Summer Months

Hey guys, I was reading some of my past blog posts, and I just realized it's been over 3 months since I last posted one. Summer has come and gone so quickly, too quick in fact. To be honest we did get 2/3 weeks of amazing sunshine, so I'm not complaining. So much happened over the past couple of months. As always I've been super busy with my trusty Nikon camera. I took so many new photos, and recorded some new video footage also. In May I finished my Multimedia & Web Development course at Cavan Institute. It was an amazing 2 years, and to my surprise I received a full 9 distinctions on all my modules, which I was extremely happy with. Onto the next chapter, which in the new year, I'm hoping to start a part time film & Television course in Dublin city...... excited. 

I purchased a new Sigma 70-210 macro lens way back at the start of the year also, but I only properly had the chance to test it out during the summer. I'm not gonna lie, macro is something that seems easy, but in fact I found it so frustrating at times. Like anything you love, it takes time and patience. Here's just a small selection of some new photos I took with it. I tried using it handheld, but it's so heavy, so a tripod was essential for these. 

When out with the camera I also recorded some new video also, which I uploaded to my Youtube channel. The Dslr I use for the photography isn't great for recording videos, but for now it'll have to do. I've my eye on a dedicated video camera, which I'm saving up for. 

Check out some video below:

I also got some new software called picturestoexe, which I used to create the below video, which is called Hometown. I'm entering this one into this years Audio/Visual championships with the Irish Photographic Federation. I have always used Adobe Premiere Pro for my videos, but I loved trying something new, and getting stuck in, creating some sequences. The audio/visual championships takes place in Clondalkin in Dublin, on the 21st & 22nd of October this year, so fingers crossed. 

Check out one of my finished sequences below. It's called Lost & Found. It contains many different photos I took in various abandoned and derelict locations, I find on my travels. 

In some other news it's been a good month on the competition front. Anyone who knows me, knows I love my competitions. Like and share on Facebook, I'm on it. Retweet for your chance to win, I'll do it. I entered some photography comps over the past few months. My photo will feature in the 2019 MS Ireland(Multiple Sclerosis) charity calendar, based on the theme “As Time Goes By”. The passing of time can be recorded by photography in many ways. So I entered the below Black & White photo taken in my father's pub, called The Lemon Tree. I actually took the photo over 3 years ago, but I knew straight away it was the one I would enter. 

Then in September, only 2 weeks ago, I received a notification that my photo won the light category, in the Volkswagen Snapshot Photography Competition. Last years Volkswagen Snapshot competition was a huge success which gained over 5,000 entrants and raised €3,000 for Pieta House through sales of the 2018 Snapshot calendar. I won a fantastic Nanguang NG-65C Pro Ring Light, which I will put to good use. It will be amazing for portraits and some other ideas I'd love to try out. 

Check out my winning photo below, which I took in Bailieborough County Cavan, here in Ireland. 

Not at all photography related I also turned the big 30, at the end of July. I had a fantastic weekend, celebrating with friends and family. 

For now I'll leave you all with some other recent shots I took. As always you can find them on my Facebook photography page: 

Oliver Gargan Photography

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Thanks so much for taking the time out, to read my blog entry. I always say I wont leave it as long until the next blog entry, but I know that's a lie lol. Until the next time, take care :)