“Barely etched on to sea and sky now made beautiful by neglect, now made a Carthage of memories.”
– SJ Mannion
The photo of the Dun Laoghaire Baths was taken during the summer after one of those beautiful sunsets that always seem to appear in Dun Laoghaire. Dun Laoghaire harbour lies in the background. The Baths, although an ugly structure, have a lot of character and contrasted perfectly with the softness of the calm water and the colours of the sky.
“The Dun Laoghaire Baths” was selected for the 2010 RHA annual exhibition.
– Enda Cavanagh
“A canted eye could see a many symboled stele. A thuggish intruder.”
– SJ Mannion
A urban photograph of Dublin City Centre taken just before sunrise. It is a photo of the old Irish Central Bank on Dame Street. The street was empty bar for one man, who you see asleep under one of the trees to the left. Somehow he suits the shot. He matches the stillness of the scene. My project of urban photography in Dublin around dawn initially was planned to be all in colour. However only 2 so far have remained so. So far all others are black and white photos. The structures are the focal point of the images. A black and white image break down the scene to concentrate the viewer’s eye on their forms and structure.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Edifice of lucre, lithographed, corporeal capitalism captured…”
– SJ Mannion
I am currently creating a series of fine art prints of Dublin City. This photo was captured at the old Irish Central Bank on Dame Street located in the heart of Temple Bar Dublin. The project involves photographing Dublin around dawn. A black and white photo works pretty much void of human content. The central Bank has since relocated to the once derelict Anglo Irish Bank Building.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Stone sleeps, the eye rests, the tower beckons, sky calls.”
– SJ Mannion
A beautiful Black And White Photo of the quaint Coliemore Harbour Dalkey. Dalkey island sits in the background. The photo of the Harbour breaks the scene down into simple forms. I wanted to achieve rich blacks in the sky, so I waited for a bright day with a nice blue sky. I started shooting in the early afternoon to maximise the contrast. The triangulation of the piers and wall in the foreground form an apex in front of the tower on the island so the eye is drawn to it.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Departing glance. Salt calls.”
– SJ Mannion
This graffiti photo was captured on the same morning as my Radiating beams, Blackrock Baths at Sunrise photo. It was captured underneath the seating at the Blackrock baths. The since demolished baths are located beside Blackrock Dart Station. It was a beautiful September morning. I love the stillness of the scene and the way the window forms a strong divide between the outside world and what lies within. The viewer seems isolated from the serenity which lies outside.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Lady Splendour of the Heavens kisses the riotous and the richly appointed. Rigour stands alone . As he must.”
– SJ Mannion
The edition is now sold out and is no longer available. This photo one of 2 images captured underneath the seating at the Blackrock Baths. This is the sunrise version. I had monitored the position of the sun over the year. The sun rose in the optimal location, peeking through the triangle formed between the radiating beams and the surround to the window opening. I wanted to create an atmosphere similar to the 1970’s Coca Cola adds full of sunshine and optimism, but with an unconventional subject. The sunshine penetrates this cold stark space and filling it with a wonderful glow to make the whole space come alive.
“Radiating Beams, Blackrock Baths at Sunrise” received best fine art/pictorial image award in the 2012 IPPA awards. It was also a finalist in the World Photographic Cup. It is an international photography competition for photographers from the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
– Enda Cavanagh
“Our own Excalibur, a slender remnant, redemptive. Think on those lost to the storm.”
– SJ Mannion
A photo of the small pier near Blackrock Dart Station at sunset on a wonderful April evening. I saw this rusted pole many times from the Dart when I used to work in Dublin City Centre. This nondescript pole seemed to me liked a beautiful sculpture. So delicate. Hanging on for dear life. Rust eating away at it’s base. Sadly since broken over. A reflection of humanity perhaps?
– Enda Cavanagh
“Distance. A longer view. Quietude.”
– SJ Mannion
A Blackrock sunset photo of Dublin Bay. captured at a small pier near Blackrock Dart Station on a wonderful April evening. I saw this rusted pole many times from the Dart and I knew there was a fantastic image in the making. I think it was just the simplicity of the scene that attracted me. The pole has since finally succumbed to rust and is no longer intact. The photo is part of my Duality series.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Dwarfed by modernity, redolent, regretful, almost apologetic now. A place that once shouted, screamed, teamed with life. Silenced now.”
– SJ Mannion
I took this photograph at the old abandoned Blackrock swimming baths. I wanted to capture 3 different stories if you like. One shows the Dart station in operation, where you can see the Dart and the passenger showing life and movement. Beside that you see the Baths and the Blackrock Baths Diving Platform, disused and in decay, where you can imagine a time once full of activity and beyond that you have the the sea where nature wins out in the end.
“3 Stages at the Blackrock Swimming Baths” was selected for the 2012 RHA Annual Exhibition.
– Enda Cavanagh
“Inside the walls there is still the sound of lives lived here. The walls hold it. As they hold the shout of colour. The cracks and fissures of the ruined ground hold it. And a Sentinel stands over all the whispered tumult.”
– SJ Mannion
A photograph of the old abandoned Blackrock swimming Baths. It is part of my series of photos of Dublin along the coast. It is one of two shots I tried to take I believe on 7 different occasions. 3 factors have to come together. The tide has to be out on a sunny day when the sun is at a certain angle so it just catches the the diving platform covering it in a warm light. I just wasn’t getting the luck until now. I love these baths. You can really feel the past when it was full of activity when walking around the place.
– Enda Cavanagh
