I Live in Ireland
Sunday July 27th, 2008
Old Norman Castle, Who Knows, Ireland
If you throw a rock in Ireland you will hit a castle - and that rock will be FROM another castle
Today the band had a last minute booking from an Irish television station to play a song on the Irish version of MTV. We woke from the wonderful night's sleep off the pub ground, tipped our hat to the demon bartender - who wasn't there in spirit because if you recall from yesterday's entry he was a vampire and it was day - and headed to a lovely Irish town called Westport.
Westport House, Ireland
This town has it all! Victorian buildings, Roman style bridges, coffee shops everywhere and a stunning view of a mountain visible from every point in town. The band had a gig in a place called Westport House that is a manor that has been owned by the Browne family for around 400 years and before that was home to a very famous female Pirate Grace O'Malley who pretty much ran the entire region during her lifetime.
Westport House, Ireland
It was designed by James Wyatt - who I remember is very famous in London - and has dungeons, amazing art, wax figures of Irish artists, a petting zoo, a themepark rides and some very lovely gardens.
Creepy Hot Lady Portrait, Westport House, Ireland
After a weekend of amazing weather, it started pouring as we packing into the car. The drive back I screamed out CASTLE!!! and we stopped to take some photos of an old Norman castle at the side of the road which is the first photo in this entry. It was a really great trip and the band are too nice to describe in words.
It was kind of sad to return to Galway because this week is a very busy time called Raceweek where every horse guy on the planet shows up to race - or something. As the car with the band mates drove away I noticed a bat following the car and transforming just as the car crested a hill. I figured I must be really really tired and then went to bed.
Saturday July 26th, 2008
Disconnect4, Pool Room Floor, Ireland
Whatever you do - do NOT feed them after Midnight! Why? Oh - No one has ever asked before. Because they will multiply and turn evil and kill you. Is that more clear?
The next gig the band had was in some town whose name I forget. There was a breast cancer Marathon going on when we got there so there were bras all along the road. This was really middle of nowhere Ireland and the locals all had hoodies. I'm pretty sure the town's main industry is sausage because I didn't see ONE girl while I was there.
Interestingly enough there was a very neat tower that dated back to about 600AD - See Photos on my facebook file - right beside the pub they were playing. The owner had a really really thick accent and I didn't understand a word he said. Still - I got the impression he didn't like me with my backpack and curly hair and glasses. I guess hate is a pretty universal language
Middle of Nowhere, Ireland
The band played very well - though there was NO one in the pub. That wasn't really surprising because there was no one in the town either. The bar owner said he had a room we could all sleep in after the gig - which hilariously turned out to be a pool room upstairs. There were no chairs, no sofas - just pool tables. We decided to make the best of it and had a few drinks and starting playing pool.
After about 5 min the lights went out. The bar downstairs was closed, the bar tender had gone home, so we went out in search of a fuse box. Thus unfolded a series of incredibly hilarious events that I thankfully have full photo and video footage of. In this PUB basement, in a small Irish town, nestled underneath the pool room in a dank cellar was a Coffin. A HUMAN coffin that was partly covered with a sheet and fully covered with terror.
The guitar player and I were the ones who went down to find the fuse box in the dark and promptly ran upstairs in what can only be described as very similar to the scene in Garfield's Halloween special when the Pirates come after Odie and Garfield and then they run across the lake Jesus style home.
Coffin in Basement, Durkan's Pub, of COURSE Ireland
Of course the rest of the band had to see it for themselves and then - since we were all pretty drunk - we recorded a very serious and hilarious video where we had a vote on whether we should open the coffin so we would be able to sleep well and finally kill the Irish Dracula. The video footage is so very very funny and will be posted eventually - but there was no body inside. I wasn't really SAD there wasn't a body inside, but it was kind of anti-climatic for sure. Then we did a photo shoot with the coffin. Remember this was ALL in the pitch dark and all we had to light us were cell-phones.
After the horror show was over I decided I wanted to sleep in the car right beside the creepy cemetery rather than the pool hall over the creepy coffin. I figured if whoever slept in the coffin came back then I could escape to the cemetery because I think that vampires can't go on cemetery ground. Or maybe they are stronger and invincible there. It was late, and I didn't really care at that point.
Friday July 25th, 2008
Tullamore Castle, Tullamore
Anyone down for a Solid Gold Pop Show?
Disconnect Four had a few gigs around Ireland and an extra space in the car which they offered up to me. Since I have been stuck in Galway for about three weeks and I was done my Arts Festival assignments I decided I needed a little road trip. The drives in Ireland are very beautiful and are all along remote stretches of road with very narrows one-car lanes and trees lining the highway side. Above is a castle in Tullamore that was closed but I photographed it through the fence.
Tullamore, Ireland
When I first got to Tullamore, it looked pretty much the same as Galway with similar pubs, stores and city layout - minus of course the coast. While the band was sound-checking I went for a brief walk and found a castle and all sorts of houses with interesting looking facades. It was probably one of my favorite walks around Ireland thus far.
House with cool gate, Tullamore, Ireland
Waiting before the band went on we went to a family diner where the band drew strong glances from all the local townsfolk except a few elderly ladies who sat beside us and ordered a muffin - not to eat - but so they could crumple it up and throw it all over the table and floor. That was pretty much the highlight of the meal.
Sketch of Joe By Yvonne, Ireland
While waiting still for the bands time to go on Yvonne was drawing things around the bar and I asked her to draw me. It made me feel very weird and I realized it’s probably how I make people when I photograph them. Yvonne is a smart, beautiful, articulate woman - but she drew me as I would look if someone smashed my face in with a brick and put fish lips on as a final insult. Disconnect4 played very well and the sound was really good for a pub - and the lighting and smoke machine kind of made them look like Aerosmith. At night we drove to the lead singer Leon's house which was about an hour away. It was here that we were treated to photos of Leon as a young Trent Rezner - or as his father said - Bryan Ferry.
Thursday July 24th, 2008
Water Tower, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F22 - 1/180 ISO 250
I Found a Castle. I FOUND a C-A-S-T-L-E! And a dog
Today I went and had a very fun conversation with my new French friend Sibelle about the a study she is doing on spots on the human Retina and how she can record them best using digital sensors and optics. We argued about her equipment and the reason why she can't get a clearer photo of what she wants. It was probably me at my most nerdy ever.
After that I went on a bike ride because it was lovely out. The first photo is from a water tower at the Galway Waterworks. While taking it a lovely Irish man but the name of - lets call him Irish man - gave me a tour around the building and taught me how water went through pipes and how they have to throw kids off the property all the time because they steal things.
My Castle, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F13 - 1/100 ISO 400
Then while biking through the country minding my own business what do I see in the distance? An old broken thing. So I go to investigate. What do I find? A CASTLE! A bloody effing castle that had NO plaques, no visiting hours, no signs to or from it, NO ONE AROUND. It was a castle. A castle. It was a castle in the middle of nowhere and I found it there. A castle that was just THERE. IN A FIELD. Again, it was A CASTLE!
Mr.Dog, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F22 - 1/180 ISO 250
Wednesday July 23th, 2008
Sibelle, Ireland: Canon 40D 80mm at F1.8 - 1/80 ISO 800
Daddy, can you buy me that new headstone for when I'm dead?
So I read a lot today. Read a book. Then I went for a bike ride around the University and met a lovely French girl named Sibelle who saw me taking photos of stuff and asked if I would like to take her money and turn it into photos of her lab and what she is doing. I agreed - by saying OUI! Then she asked if I spoke French. I said OUI! And then she asked if I knew any other words and I changed the subject to what she was studying. Thankfully I didn't have to speak any more French.
StoreFront, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/80 ISO 1600
While biking back to my place I came across an interesting storefront. It had its light still on and it sold gravestones. Then I witnessed a brash young redhead running up to it and pressing his freckled cheek against the glass. "Daddy can I have one can I can I can I?" The daddy stroked his rounded chin and bent down to the young lad. When you’re dead son, when YOU ARE DEAD! Then the son ran screaming into traffic in an effort to fulfill his dream. Most of that didn't happen. But there IS a store that sells headstones like they are sofas.
Some Girl, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/100 ISO 400 With Bounce Flash
The last photo is from me shooting Disconnect4 again at a pub. She saw my camera and screamed TAKE MY PHOTO TAKE MY PHOTO. So I did - and it turned out pretty good. Its a good thing I don't know her name, where she lives or have anyway of ever showing her this photo. In hindsight I probably should have photoshopped it to make her doing something seedy since I will never see her again.
Tuesday July 22th, 2008
John Mahoney, Ireland: Canon 40D 50mm at F4 - 1/125 ISO 100
Fraser's Dad made me swoon - in a heterosexual way
Today I woke up early to photograph John Mahoney (the dad from Fraser) because he is in town in a play called "Better Late". Because I am always lost in this town because they don't have a street sign anywhere in Ireland - SERIOUSLY!! - I showed up with about 2 min left to the photocall. All the other photographers were being very nice and trying to talk to him and get his attention and then me the "Cocky American" as one photographer mumbled ran to the front of all of them and threw up a bunch of photos and made him laugh about these being exactly the same as all the other photographers shots but incredibly different.
He was really nice - smiling and joking and staying to talk to the photographers afterwards. I think when I die I want to be buried in his smile. Is that gay? I don't care if it is! He was really cool and he put me in a good mood. So THERE!
Giselle, Ireland: Canon 40D 50mm at F5 - 1/125 ISO 1000
Next I was shooting what I think is a dance troop - but I'm not sure because I didn't care enough to read the blurb they gave me. At any rate they were called Giselle and the first shot at the top looks like a footlocker advertisement or a promo for a really bad Canadian sitcom.
Giselle, Ireland: Canon 40D 80mm at F5 - 1/125 ISO 800
I opened up a bank account today, I got a library card and took up Bill Bryson's "A History of Nearly Everything" - which after reading the first chapter I am convinced is a work of brilliance. I also started a few scenes from another short film with Disconnect 4 bassist Yvonne and then I fell asleep and --- oh let's see --- oh I made fries and updated my Blog for those of you who actually read what I write here. I think the photo above had some sort of deep meaning because he hog tied her afterwards while dancing around her if anyone cares. I don't.
Monday July 21th, 2008
Amanda Fitzgerald, Toronto: Canon 40D 17mm at F11 - 1/125 ISO 100
It's kind of like that episode of Star Trek The Next Generation where there are 3 enterprises from different times and they all blow up at...or maybe I just wanted to mention Star Trek
So today's photo (or Mondays if you account for the time difference in Canada and the fact that I didn't update this until Wednesday) is not a photo from Monday anyway. This is a still from a short film I made in Toronto right before I left with a lovely girl from Orangeville Amanda. I have been editing this in my spare time and its going to be both a music video for the Golden Dog's song "Theresa" which I wanted to make YEARS ago and a short film. This is what I did today - for most of it.
The reason its going to be two things is that I need some money to do some sound editing for the short film that I wont have for a while and I would like to release the footage while I'm still alive. Otherwise I read a book on death today which makes me want to go to the library to take out another book so I don't have to keep reading it.
Sunday July 20th, 2008
Galway Arts Parade, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/30 ISO 1000
"They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!"
So today was the Galway Arts parade. I was told it was pretty amazing but I was super grumpy and its a miracle I stood around in the freezing cold to see it - I'm glad I did. It seems the theme of this years parade was scary clowns, drugs, sex and gore.
Galway Arts Parade, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/30 ISO 1000
It started around eleven and all the children were still awake to be terrified by all the clowns with knives and needles. I am still unclear what the point of all this was but I was sold. I am sucker for creepy clowns covered in blood.
Galway Arts Parade, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/30 ISO 1000
After this there was a HUGE fireworks display outside my house window that was probably 30 min and probably spent more than they do on social welfare for all of Ireland. I of course was too lazy to take photos of it but if you google fireworks you will get a good idea of what it looked like.
Saturday July 19, 2008
Trois Josef, Ireland: Canon 40D 30mm at F13 - 1/180 ISO 200
Let's pretend we don't exist, Let's pretend we're in Antarctica...
The title is a line from an Of Montreal song. It has nothing to do with anything but I really like it and listened to it like 3 times today. I had the day off today from official shooting. I edited all my photos from yesterday and sent them in and then walked all around town with Meghan taking photos of Galway in the sun - which is rare because I've only seen it once since I got here.
Above is a photo of me which was too boring to post as is so I photoshopped it half-assed and there you go! It looks like my first album cover if I had any songs or musical ambitions beyond buying and owning guitars.
God, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F22 - 1/1600 ISO 100
The end of the day I went by the ocean shore at this great spot where there are rocks that you can sit on and hang over the ocean without getting sand all over your entire life. It's my favorite place in Ireland and I really think this little town is starting to grow on me. Seriously I have like a rash on my neck from the detergent I bought here. [drum roll]
Above is a shot of the clouds. The sunsets here are all amazing and make it look like God is going to hurl something at you from above. If you don't believe in God - well just look at my photos and keep treating all your friends like shit.
Friday July 18, 2008
Sgt. Asshole, Ireland: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/60 ISO 800
I photographed lots today and all I can think is - Dear Crazy Norwegians on stilts, I love you.
Today was a photo dream. I got a call from Galway First asking me to submit a bunch of my Arts Festival photos for a full page in the paper. So that meant I had to shoot everything going on today. I shot a gallery opening for a Galway artist Kevin Mooney, A Jazz band from New Orleans called "Preservation Hall", An amazing performance group from Norway called "The Rebels", and social photos at two bars.
The Rebels, Shop Street: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/30 ISO 400
The Rebels were so cool. They only spoke Norwegian and ran through the streets on huge stilts to techno music throwing off flares and screaming at the drunk people who didn't know what was going. Then they got in a minvan and drove away.
The Rebels, Shop Street: Canon 40D 17mm at F4 - 1/125 ISO 800
The last thing is a photo of me that is too retarded not to post. I also recorded a 20 min film of me eating bananas to Michael Jackson playing in the background - seriously.
Thursday July 17, 2008
Tania Perez Salas, BlackBox Theatre: Canon 40D 50mm at F4 - 1/125 ISO 800
I ride my bike around town...that's pretty much it.
Yah, so I got my bike back. I rode it around town and it made this really odd noise that after about 30 min I realized was the light generator thing that moves against the wheel to power it. Then I was riding sweet. Oh yah.
I also photographed this dance Spanish dance thing "Tania Perez Salas" for the Galway First. It was so hot and sexy that I wish I could dance or talk Spanish so I could hit on the ladies. Hell - even the dudes were pretty sexy...cough cough.
After that I went home and edited one of my short films for the rest of the day. It's starting to look pretty amazing and when I drop this sucker on you - all of you you’re all going to lose your collective minds. It's going to be really sexy like that scene from the movie "Perfume" when he opens the perfume and the whole town has a huge orgy and even the priest starts getting in on the action. No exaggeration I'm sure.
If anyone cares, I am currently working on, editing, and filming about FIVE short films that I think I may want to have some sort of short-film screening to show everyone rather than plopping them on YouTube. If no one cares - why the hell are you reading this garbage?