Portrait Of A Photographer

Here's a strange thing. I went to photograph Michael Longley being awarded The Irish Times Poetry Now Award and the best portrait I took was of the veteran Irish Times photographer, Cyril Byrne. The stacks of chairs, the light, everything seemed to have fallen into place.

Later, I took some photos of Michael which worked better (for me anyway) than my formal shots, such as this one, talking with John O'Donnell and Geraldine Mitchell later in the nearby hotel. I don't know Michael very well, but enough to have a pint or two together and talk about virtually anything under the sun/moon/cloud. A wonderfully warm and expansive presence, always a pleasure.