Fotograf Shane O Neill

—Först och främst - vem kan du nämna som den bästa fotografen i Waterford, Irland? :)

—Well, I can't tell you who the best is but all I can say is David Murphy is the most gorgeous!!

—Är du fotogenisk?

—Sometimes. Everybody has a relationship with their own image – or at least how they see themselves. As a photographer, I'm often staggered by how little most people actually like their appearnace.

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—When I was 10 I picked up a camera for the first time and before long I was helping out as an assistant. I went to DLCAD when I was 18, I managed a photo lab for 6 years, then in

—Vilka är enligt dig de viktigaste komponenterna för ett bra fotografi?

—Personally, I love well-composed decisive moments. They are hard to get! i've had plenty of practice though ...

—Älskar du att resa?

—Yes. Especialy in my own country of Ireland. The places my camera takes me ...

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

—Being creative. Personal freedom.

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

—the hours! I always seem to underestimate how long things are going to take. It's just as well I like what I do.

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

—Technology, I suppose. Capture devices will get smaller, quicker, better. We are in danger of being totally over-saturated. That's why I like to stick to the fundamentals of creating great images.

—Vad är det speciella med den fotografigenre du specialiserar i?

—I mainly shoot documentary wedding photography. For me, it is special because it does not involve the input of the client and instead frees them up to be part of their day. images shot naturally tend to age well.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

—it depends on the critic ;)

—Vad bör kriterierna vara för en kund som ska välja en fotograf?

—follow their heart

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

—taking too long

—Vilka detaljer kan en fotograf fånga som vanligtvis går obemärkta?

—observation skills definitely improve the more I shoot. Anticipation, or seeing what is about to happen before it actually happens is a good one.

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—For me, the viewer places their own value on a photo.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

—Bungalows. I have an idea that is yet to bear fruit.

—Har du några professionella tabun?

—Lots. I have a strong sense of decorum, it prevents me from crossing even the most modest lines.

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

—Todd Hido

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—Well, Covid-19 has takenover the world and shuttered the entire wedding industry for the foreseeable future. That gets me sometimes.

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

—Witnessing the birth of both of my children.

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—Liked. I know. I know.

—Vilket är det största misstaget som du har gjort på jobbet?

—While shooting a wedding in Charlottesville, I booked a hotel on Charlotte and proceeded to drive there. Until I realised I forgot the "ville" at the end!

—Vad tar du med dig och varför när du är ute och reser?

—one camera and one lens only. The last time I went to Italy I took my Nikon D750 and a 500mm lens. Before that, it was a Fuji x100s, one of my all-time-favourite cameras

—Äger du en gadget som du önskar att du inte hade köpt? Varför?

—I guess if I was to *really analyse everything I ever bought you could make a case as to whether it was essential. I bought a NAS box once, never really used it.

—Hur utbildar du dig själv för att bli en bättre fotograf?

—Shoot. Then shoot some more. There are certain things you can only learn by constantly doing it.

—Vems arbete har haft störst inflytande över dig som fotograf?

—Martin Parr showed my what was possible. Nothing is impossible,

—Finns det någonting specifikt som du önskar att du visste när du började fotografera?

—the 50mm lens is better than you think!(I was a wide angle nut)

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

—I say what I see. its that simple really

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—it's a strong part of my identity. I don't know what else to do!

—Borde dina föräldrar ha varit mer eller mindre strikta?

—my parents were perfect. They got the balance really well.

—Om du kunde resa tillbaka i tiden, vad skulle du göra annorlunda?

—Nothing. Why change??!

—Tror du att det finns liv på andra planeter?

—statistically its quite likely

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

—eh .... photography. Like i said, it takes up a lot of time!I do love food. And movies if and when I get the chance to watch them.

—Har du någon sida som du aldrig visar upp offentligt?

—Family life. I keep the best part all to myself!

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

—No. Never. I'm always chasing that rainbow.

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

—No.

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

—Yes.

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

—I have this discussion regularly and the answer is always the same: there is nowhere I'd rather live that Waterford, Ireland. We have everything here.

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

—Life improves after marriage.

—Har du ett favoritskämt? Berätta det för oss.

—Did you hear about the magic tractor? It turned into a field.

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

—Dogs mainly. Some cats are really sound.

—Vem eller vad hatar du?

—tailgaters.

—Det bästa med livet är:

—my wife and children

—Det mest irriterande med livet är:

—my wife and children

—Finns det någonting runt omkring dig som du skulle vilja ändra på?

—not a thing

—Finns det någonting om dig själv som du skulle vilja ändra?

—I sometimes get these states of inertia – especially when it comes to big projects. I wish i could get sh1t done!

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

—make mistakes. learn from them.

—Om du skulle bli tillfrågad att spela in en film, vilken genre skulle det vara?

—comedy-drama

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

—the beach with my kids.