144th RUA Exhibition, Belfast

In the Bright Darkness

This photograph was taken on the Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland. I was drawn to the scene by the striking contrast between the small white house and the immense scale of the mountain behind it. For me, it captured the grandeur of our natural environment and our persistent presence within it.

In the west of Ireland, light shifts quickly as the sun breaks through fast-moving clouds. I watched and waited for the moment when the rays fell across the landform, highlighting the texture of the stone and illuminating the building. The composition is arranged so that the direction of the light and the layered rock formations guide the viewer's eye towards the house. Yet the house is deliberately placed low in the frame, allowing the mountain to dominate and convey the power of the landscape.

In my photography, the success of an image depends on both the visual quality of the original capture - subject, light and composition - and the post-production treatment that enhances its emotional impact. I work mainly in Adobe Lightroom which allows me to play with the qualities of the image and really bring it to life. For this work, I imagined an almost moonlit atmosphere. I worked with contrast and tones to give deep richness to dark areas and impact to the illuminated parts, while also drawing out the details in the vegetation and stone to emphasise scale. The light across the frame is shaped to keep the viewer's gaze within the image, focussing on the tension between the house and the monumental rock formation.

I revisited this image many times over several months, making subtle tonal adjustments until it felt complete. The result is a composition where scale at first feels uncertain, until the house - small, yet persistent - lends perspective. That dramatic comparison alters our sense of proportion, reminding us of the immensity of the landform and the relative smallness of our own presence.

This photograph belongs to a series reflecting on the grandeur of our natural environments. In the Bright Darkness is presented as an ode to Ireland's ancient terrain, and to the fleeting relevance of our daily concerns when set against such enduring vastness.

Being selected for the Royal Ulster Academy (RUA) Annual Exhibition is a real honour. It’s one of the longest-running and most respected art exhibitions on the island of Ireland, attracting submissions from established and emerging artists across the country and beyond. The selection process is highly competitive, with each piece carefully considered by a panel of artists and curators. To have work chosen is deeply humbling - a quiet acknowledgement that something in what you’ve created has resonated, and a chance to share that work alongside so many remarkable artists.

Details about the Work :

Laminated Fine Art Print in Wood Tray Frame

60 x 90cm

Edition of 10, 6 available