now available to purchase in the store. As with any of my other work, if there is something you are interested in buying a copy of, please contact me here.

Comment

Ile de Groix

Comment

Ile de Groix

Renault

Being part of a small island community has allowed me to get involved into numerous groups and projects over the years, such as summer Regatta's and Comhaltas Sessions (Read; Irish Music, international readers...). The most recent of which, is the Clare Island Film Festival, which we established last year. Still in it's infancy, we were honoured with having the programme director of the Festival International du Film Insulaire de Groix (Ile de Groix Film Festival) Sylvain Marmugi, attend last year's event . He ran a children's film workshop to enormous success to the festival audience as it was pieced together entirely by the children of Clare Island and edited by Sylvain in the space of a week. We are delighted to have him return again this year as he works with the children again and plans a short film of his own while here.

Bjorn

Ile de Groix is approximately the same size as Clare Island but with approximately 2000 inhabitants compared to our 150(ish). Now in it's 14th year, we were honoured to be brought over to showcase some Irish film at the event and the material we brought was exceptionally well received by the French audience. The entire festival has an incredibly laid back feel to it. With intimate screenings and plenty of live music held over the 5 days, there is plenty to keep you occupied. The island is very easy to get around with plenty of walking paths, coastal walks and electric bicycles to rent to see this stunning place. With crystal clear waters, we found the time to take a swim or two to wash away the previous evening's celebrations.

Our festival runs from the 3-5 October this year and we're lucky enough to have a dedicated team to put on what will hopefully be a great weekend for everyone that attends. To find out more information about the festival, you can head over to the Facebook page or take a look at more details on the official festival page. We have already accommodation going quickly so be sure to grab your spot! 

Lastly, I would really like to thank Sylvain for opening the opportunity to bring us to Groix as it was greatly appreciated. So much volunteering goes into this type of festivals and it is so rewarding when international exchanges like these occur. Another special thank you goes to Patrice, another volunteer of the festival, but whom looked after us with incredible generosity. 

Comment

Gougane Barra

2 Comments

Gougane Barra

A few weeks ago, some friends and I took a short trip out to Gougane Barra. Just about an hour's drive west of Cork city, this beautiful area is one of Ireland's National Parks and is definitely worth a trip if you're looking to get out of the city for a while. The location itself is home to a small iconic church called St Finbarr's oratory, which has been used for many wedding ceremonies, and what a perfect location to have them! 

With us all being photo nerds we hadn't even managed to get too far around the lake as we were consistently in awe of how beautiful the surroundings were, but we'll definitely be heading back soon. We managed to stroll around for a few hours and were lucky with the beautiful evening providing a great way to take a glimpse at how the area looks under interesting skies.

If you are looking to find out more information on this beautiful area, you can check out more official details over here.

2 Comments

Vail

Comment

Vail

For the past week I was lucky enough to spend time with my family out in Vail, in Colorado. I managed to get my first taste of snowboarding as well as snow, since I technically wiped out a few times doing it! For anyone who has never been, Vail is a town that in the winter, makes it feel like the essence of Christmas. Traditional styled stone buildings with fairy lights intertwining between them gives the place a cosy glow in the evenings and all sizes of Fir and Pine trees scatter the slopes and surrounding mountainsides.

Flying from Dublin and eventually arriving in Denver after a few connections made for a very tired PJ. There's nothing like jet lag after nearly 4500 miles of travel to make you get up at nearly 5am each morning, despite hitting the slopes for about 6 hours a day! We spent our time in the Lionshead region of Vail which is in the western part of the town. Staying at the Ritz-Carlton hotel (swish) we were right by the gondolas and lifts, so it made for a tiny commute to get up the mountain in the morning. 

Today's view at the office #vail

pjrankin's photo on Instagram

Needless to say, after a hard day at the office, a soak in the hotel's hot tub is well required!

Knight of the slopes!! #boarding in #vail

pjrankin's photo on Instagram

I had intended to shoot a lot more candid photos of my family while we were out in Vail but after an exhausting day on the slopes (and copious amounts of whiskey), we were typically all in bed by 8pm. However, the morning before we left, I managed to quickly grab Louise out for a few portraits out behind our hotel. The area is really beautiful and although I knew when we needed to get out for the shots I wanted, I was lucky that the mountains didn't obstruct the sunrise. Needless to say, I'm really happy with how the half hour shoot went and the shots really capture Louise and her wonderful personality.

This whole venture was a deal made between my cousin and I on condition that I achieve a 1st in my degree and I can't thank his generosity enough for bringing me out for the trip. Hopefully this won't be the last time I'll get my feet on a board anytime soon or even return to the beautiful Vail slopes!

Comment

The Luthier

Comment

The Luthier

Over the past month or so I have been slowly but surely piecing together, what will be, the start of a new series of artistic mini documentaries. The first in the line up is 'The Luthier' (working title) covering the craftsmanship of the well respected James O'Halloran. Over the past 2 days, the team and I spent a lot of time getting to know more about the process of repairing instruments that frequently land on James's workbench and delving into the intricacies of the craft.

James works from home with his many trusty dogs to keep him company just outside of Carrigaline town. The level of skill and attention to detail that goes into his work is also clearly evident throughout his entire home. Gorgeous walnut furniture and carvings line the predominantly wooden interior which truly reflects his material of choice. We predominantly spent our time between his two workshops that he moves between to refine the wood needed for each repair job. Both locations reflect the considerable amount of time that James has been working with the material and really give a homely feel to his workspace. We were graced with beautiful weather as warm sunlight softly beamed in the window of the workshop leaving a beautiful glow on the various hues or reds and browns of the timber.

The shoot finished off with James treating us to an amazing sonic experience in his 'listening room'. Over the course of 30 years he has built an unbelievable audio system that is a feast for the ears and a real treat for someone who really appreciates the intricacies and fidelity of music! Definitely the crew and I left with happy faces after listening to some great recordings that shook our souls and were lucky to hear on such a rare system. 

It will approximately be a month or so before the documentary is released. The initial delay being that I will be heading out of the country to go snowboarding for 2 weeks which will be amazing! However, while I abroad, the editing process will be underway and once I am back, the finishing touches will be put together. Until then, expect a few shots from my trip to Colorado in the meantime. :)

Comment