This month marks the publication of a new collection of Gareth's photographs. Portrait of County Sligo has just been published by Halsgrove, and contains a wide selection of Irish imagery, most of which was shot during 2009. County Sligo may not be a big county but it is blessed with such unique and inspirational scenery that it looms large in defining the character and mythology of the Irish landscape. The photographs in this book are an attempt to convey a sense of the grandeur of the county’s landscapes and the mystery of its historic sites and ruins. The book is published in hardback and lavishly illustrated throughout its 144 pages.
Portrait of County Donegal will be published later this year.
Click the link below to purchase Portrait of County Sligo from Amazon.co.uk. The book costs £18.99, with free delivery to the UK and free delivery to Ireland if you spend over £25.
I was delighted to have one of my images of Delicate Arch in Utah used on the cover of Lonely Planet's 2010 National Parks calendar which is published in conjunction with Barnes & Noble. This composition was taken really while I was at a loose end; I'd just shot various angles while the arch was fully lit by the sun and was waiting for the sun to move off the arch completely, before shooting some dusk variations. I moved away from the angle of the classic Delicate Arch photo and used a 2-stop graduated filter to balance the exposure and bring out the subtle detail in the shaded rocks. This must be one of the most photographed natural features in the world, yet by working some new angles and unconventional lighting this image was able to stand out from many, many others.
April 20, 2010
Trio of Patagonian Front Covers
This month saw Wanderlust Magazine in the UK use one of my images of Monte Fitzroy on their front cover. It was a particularly satisfying cover to get not only because Wanderlust is a prestigious travel title but also because the image required an unusual degree of persistence and patience to capture. Patagonia is renowned for its tempestuous weather, with a constant stream of low pressure systems carried in by the Roaring Forties. This weather is intensified as it hits the barrier of the Patagonian Andes and the Patagonia Icecap. This was my fourth attempt in two weeks to get good conditions at the famous Lago de los Tres viewpoint. I left El Chalten at 5am and walked with a headtorch up through the forest and into the meadows below Fitzroy. The little tarn I had hoped would give a dawn reflection was iced over, so I climbed up to Lago de los Tres and was rewarded with the most beautiful of autumn days. For the two hours I shot here, I had it all to myself only meeting a couple of other walkers as I was returning to El Chalten.
Other front covers from this Patagonia trip include one for Insight Guides in 2007 and another for Footprint Guides in 2009. The Footprint guides image was shot during one of the earlier attempts on Fitzroy when the weather blowing down off the mountain was so violent I could only shoot looking away from it to the east, tucked into the shelter of a river valley. Luckily the lenticular clouds that often form in the lee of the Patagonian Andes were catching the setting sun spectaularly and I did my best to create a few images straddled across the boulders in the middle of the glacial stream as the gusts of wind tugged at me. I'd never have seen the images as cover potential, but it just goes to show that you can never quite predict how clients will see value in your work.
February 05, 2010
Ballycroy National Park - panoramic murals.
I had the privilege last year to be asked by WWT Consulting on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to create images of Ballycroy National Park for the new visitors centre. The brief was complex. The displays required several huge panoramic images up to 7 metres long and almost 2 metres high and the scale of reproduction requied each image to be shot from up to 14 separate images which were then stitched together in Photoshop CS4 to create files of several hundred MBs.
Each shot had to be composed carefully to allow for the overlay of very position-specific text, graphics and interactive features.
It was one of the most enjoyable and challenging assignments I've worked on, requiring days of exploration in one of Ireland's wildest landscapes in order to find locations to suit the brief.
February 02, 2010
Image licensed by Microsoft on Windows Vista
I was in PC World the other day looking at external hard drives when a bank of laptop screens flashed up this image of mine. It's of herb robert and was taken in Cladagh Gorge National Nature Reserve in County Fermanagh. In fact it was the first image I ever took in Fermanagh.
It was licenced by Microsoft from my collection at Getty Images. Strange for a relatively simple image of an unassuming and very common little wild flower to be chosen for such a high profile use, but that's one of the great aspects of stock photography - you never quite know how images will be used over the years, and I am constantly surprised by whcih images sell and which don't.
With the advent of the vastly superior Windows 7 operating system in the last couple of months the days of Vista are numbered and with it the days of this image appearing on computer screensavers and wallpaper around the world.
November 15, 2006
Christmas Print Orders
It's that time of year again when thoughts are turning to Christmas. Family arrangements are being discussed and present lists are being drawn up. And what better gift to give or receive than a beautiful photograph for your wall? The subject might be a favourite location or somewhere you've never visited. Either way, one of Gareth's Fine Art Prints is sure to be a firm favourite on Christmas morning.
Choose a limited edition print for yourself, send one to a relative, or suggest that a friend selects their own favourite image. We can deliver to almost any address in the world and we'll be on hand to fulfil your order right up to the last moment. To guarantee pre-Christmas delivery however, please place your order before the end of November.
August 23, 2006
Patagonian Picture Collection
During March and April 2006 Gareth realised a long-held ambition and headed to Patagonia, at the southern tip of South America, for a two month photography trip. Timing his visit to coincide with the autumn foliage, he concentrated on two geographic regions: Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina.
Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile.
Patagonian weather is renowned for its changeability, and countless nights were spent huddled in a tent beneath the mountains waiting for storms to pass. Fortunately there were clear skies between the snow flurries and gales, and ample opportunities for the diligent photographer. For Gareth, the charismatic wildlife and spectacular mountain scenery were the region's most memorable features. We hope his photos convey some of the beauty and drama of the area.
We have now begun uploading selected images from the Patagonian Collection to the website - a process that will continue over the next few weeks. Check the Argentina and Chile sections of the Image Library to view the new images.
October 28, 2005
Change of Address
Gareth McCormack Photography has moved premises. We have relocated to County Sligo, Ireland. Our new address is: Derrybeg House, Carrowcardin, Enniscrone, Co Sligo, Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)86 3891765. Our services remain unaffected by the move, and we look forward to continuing to work with all our clients from our new location.
February 25, 2005
Exhibition at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny
Our exhibition at An Grianán Theatre, in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, went up yesterday, a week ahead of schedule. We have hung a total of 22 framed prints, with an emphasis on local scenes from Donegal. The exhibition will remain in place untill 11th April, so there's plenty of time to see it if you're around the northwest of Ireland.
As well as hosting a range of musical and dramatic performances, the theatre's bar and café are open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday-Saturday. Pop in during the day to view Gareth's photos over coffee, or make an evening visit and catch a show at the same time. For full performance listings and more information about the theatre, see www.angrianan.com.
January 07, 2005
Happy New Year!
We've just about recovered from our pre-Christmas shows, with post-exhibition orders keeping us busy right up to Christmas Eve. As ever it was wonderful to chat to so many different people, and the public feedback was most encouraging. We trust that all those who received one of Gareth's prints as a Christmas gift were pleasantly surprised as they ripped off the wrapping paper. All that remains now is for us to thank everyone who visited us in both Dublin and Belfast, and to wish all our clients a very happy and prosperous 2005.
Our next exhibition will take place throughout the month of March in An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. The theatre has a wonderful display area, including a large amount of wall space around the café and foyer. We'll be prioritising local scenes from Donegal, but may throw in a few photographs from further afield in Ireland too. Details of the opening evening are yet to be finalised, but don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to receive an invitation. Watch this space for further details!
