Dunree in B&W

[andy mcinroy]

May 9, 2007 at 8:50 pm

Inspired by Positron, I have been working on a set of 20 B&W images of Dunree.

Here’s a few to get started. C+C most appreciated.

[jb7]

May 9, 2007 at 9:58 pm

Hi Andy,

For pictures posted in the documentary section, these are not telling me an auful lot-
neither about the location, or your reaction to it, or the story behind it-

They’re mostly abstractions of details and surfaces,
with the further abstraction of having the colour removed.

It seems that you are mostly interested in the weathered surfaces,
which have a certain beauty, but they’re lacking context-

In my opinion, only the second picture properly belongs in this section,
the others could be of almost any neglected location.

In a series of 20 pictures,
maybe these would ultimately be seen to be the filler pictures?
There has to be a story here somewhere,
but these, on their own, are not telling it-

But I’d bet that they’d make beautiful prints-

joseph

[andy mcinroy]

May 10, 2007 at 7:39 am

Thanks Joseph,

These are not easily classified I agree, but the documentary section seemed to be the best pigeonhole for now.

I’m not really touting these as documentary but what I hope to achieve is a sense of place with a feeling of decay. I’m hoping that a clear statement of intent will help resolve the goals.

This is still very much work in progress but I feel there is a story here to be told before the place disintegrates forever. I think you are right that the weathered surface shots should perhaps make up a smaller number of the images. Some of the writing on the doors helps set the scene, otherwise as you say, they could be anywhere (individually at least).

Thanks for the feedback. I’m going to keep working on this one. I’m getting a good response on this set over on the RPS forum.

Anyone else “feel” anything from these?

Andy

[positron]

May 10, 2007 at 2:05 pm

Inspired by me!? I am chuffed!! :D

I really like them, Andy. Not sure if this has anything do with the fresh memories of the place, but 2, 4 & 6 really works for me. One or two of them looks a bit too gray (7 for instance), but it could be be just me.

[andy mcinroy]

May 10, 2007 at 2:12 pm

Thanks Positron,

Your photos reminded me just how eerie and atmospheric the place is. I had visited many times but perhaps I was so wrapped up in my “landscape” scarf that I missed this excellent subject. It’s interesting that I took an almost identical shot of the canteen door (not shown here). I can’t remember seeing yours before. Either I subconciously saw it or we are thinking along the same lines.

I still have much to do. I’ll keep you posted.

Andy

[Bjorn]

May 12, 2007 at 6:23 pm

amcinroy

I think you’ve made a very good effort here but your black and whiting is a bit unimaginative and you could have done a lot more to bring out the flavour of the place if you made the photos a bit more punchy with some BLACK and WHITE and maybe a bit of graininess. Have you tried shooting at ISO 3200 maybe. You might have to leave your landscape hat, coat and socks with the scarf.

Bjorn

[andy mcinroy]

May 12, 2007 at 7:21 pm

Thanks Bjorn,

Here’s another set. I’ll probably go with 10-12 for the final cut.

Andy

[Flipflip]

May 13, 2007 at 11:59 am

Second set is far stronger in my opinion Andy. I like the 2nd one from the first set but to be honest the others didnt do mjuch for me. But the second set is alot more consistent if ya get me.

Just my two cents!

[andy mcinroy]

May 13, 2007 at 7:55 pm

Thanks Flipflip,

I hope that a statement of intent will pull this all together after I have weeded out the weaker images. I think tere are probably three in the first set that need to come out.

Andy

[PeteTheBloke]

May 14, 2007 at 9:37 am

Andy

I think these are a bit polished. I’d like to see some grainy, hard, high contrast photos. I think the subject needs a raw, rough-edged feel. I want you to put emotion into it. Kick some stones, ditch your tripod, get some weird angles, shout at the sky, wear orange socks – whatever it takes.

Having said that, I like the chimneys.

[andy mcinroy]

May 14, 2007 at 9:51 am

Cheers Pete,

Great feedback there. I’ll get to it.

These were all handheld, but I understand what you mean. I’ll put my tin hat on and try to “feel” the place.

All together now lads,

CHAAAAARGE !!!!!!!

Andy

[andy mcinroy]

May 21, 2007 at 12:50 pm

Guys,

There is a 1st draft of my portfolio up at

http://www.andymcinroy.com/4port.htm

Here’s my introductory statement. What do you think? Does it tell a cohesive story?

The hill fort at Dunree on the Inishowen Penisula of Donegal once provided a key strategic defence of Loch Swilly from its foundation in 1798 right up until WW2. Now it stands as rusting and deserted relic of our wartime past.

On my many visits to the fort I have always found the place to be eerie and cold. Even on the warmest of summer days, a cold draughts blows through the dark corridors and creaking corregated iron swings in the breeze. Meanwhile, hooded crows watch suspicously from the old telegraph poles. I have carefully treaded through most of these old corridors. Yet there are some dark rooms behind closed doors that still spook me. Those doors remain closed.

Yet, despite the eerie mood and whispers of the past, nature returns to reclaim its place here. Every winter storm sees another window blown in and a little more brickwork crumble. Each year the briars grow higher to conceal what remains and new growth emerges to heal the land.