Wild Atlantic Way - Light on the water, shadows on the land

Wild Atlantic Way Light on the Water, Shadows on the Land

Photographs by Giles Norman

First published 2019 by The O’Brien Press Ltd, 12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777 Email: books@obrien.ie; Website: www.obrien.ie The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.

ISBN: 978-1-78849-122-8 Photographs and text © copyright Giles Norman 2019 Copyright for typesetting, layout, editing, design © The O’Brien Press Ltd Text by Niamh Connolly Design by Fairways Design All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

1357642 19 21 23 24 22 20 Printed and bound in Drukarnia Skleniarz, Poland.

The paper in this book is produced using pulp from managed forests.

Published in:

Contents An Introduction to Giles Norman 06 The Haven Coast 08 Southern Peninsulas 30 The Cliff Coast 58 The Bay Coast 78 The Surf Coast 124 Northern Headlands 142 About the Giles Norman Gallery 160

4

For Catherine, Jack, Ali & Louis

An Introduction to Giles Norman The first click of a shutter by the hands of Giles Norman was for a school project. The first camera he could call his own arrived on his 18th birthday. And the first darkroom to bring his photographs to life was in the attic of an old friend’s house.

Relocating his darkroom to a rented space in Kinsale, County Cork, Giles began working on his first portfolio in 1981. Both locals and tourists flocked to the tiny window of this studio, which offered a glimpse into his growing collection. This welcome curiosity encouraged Giles to open his first gallery in 1988.

Giles considers photography to be the simplest of all art forms, and this is reflected in his signature black-and-white style. By removing the detail of colour, he strips the picture down to its most elementary form to create timeless images. As a self-taught photographer, and

6

a rule-breaker at heart, his style refuses to be governed by formal technique. Giles isn’t afraid to make mistakes, and this fearlessness allows him to capture beautiful moments through his art.

Describing himself as a street photographer lost in a rural landscape, Giles draws inspiration from the celebrated street photographers of the 1940s and 1950s, from Brassaï to Doisneau and Cartier-Bresson.

He doesn’t trouble himself with a cumbersome tripod or the dials on his camera, instead his chief focus is always on the composition of the photo.

Giles’s vast portfolio ranges from traditional landscapes to bold abstract pieces, capturing delicate textures and intimate tones. There is a contemporary quality to his abstract work as he uncovers obscure beauty in a weathered bundle of seaweed or a bleak blanket of grass. His body of work travels beyond the Irish shores, but it is Ireland’s dramatic coastline that continues to drive his artistic passion.

Long before the Wild Atlantic Way found its name, Giles journeyed along it, exploring and capturing its breathtaking scenery through his lens.

7

The Haven Coast

The Wild Atlantic Way begins and ends in the beautiful harbour town of Kinsale, home to the Giles Norman Gallery. Roam along the bustling pier and historic streets, and gaze upon panoramic views from Charles Fort, the town’s chief guardian.

And where would a coastline be without its protectors? The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse serves as custodian to the county’s most prestigious golf course. Baltimore’s bay is watched over by its Beacon, whilst the Fastnet Lighthouse stands as a lone ranger, warden of Ireland’s most southerly point. Known as the teardrop of Ireland, Fastnet Rock was the last piece of home to be seen by Irish emigrants travelling to America.

West Cork’s shoreline is seldom a lonely sight, forever in good company of elegant yachts and weathered trawlers. With the ever-changing forces of the ocean, one harbour can offer you a bountiful treasure of marine life in a tranquil bay, the next can render a thundering storm of crashing waves.

Whilst roving the coastal route, it’s easy to overlook the inland riches of West Cork, with its enchanting woodlands and lush rural landscapes. When you draw your eyes away from the vast Atlantic tides, there’s a great sense of intimacy in uncovering a wild fuchsia or a delicate dandelion. Journeying westwards along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Haven Coast delivers a parting gift in the dramatic and breathtaking sea cliffs of Mizen Head.

8

9

Old Head Lighthouse

Kinsale, County Cork

10

‘Where the sea meets the land, there will always be a canvas for photographers to find.’

11

12

Fastnet Lighthouse

West Cork

13 Lough Hyne Woods

Skibbereen, West Cork

Kinsale

County Cork

14

15

Cape Clear Island from Sherkin Island

West Cork

16

The Beacon

Baltimore, West Cork

17