Paris, Vermeer & Atlanta

Those of you who follow my all too infrequent blogs know I'm a gypsy at heart and I travel on a whim, and often on a wing and a prayer. BTW prayers are good and often work! So I recommend trying it. So I don't like long stories so I'll cut to the chase eventually. I'm Irish and talking to myself in my self-imposed digital darkroom in the wee small hours is par for the course. Funny, Ballybunion golf course comes to mind. It's in Co Kerry : http://www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie and well worth a visit. In fact the entire West coast of Ireland is worth a visit!
Anyway forget I wrote that, this blog is about photography. Not any old photography! My photography! I'm still in Paris (just for today), next week I'm back to Ireland for my photo workshop in Co Donegal. If you don't know Co Donegal you're really missing out. It's a well kept secret, and one I'm trying to change cos everyone deserves to see it at least once in a lifetime.

Now back to me goodself. I'm working on a personal project, a rather simple one, but one I'm really enjoying. It started with my admiration of Vermeer's "Girl with the pearl earring", it's a painting that has enchanted (ie charmed, delighted, captivated) me for years and one day near Place St Michel here in Paris I spotted "the" young girl. I turned on my heels, stopped the girl and explained my new idea, she agreed to pose for me and the rest is soon to be history.

Since that fateful day I've photographed about thirty ladies ranging in age from 10 to 80 years of age. I love them all!

They have all been willing volunteers, and it is this generosity of time, privacy and openness that has made this project so dear to my heart. It really has helped to restore my faith in humanity, and has inspired me to carry on when sometimes I think I'm just mad. You do have to be mad, and yes it certainly does help!
So now this year I have to have it all done in preparation for the arrival of Vermeer's masterpiece in Atlanta, GA. If all things are equal and the Gods agree I will exhibit my "girls" at the same time as Vermeer's "girl" next September in a gallery near the High museum. http://www.high.org




So if you're looking for a theme/project just head to your local art museum and get some inspiration. Or visit me here in Paris and I'll teach/guide you.