Castlepalooza 2012

Once again, it’s the MOST AMAZING festival in Ireland. Big thank you to all the fabulous nut-cases who pose for me every year. These pix are all on Facebook too if ya’s wanna tag x

Madonna

Madonna played and we all got soaked. That’s about the gist of it. She, on the other hand, had an alter boy carrying an umbrella for her. NikonD4, 400mm (we were about 60meters away) and rain hood!

Kanye West & Jay Z

Watch The Throne tour in Dublin’s O2 June 9th 2012. Shot with a very stretched 200mm lens & Nikon D800.

 

Maverick Sabre

In the Academy… with his blankey.

 

Azealia Banks (& Dems)

Azealia Banks played to a packed out Whelan’s crowd tonight. Tiny, tiny girl with a great big mouth. Brilliant.

Dems supported and won my heart. Let’s have them back soon, lovely wee boys. Yum.

Snow Patrol

in the O2, Dublin. Awful lights, awful awful lights. Eww. Bit of a photo challenge I must admit, but at least it makes a change from the normal white light in the O2!

Imelda May in the O2

Sinead O’Connor

The beautiful Sinead O’Connor rocking the Olympia with that shiver inducing voice of hers.

The Darkness

They believe in a thing called love…. and you know what? So do I… so do I.

Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 2011.

Jeffrey Eugenides

He wrote The Virgin Suicides don’t ‘cha know!

….some speed portraits totaled 2.8 minutes using available light.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Holy good Jesus the Chilies rocked it last night in the O2. They put on the definition of Arena Rock. The lights, the set list, the visuals… couldn’t fault it in the slightest. They even lit the stage. The actual floor of the stage was made of lights. Such a great consideration for the fans in the seats, I mean who wants to look at a sea of rank duct tape (you hearing this Britney?).

There was a great mix of old & new tunes. Plenty of heartfelt banter to make us feel all special n loved and Flea’s bass playing skills could keep you mesmerised for years.

Amazeballs review to follow in HotPress later by Celina Murphy x

I’m off to dig out my copy of Blood Sugar….

Noel Gallagher

Probably one of the hardest gig’s I’ve snapped due to the impossible restrictions and my complete lack of God given height.

Shot with a 200mm from waaaaaay back behind the crowd.

Deus

Deus in The Academy with a warm nostalgic vibe.

Bert Jansch

Some photos I took of the legendary Bert Jansch on July 24th in Dublin. He was supporting Joanna Newsom in Marlay Park.

Who knew he was so ill. Rest in peace x

 

Ghostpoet

Ghostpoet live in Whelans last night supported by the babyfaced but brilliant MOTHS.

Masterchefs

 

 

My second time shooting celebrity chef Dylan McGrath and my first time meeting the charming Nick Munier. Very lovely guys but whenever I’m in the company of Chef’s I have to hold back my “neglected vegetarian” rant. I swear, if I’m offered one more mushroom risotto as a veggie option….ugh!

Anywho, here’s some pix of the Foodies taken in Nick’s restaurant (Pichet). And for nostalgia I’ve included a snap of my 2007 shoot with Dylan on top of a building down the docks. Notice how I still haven’t masted my craft in so many years.

Electric Picnic 2011

Festival season has nearly killed me this year… I was nearly about to give it all up, then Hot Press made one of my Arcade Fire images the latest cover. Feels kinda like getting an A in a school report, so I’m hooked again.

Bands worth a nod: M Ward & Willy Mason. A lot of other people (with bigger budgets) bored the pants off me.

For the tech heads: Everything shot on a D700 using either 200mm 2.8 or a wide 2.8. Didn’t go near the 1.4 50mm even though the stage lighting was appalling.

Expect a future rant about the festivals poor treatment of snappers. Not today though, today’s a cover story glory day! Issue hits the shops on Thursday (8th Sept!).

More on Flickr!

Joanna Newsom

Another fabulously intimate gig by the crooning harpist. It seems that no matter the space (this time a giant tent) her voice will travel and make those hairs on your neck stand on end.  More JoJo pix from her Grand Canal Gig here!

Oxegen Preview

Preview of the rake of photos from the weekend…the rest will be up in the next few hours. Thousands of photos from about 50 bands to go up…..

The Script (Aviva)

First time shooting in the Aviva. I even did the “whoah” when I walked in…. ain’t nuffin on Nou Camp tho!

The Script were as epic as always. Glad to have my long lens (200mm) as Danny tends to stick to the back of the stage playing keys. They put some nice little touches to the Homecoming show in fairness. Have a look for his Tri Colour lined jacket and the electrical mic tape too!

Ful review by the fabulous @Maeverlene in next weeks @hotpress !