LET’S FACE IT, if you’re anything like myself your instagram feed is probably a barrage of doggo pics, reheated memes and humblebrag posts by old college friends.
That’s a shame because so many Irish creatives are using the platform to share their stunning work. Thankfully we’re here to rectify that with some recommendations from Ireland’s best photographers.
Mark William Logan (@markwilliamlogan) always provides the viewer with a depth that is hard to attain as a photographer. He captures the vulnerabilities in people and at the same time finds a balance by revealing the true beauty that makes us human.
He has a special connection with people that’s evident in his work. Mark is a true collaborator and gives so much to the creative scene. A true artist and a great human being.
You can follow Gavin on Instagram at @orange_owl.
When asked to name my favourite Irish Photographer on Instagram, it doesn’t seem possible to choose just one. We’re very fortunate in Ireland to have such a wide array of talent emerging and establishing itself. However, one photographer whose work I find particularly striking is that of Arman Jose Galang (@arman.jose.galang).
His careful curation of his Instagram account creates an art piece in itself. Arman is a master at combining colours, textures, expressions and lighting to create distinct atmospheres in each collection of photos he takes. I always find myself drawn to his unique style which seems inherently effortless yet simultaneously complex.
I’m a firm believer that the amount of ‘likes’ one receives on photos does not equal its quality or value in any means, but I do think that Arman Jose Galang is more than deserving of further recognition for his beautiful work.
You can follow Ayesha on Instagram at @ayeshabeans
Do you ever drearily swipe through Instagram over that morning coffee? Full of regret, your profile empty of colour, looking at those shots of the EPIC sunrise that you missed due to a Netflix binge the night before. “This weekend” I lie to myself, “I’ll definitely get out for sunrise this weekend.” I never do though…
We all want to capture those shots of sun-kissed sunrises and inspiring silhouettes, of all the iconic Dublin landmarks. But, some things are just better left to the pros. In my eyes, Paul Roche (@Paulroche.ie) is certainly one of them.
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting, shooting with and even competing against Paul for the #IgeroftheYear award. Aside from being a total gent, his work speaks for itself! So if you’re searching for inspiration check out his profile and tell him Neville sent you.
You can follow Neville on Instagram at @lawless_ireland. His website is lawlessireland.com.
I’d recommend Hazel Coonagh (@hazelcoonagh). I would have seen her work a long time before I knew her. We work for the same magazine now, GCN, and it’s an honour to work alongside her.
In terms of photography, she pushes boundaries and she’s always trying new things. One of my favourite things she’s done so far was this self portrait she took of herself, which she then put safety pins through and took a photo of that. It made this unbelievable texture and gave it this depth I’ve never seen in a photo.
Her photography makes me refine mine even more. I’d finish a piece and then I’d just think of something she’s done and check it again. She really makes me think about my compositions.
You can follow Babs on Instagram at @babsdaly. Babs recently shot the Call It Out Campaign which highlights homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Ireland.
I love Ian Carruthers (@irishskies). Ian is a landscape photographer but he specializes in astro-photography in Ireland, which is very cool for me, because it’s something I have no experience in. He runs Irish Weather Online, which is a massive facebook page with a hundred thousand followers, but his own person page only has a couple of thousand followers.
In his work he captures the Milky Way over Waterford and you wonder how the hell did he do that. The astro-photography is what brought me to him, but when it comes to his standard sunrise and moon shots, he uses this big telephoto lens that compresses the Moon to make it very, very big. He does some crazy stuff.
My personal favourite of his is a photo of his dog Shadow singing on the Ballinastoe Woods, just beside the wooden sleepers in the snow. You couldn’t write it!
You can follow Freddy on Instagram at @rawdublin
If you want to explore the Irish coasts, Oisin Cooke (@concixus) is the account for you. Oisin embraces the water and plays with it throughout his feed, either up close or far above.
He makes you want to go to the beach to explore the deep evening light on the water across our small island. He’s also really welcoming collaborations and advice with other creators. @concixus is part of what makes the Irish Instagram community a community. He’s become one of my favourite accounts by pushing something he loves.
You can follow Michael on Instagram at @sykes_36
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