Welcome!

Now this is the story all about how
My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute, just listen to me
I'll tell you how I ended up in Limerick CITYYY!

Apologies for the cheesy introduction!
I'm Áine & I'm a first year student of Art & Design in LSAD.
I studied a portfolio course (Art, Graphics & Print) last year in BCFE.
Originally from Monaghan, I hadn't set foot in Limerick until three weeks ago.
First time blogger, here goes. . . . .


So week one was a general introduction to the course with lots of lectures from year 1 tutors and a lovely talk from the gardaí on the dodgy characters of limerick city! We had our first full day in the studio on thursday 13th of September and a full block of studio time last week in preparation for our first ever tutorial with Kieran Whitehall last friday. Last week also happened to coincide with freshers (problematic?!). So this week 24th of September finally getting stuck in. Our brief "To Sense My Space". I began by photographing my surrounding space. The craic starts here. :)

A view of the college :

Photography is one of my favourite if not my favourite of mediums. Always enjoyed it but I really got accustomed to using it last year as a cheap & easy way to produce work quickly. Especially digital media, it allows you to fire off shots getting tons of images instantaniously. You might end up with 100 shite photos but there's always at least one interesting one to be found and you can always just dispose of the rest. I've come to rely on it if I'm ever stuck for ideas. If you need inspiration or are stuck in a rut, just grab a camera! It's the perfect way of getting a fresh perspective on an idea, & it always sparks a train of thought. As soon as I started taking photographs different ideas for my project started occuring. The rest is a natural process. One idea lends itself to another. Before I knew it I was wandering into town . . . .I'm easily led astray... . .follow me :) . . .

Especially like the last four shots. I think it's the combination of shapes. The overall composition in the second last photo really appeals to me. Possibly because there is a clear foreground, middleground and background. There's a harmony to it or a spatial awareness? pah! anyway. . .
More shots of Limerick City, streets, alleyways and run down housing, all very interesting. These reminded me of an enclosure, with the red iron gate, it seemed to ward off uninvited guests, unwelcoming, the mysterious building in the background just out of reach. . .

Like the grid shape. . .

Hungry & homeward bound
TO PARKVILLE. . .

Angular buildings with lots of edges, rectangular shapes & sharp lines, i like . . .

Hmmmm somethings missing, this situation requires a change in perspective.  . . .the balcony beckons. . . .

Reaching new heights. .. . .view from the balcony.

Sheer chance, standing on an opportunity, happened upon more grid-like shapes, beneath my feet. . .

Let's take the stairs? . . . .

Kind of resulted in graphic type photos. Thinking of reproducing these with black duck tape or masking tape on paper, I'll post photos of how I get on. . .



I leave you with these slightly eerie photos of the ground floor corridor, reminiscent of something from the shining perhaps! Not an expression of any subconscious psychotic desire lawds, just like them because of the quality of the lighting & their beauty & subtlety of shadow.

And perhaps because they seem to sum up today quite aptly. Beginning of a journey etc. . insert metaphor here :)

À bientôt, j'espère!