This is my dog Pixie in Moira Demesne last winter.

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Having the best gear doesn’t make you a good photographer, its what you do with it that counts
Any new entry level dSLR will take a fantastic photo, but it’s in low light or with moving subjects that the Pro gear makes the difference. Canon L lenses and the top line flashgun are weather sealed too.

Spares
I shoot with 2 cameras with different lenses attached. I work fast and don’t need to keep stopping to change lenses, and you get greater variety in your images. Equipment can break, but I’ll have backup gear right there with me.

2x Canon 5dMkII lets me shoot great quality video as well as stills for my fusion packages, or If the Minister won’t allow photography during the ceremony I can shoot video, and grab a good quality still frame of rings exchange and the first kiss from the video footage. This is good enough to make a 7x5inch print from.

Lenses
Canon 17-40 F4L
Canon 24-105 F4L IS
Canon 70-200 F2.8 L IS
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon 85mm 1.8
Canon 100mm macro

2x canon 580EX flashguns

LED video panel light
Lowel ID video light + tall light stand
These are awesome for those cool night-time or funky hotel shots, and really give me loads of creative options for winter weddings, where we might be inside all day.

Set of Calumet pro series radio triggers so I can fire remote flash. Mostly used for first dance photography, but I can trigger a remote camera placed in a church balcony too.

Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod for group shots

my awesome spider pro holster belt takes the weight of 2 heavy cameras off my shoulders so I can shoot harder for longer. I can also have my hands free to do things like hold doors open for people as I’m nice like that!

When I photograph weddings I also carry lens cloths, spare batteries, and a supply of tissues, chewing gum and safety pins which come in handy more often than you think!

Meet Isaac Semple

I’m truly loving being a dad, and working from home has enabled me to spend so much time with him in this first few months.

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Saturday past I was sports photographer for Northern Ireland’s new Decathalon tri series It was 1st in the series for the Crooked Lake Triathalon at Camlough. A 430 strong turnout, great weather and a really well run event, made me a happy photographer. I was riding and shooting from the back of a motorbike, driven by Everest climbing Mountaineer Banjo Bannon.
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These guys put on a great show at Laura and Richard’s wedding in the Radisson Roe park. The Lee Roy Brown wedding band were fast at setting up and had everyone on the floor.
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We had a family re-union and a meal in Brownlow House, Lurgan for my father-in-laws 65th birthday. It was the perfect opportunity to take some family portraits. (I used a remote trigger to take the shots that I’m in!)

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Diann and I spent the bank holiday weekend camping with some kitesurfing friends. We camped at Murvagh Beach (near Donegal town) which was great, apart from the litter pile previous campers had left. We woke on a sunny Saturday morning and the Kiters wanted somewhere more windy so we went to Dooey Beach Near Lettermacaward in Donegal which was very windy , and cold, and was like being in a constant sandstorm. But the kiters had a ball!

Camping at Murvagh

Dooey had a very busy surf school

Corin going high

Dooey beach at night

I’m still shaking sand out of things!

To fix vignetting when using cokin holder, buy a spare cokin filter holder (or a cheap copy off ebay) and saw the filter holder off after the 1st slot using a small hacksaw.

Ive just done this and now I can use my cokin circ pol and 1 more cokin filter (ND or ND grad) at 17 mm on my 5d without any vignetting. And I haven’t needed to remove my protective slim UV filter.

Great. no more trying to hold filters and keep my fingers out of frame.

My Wife Diann and I took off to Westport and Doolin for a camping trip over the Easter break. This Island is beautiful, and the variety of landscapes is immence!

Martial Arts experts train as the sun sets over Croagh Patrick, Ireland

Sunset over this famous Irish Mountain

Sunrise over Croagh Patrick

Doolin

The Burren

Cliffs of Moher

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