Anna O'Rourke

‘A Sense of Place’ was the theme for the Canon & theJournal.ie National Amateur Photography competition 2015, in which I was very happy to be awarded first place.... this is how I defined the theme...

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"It is when you feel most connected to a certain place through your own experiences and the interaction between people and their environment.  Living beside the sea in Greystones  I  wanted to show how it's amenites are valued by the inhabitants by trying to capture the unique essence and in turn it’s features and qualities.

 

I have very fond memories of growing up here, originally a fishing village, and I feel a real connection to its history.  It is this that gives me a feeling of ‘sense of place’ and what I see is giving new generations that special feeling through it’s unique atmosphere.

 

Modern Ireland has embraced health and fitness as part of it’s lifestyle. Here, there are lots of outdoor activites which I wanted to showcase as well as how this brings people and families together. I think this gives perspective of belonging.  Despite the changes over time, modernity will always intrude into places we think we know whether welcome or not, for example our unmistakingly new modern harbour. Despite that people still interact with the sea."

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Since the competition award I went on to set up my own business in freelance photography and landscape photography art in November 2015 and have enjoyed every minute of the journey so far. I have recently sold my work in The Creation Room in Fishers of Newtown Mountkennedy, Co.Wicklow and I am currently taking part in G.R.A.P.E  (Greystones Art and Photography Exhibition) which is held outdoors every Sunday on the new harbour plaza in Greystones  from June to end of August 2016.