Work of five Irish photographers selected for exhibition

THE WORK of five Irish photographers has been selected for a prestigious exhibition in London’s National Portrait Gallery.

The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait exhibition received almost 6,000 submissions from 2,401 photographers around the world but only 60 portraits were selected for display.

Some 37 Irish photographers entered this year and the successful ones were Jeanette Lowe, Kenneth O’Halloran, Enda Bowe, Linda Brownlee and Michael Donald.

The exhibition showcases the work of emerging young photographers, alongside that of established professionals, photography students and amateurs.

The photographs were selected anonymously from an open competition. Last year’s exhibition attracted almost 250,000 visitors.

Being selected for the exhibition was a particular coup for Jeanette Lowe who recently took early retirement to concentrate on photography.

Her photograph catches two boys from Pearse House, Dublin, on their way to the beach. “I like the idea that these two little boys from inner city Dublin will soon be hanging under the same ceilings as the Queen of England,” she said.

Freelance photographer Kenneth O’Halloran was selected for his portrait of twin boys at Puck Fair in Killorglin. The Clare-born photographer’s study of two elderly sisters at Muff Horse Fair in Co Cavan won first prize in the people category of the 2009 Press Photographers’ Association’s competition.

Belfast-born Michael Donald was selected for his portrait of Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones. The London-based photographer had been asked to take some stills of the band to accompany the release of the documentary Stones in Exile.

When Charlie Watts arrived, the photographer noticed that he was perched on the settee with his feet facing outwards. “When I came to shoot him a little later I asked him to do it again. Apart from the fact that he looks great, it gives the picture a symmetry that works well.”

London-based photographer Enda Bowe submitted a photograph of Samantha Nolan from a series he has been working on over the past 2½ years. The award-winning photographer from Carlow took the photograph on one of his many trips home.

Linda Brownlee, who is also based in London, has had her work featured in publications such as Vogue, Dazed Confused, Nylon and the Guardian. Her portrait of her former next door neighbours Sandra and April Parker was taken in the Walthamstow marshes in London.

The exhibition will open next Thursday, November 11th, and will run until February 20th at the National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, before going on tour.