I have always had a passion for photography, since childhood I could always be found with a camera in my hand. As part of my A-Level Art I was part of a trio of students who set up the first dark-room in school so we could develop our own prints. As things moved towards digital I maintained my interest, in 2013 I embarked on a two year P/T photography course, recently resulting in gaining both Level I and II City & Guilds qualifications.
I especially enjoy photographing people in their natural environment: capturing candid, unscripted moments. A look, a smile, a surprise reaction, capturing these emotions are as important to me as shots that require a pose. Having a wife & two young children I get plenty of practice in this less formal aspect of photography.
I have a long term passion in photographing abandoned houses that scatter the countryside, especially here in County Tyrone. These old houses have long held an interest to me, and with the passing of time as these monuments to the past succumb to the elements of nature, I have an increasing urgency to document them before they are gone forever.
Some of these old homes may be nothing more than crumbling walls, others may still contain reminders of their past life, but all hold an equal fascination. To some they are derelict eyesores, but to others, like myself, these are relics to an Ireland of the past. There seems to be little interest in trying to preserve or restore them, so my mission is to record them as they stand today. I am hosting my first solo exhibition, “Abandoned Tyrone” in An Creagán Centre, as part of “Culture Night”, Friday 18th september, to run for 3 weeks.
Recently I have been working on commercial/industrial photography, although this is my first venture into this field of photography I found it incredibly satisfying & hope to continue to expand my portfolio in this area. Even within this field I am constantly searching for shots that capture the un-noticed, the different, that little something that can set my work apart from the rest.
Thanks for taking the time to read these words, and I hope you enjoy the photographs as they appear on my website. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Jason Mc Cartan