A Brother & A Best Friend

Posted by ciaran on December 30, 2010 in Blog, Other | 2 comments

Normally at this time of year, I look back over the shoots I’ve done and generally talk about something photography related. But it’s hard to look back on 2010 with anything other than a feeling of great loss and sadness. Having lost my brother Brian back in September and my best friend Homer back in February, these were two horrific events that not only shaped my year, but most likely will shape my life for years to come. I had many great aspirations and goals for my photography this year, none of which really came to fruition. I could also count on one hand the number of shoots I had. But to be honest, given what happened this year, who cares really?

As passionate as I am about photography, it really just pales into insignificance compared to having lost loved ones. For a large part of the year I lacked motivation and this was on top of coming into 2010 where my “mojo” wasn’t the highest to begin with.

It probably wasn’t until my shoot with Madame Bink that I really started to feel inspired again, followed closely by an amazing shoot with Raphaella and Ivory Flame. Continuing on this positive note, I am very pleased with how my submissions to FIAP salons went this year and hope to continue the same level of success into 2011.

The workshops I give have taken on a life of their own and are now starting to become more like a chore than a fun day out. So going forward it is very unlikely I will continue with any more of these. I’ll certainly continue to invite a photographer along to what ever shoots I arrange, but apart from that (and the workshops I have already committed to), the workshops will be no more.

Another thing that has taken a life of it’s own is my website But in a good way. Traffic has more than tripled in comparison to this time last year (primarily due to this blog and the tutorials it contains) , with my blog alone receiving over 500 unique visits daily. It’s also funny (and rewarding) to see it referenced on many other internet sites and forums as a point of reference for things like exposure and using flash. So a big thank you to who ever follows the blog and please don’t be shy in leaving comments

So what does 2011 hold? Well I’m not going to be as naive as I was coming in to 2010 by setting myself goals, only to disappoint myself by not achieving them. If 2011 passes with my family and friends being healthy, then I’d be delighted with that. If I can take a few snaps in the mean time, all the better

Happy New Year everyone.