Cliona O'Flaherty Photography

Absolut Original

2009-08-27T11:02:00.001-07:00

Absolut is doing an Absolut Original Exhibition here in Dublin during the Fringe Festival. It is being curated by The Small Print. I was fortunate enough to be invited to submit a piece which is very exciting.

The brief was pretty loose and the only stipulation was to take inspiration from the bottle...so it was perfect for me to go crazy with all things pink, sweet and girly. Here are some behind the scenes (dodgy phone pics) of myself and food stylist Sharon Hearne Smith prop sourcing. Guiney's is a great spot, we sourced loads of fake flowers and lovely pink bedspreads that I stapled to the wall and with the help of a friend Florian, covered buttons and sewed them on to make the padded background. I will post the final image soon.

Creative Review Photography Annual 2009

2009-08-26T10:00:00.001-07:00

Here are is a video from last year's launch (©William Pine)

I was really deighted to open my inbox and find an email from Creative Review to say that I had been selected for their 2009 Photography Annual again this year....the pressure is now on for 2010. The annual comes out in October. Last year I was away and unfortunately wasn't able to attend the launch in London but I'm definitely going to head over this year and have a nice break in London with lots of cake, galleries and a sneeky trip to Liberty.I'll post more about it in October.

Images (© Alex Forsey) from last year's launch.

Rankin

2009-05-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

Southstudios had the privilege of doing a Q&A with Rankin...photographer to the stars. Myself and Yvette from the studio opened the Q&A, public speaking can be bit terrifying but we got through it. Rankin was over in Ireland launching his new exhibition Cheka Kidogo in conjunction with Oxfam. Big thanks to Claire Quinlan from Oxfam and G-Face for the photos. The event was recorded so hopefully when it's edited I will be able to post it here.....that is if it's not too mortifying!

Personal Project

2009-04-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple images from an ongoing series that I am working on.

The Dry Crunchy Californian Central Valley

2009-04-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from the Californian Central Valley. It was amazingly dry and has a massive agricultural industry which uses vast amounts of artificial irrigation. As it was only April when we were there it wasn't as hot and dry as it gets, it can get up to 104F, you see "rain for rent" signs everywhere....grand in California...in Ireland...no thanks.

Home again

2009-04-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a great trip. I took this shot on the road into L.A. what a mental city, it was hot, hot, hot. We did lots of touristy things and hanging out but I think the best discovery was the bar Tiny K.O.s, it has the best juke box in the world, if you're in L.A. put it on your list. I'll post more pics from the trip during the week.....bye!

Irish Tatler Shoot

2009-03-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Some behind the scenes pics by Aoife Herrity

I never got to post this one. It was a shoot I did with Sarah Rickard for Irish Tatler. Her are a few pics from the shoot and some behind the scenes. It is pink, pink, pink to make the boys wink.

Photography: Clíona O'Flaherty
Assisted by: Aoife Herrity
Styling: Sarah Rickard
Assisted by: Eva Maguire
Makeup: Christine Lucignano
Hair: John Cheese for Toni and Guy
Models: Amanda@Models 1

Happy Happy, Sunny, Friday!

2009-03-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Cold day on the road.

2009-03-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

Myself and Aisling Farinella were shooting together last week, we both wanted to keep it quite loose and when we were heading into the countryside we didn't have a definite plan. I was inspired by photographs my dad took of my mam in the 70's. They were shots like any couple have where they just hop out of the car on a drive and their lady/gentleman takes a snap of them, that's pretty much what we did. Aisling chose some brilliant pieces that popped against the rugged landscape.

It was bloody freezing so I took two giant flasks of tea and coffee, my MSR, some Rich Tea (can't beat the Rich Tea) and a hot water bottle....all pretty low key! Niamh K from 1st option was a super sport, I have to say she was a delight to work with and didn't let the cold stop here doing her thing.

Top of the mornin' to ya!

2009-03-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

I got asked to do a very funny photshoot for OK magazine (NYC). The NBC Today Show were filming in Ireland for St Patricks day and I got to go and photograph the Al Roeker and Meriedeth Viera on a sheep farm in Wicklow. They were trying to learn how to herd sheep from Pat the farmer who was the most unique and amusing character, they couldn't have cast a better farmer!

The sheep were so cute and two little babies had been born that morning and they named them Al and Meriedeth. Pat the farmer will be seeing a lot more of me I tell ya, I'll be back. You can watch it here.

Crufts Woof!

2009-03-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

So travel light was the name of the game. I have never travelled to the airport with such a small amount of luggage I am a "why bring one pair of sparkly shoes when you can bring 4?" kinda girl so it felt very strange going to Birmingham for Crufts with just a camera, my phone and some baby wipes for dog slober.

Wow what an event....they sure like their dogs at Crufts. They take it pretty seriously, I went for the Toy and Utility day and they were pretty pampered pooches.

Baddddd Blogger!!!!!!

2009-03-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

Okay so I haven't been an A1 blogger really of late. It keeps getting put to the bottom of the list but I'll make a bigger effort now to get my bootie in gear. I have been doing lots of fun bits lately so hopefully I will get a chance to get some of them up here.

I feel a distinct sense of summer in the air and very excited about shooting lots of pretty summer clothes and getting motoring of some of my new projects. Bring on the Summer!

Quigleys Bakery

2009-02-09T05:01:00.001-08:00

I did some work a while back with Designworks for a lovely bakery Quigleys that is based in Nenagh. They also have cafés throughout the country. Their cakes and breads are delicious and it's really nice to see a family business doing so well and producing good quality treats. Here a few pics the agency kindly sent through.

The Restaurant Magazine

2009-02-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

I did a lot of work before Christmas for the new magazine for the TV series The Restaurant. Here are a few of them. It was good fun, food critic Tom Doorley was only a few feet away from us when we were on the film set, Aoife my assitant was very understandably very excited ;-)

Salón de Thé food styling by Louise Lennox
Sweet Ideas Edible Gifts food styling by Sharon Hearne Smith

Distant memories of holliers

2009-02-09T03:16:00.000-08:00

My trip to Tokyo feels like a gazillion years ago, I was trawling through pics the other day and remembered that I didn't post that many pics from the trip on my blog. So here are a random bunch, mostly taken in Nikko which is 140km from Tokyo. Tokyo and Nikko are like two different worlds. The Japanese visit Nikko to see the amazing shrines, I didn't take too many pictures of the shrines I was more interested in the Japanese being the best tourists in Japan and the faded glory of a tourist town.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T03:58:00.000-08:00

I just got my EBS Calendar in the post today. 12 Irish photographers were asked to submit and image and a small pargraph on what family means to them, what I really like about it is that each photographer's image is so completely different to the next yet they all represent family. The concept and design was done by Studio AAD.

I built this set using photographs of my family, toys and books that have been around my parents house for years, I really wanted to have a glowy warm feel to the image and that's why I used this retro artificial fire, a style that was in so many houses when I was growing up.

Pick up a copy if you can and have a look at all the photos and paragraphs it really makes for a lovely read with a little cup of tea and a biscuit.

U Magazine

2008-12-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

I did a fun shoot with Sarah Rickard some time back for U Magazine but it's only out now. It was for the Christmas Special and all about New Years Eve party dressing. I get dizzy sometimes at Christmas seeing all that sparkle, it is the only time of year that you think it is okay to dress up as a Christmas Tree. For the shoot stylist Sarah Rickard knew that metallic was really good but National Lampoon's wasn't. You can see some pics from behind the scenes some posts back.

Easy Food

2008-12-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Mulled Wine Sorbet

The Christmas issue of Easy Food has lots of easy Christmas treats for you to make. They have a feature of the staff at Easy Food and how they like to celebrate Christmas, what they like to eat and secret tips. Gina Miltiadou (Co founder of Zahra Publishing with John Mullins) and Emma Parkin (Editor) were all hands on deck at the shoot before the rest of the Easy Food crew came along and ate every bit of the leftovers.

Creative Review Photography Annual

2008-12-04T07:57:00.001-08:00

I was so delighted when I was told that my Midlands image had been selected to go into the Creative Review Photography Annual 2008. Having studied and worked as a graphic designer for years before I took the plunge into the photography world I have always been a big fan of Creative Review.

Alleviate Self Doubt Exhibition

2008-12-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

I am in a new mini-exhibition organised by Candycollective, Turtlehead and Versus? The exhibition consists of 11 artists and is on show at VERSUS? in Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Launch night Thursday 4th of December 2008 @ 7pm.

Superquinn Savour Magazine

2008-12-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Finally Christmas is nearly upon us. Lots of Christmas shoots that I worked on in August are starting to appear now. August! that was ages ago. When we were doing the shoots I thought that Christmas would be ruined and that I wouldn't be able to get excited about Santa or anything when the real one came around....but I was so wrong.

Here is some work from the new Superquinn Savour Magazine which I worked on with Sharon Hearne Smith (Food stylist), Hugo Arnold (Prism Publishing) and assited by Aoife Herrity. Below is a quick canapes recipe.

Parma Ham and Fig Crostini
1 slice of parma ham per person
Half fig per person
A little icing sugar
Olive Oil
1 Stick french bread
1 Bunch watercress thich stems removed

Thinly slice the bread, drizzle with olive oil and grill or bake in a preheated oven, 200c/gas mark 6, for about 5 minutes, watch it like a hawk as they burn wasily. Allow to cool. These will stay crisp for a few hours as long as they are allowed to cool without steaming.

Preheat the grill. Slice the figs into 6-8 thin slices and arrange on a non stick backing sheet. Dust the icing sugar over lightly and grill for 2-3 minutes until softened and carmelised. Leave to cool completely.

To assemble, arrange the crostini on a serving platter. Arrange a little watercress on each one. Tear the parma ham into 3/4 pieces and arrange on top. Lay a carmelised fig slice over and VOILA!

Yellow Door Book Launch

2008-12-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

Poached pears and Mascarpone

Roasted Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

Sesame-seared Irish Scallops with Thai dressingAubergine and Tomato Salad

L-R Sharon (Food stylist), Me, Simon Dougan (Author), Helen from Blackstaff and Keith from Tonic Design

Well what can I say, myself and Sharon Hearne Smith went to the launch of The Yellow Door cookbook last weekend in Northern Ireland and what a welcome we received. Food and booze to beat the band, that Yellow Door crowd sure know how to to put on a good show. The book is out now and it is really lovely. The design is great and the recipes are yum-yummy.

More Japan Time at night

2008-12-02T10:13:00.001-08:00

Movember

2008-11-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

If you go down to the woods today...

http://ie.movember.com/

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness of Prostate Cancer across Ireland. The money raised by Movember will be donated to Action Prostate Cancer - an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society. As part of the event people involved in photography, illustration, painting etc. were asked to submit a piece related to Movember and to be auctioned off in aid of the charity.

This is my submission, I made jumbo moustaches out of fake fur and gave the trees nice tweed scarves to keep them cosy as it was very cold when I was shooting. I was tempted to leave them there, it was very funny seeing the reactions of people passing by.

National Ploughing Championships

2008-11-20T10:26:00.001-08:00

So elegant and eating chips, my kind of lady

I was driving back from a 2 day job in Nenagh when I saw the big sign for the National Ploughing Championships...it was my lucky day as the next day was the last day of the championship. So I headed home to Dublin and had a few hours sleep. The next day I got up, donned my hiking boots and made my way down to Kilkenny to what can only be described as the Electric Picnic for farmers.

What an amazing event, so many tractors! Who'd have thought that lamborghini made tractors! Ceilís in fields with ladies dancing with ladies. Grandad's being brought up for the day with their families. Brothers who have been attending for decades together. People in their Sunday best and 150,000 attendees. I could go on but I won't if you're interested plans are already being made for 2009 and it's a bit closer to home in Kildare. See you there I'll be the one dressed head to toe in John Deere gear and wellies with a camera.