Terry Bradley-inspired shot wins Open Art and Creativity Award for photographer Dermot Byrne
Bray-based photographer Dermot Byrne has won Best Single Image Open Art & Creativity atIreland’s top photography awards: the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) Awards.
Byrne’s winning picture features models Daniella Moyles and Blaithnid McKenna in striking make up by artist Hayley McGowan. The stunning shot resembles an oil painting and has been inspired by the work of prestigiousBelfastartist Terry Bradley.
“I was working with make up artist Hayley McGowan for Daniella’s modeling portfolio. Inspired by Terry Bradley’s burlesque-style paintings, we decided to play around with body paint for a few of the shots. The idea was to make the photograph look more like an oil painting than an image, purely to be creative, to work on our own interpretation of what art should be,” explains Dermot.
“This was actually one of the favourite shots I took in 2011, taken the day after the IPPA Awards last year. So much so that I used it to wish all my clients a Happy New Year in January,” he adds. “Artist Terry Bradley has seen it and really likes it.”
It is the fifth award in four years for Dermot. In 2011, he was the winner of best fashion portfolio, in 2010 winner of best Press and PR portfolio and best Press and PR single image. In 2009, he was the winner of best Press and PR portfolio.
The IPPA Awards are the top awards for professional photographers in the country. Portfolios are submitted anonymously by professional photographers and images are judged purely on the quality of the work. This year, the Awards included an International section for the first time.
“Your work has to speak for itself and you are up against the best of the best in the country,” says Dermot. “It is a fantastic feeling when top judges view your work as some of the best in the country.”