Conor Masterson http://www.conormasterson.com/blog Conor Masterson's Blog <![CDATA[Photographer, get in the ring]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/photographer-get-in-the-ring “……Photographer.. Get in the ring.” 


A second time, he said it again, I think he wants me in the ring to …


“Photographer, get in the ring”


He was holding the ropes open for me too…. no choice, I have to get in the ring!

]]> <![CDATA[NATURAL PORTRAITURE FOR LEFTFIELD]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/natural-portraiture-for-leftfield You might be surprised to learn that it is very tricky to carry on a conversation whilst also making a portrait.

]]> <![CDATA[A Drafty Outdoor Poster Campaign]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/a-drafty-outdoor-poster-campaign We had some fun last summer shooting nude models dashing through a fountain in Manchester City Centre. For Fun. As you do…

]]> <![CDATA[The Clockwork Studios - Other Ways of living]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/the-clockwork-studios-other-ways-of-living I made a short documentary in 2015 that was a portrait of the man who set up The Clockwork Studios artists spaces in 1985. The studios had commissioned me to make a film that would help them promote the artists however it soon became clear that one mans influence made the studio stand out so we decided to make it a portrait of the man who dreamt it up in 1985, Noel Perkins.

]]> <![CDATA[The Frames in The Deep Shade - Winter filming memories]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/the-frames-in-the-deep-shade-winter-filming-memories 4 years ago today (6th December 2012)  we released the trailer for the feature film I made The Frames In The Deep Shade. It went on to play to a packed house at the Dublin Film Festival and open in cinemas in early 2013.

]]> <![CDATA[A London diary of photographs]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/my-london-my-diary-in-photographs These photographs are a short diary of living in London for almost 20 years. As a street photographer I have always tried to treat everywhere as a democratic subject. London with its vast sprawl has a natural energy fed from this hive of villages belying the notion that it is just one city. It is many things. Old, overcrowded, European, multicultural, disrespectful, embracing. It’s alive and it doesn’t care about you but I have enjoyed walking its streets open to its life. I think any city on this scale is easy to hate but if you look and see you can find whatever you want. It’s an energy. You can never capture it. For every photograph I take I am acutely aware of the many moments around me, passing me by, the many lives and stories that churn and churn. Perhaps the joy of recording and choosing an image is the opportunity to look at it and imagine what might be going on, for that moment.

]]> <![CDATA[Where is Pat Carthy? Looking for Pat - The Crane Bar Poet from 2009]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/where-is-pat-carthy-looking-for-pat-the-crane-bar-poet-from-2009 I’m looking for Pat Carthy. All I have to go on is a name in my notebook from the night of an Irish Traditional Music session in The Crane Bar in Galway in November 2009. When I returned to track him down, no one seemed to know who he was let alone where and I’m still searching.

]]> <![CDATA[The Gasman A short film]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/the-gasman-a-short-film I loved this script by Jonny & Sofie Ford as soon as I read it and was interested in the twists and turns and un-hingedness (is that a word?) of the main character. Rob Crouch and Jonathan Clarkson then took it to another level, it was a fun shoot involving a lot of biscuits! Without further ado and any plot spoilers here is The Gasman (and Jeremy!)

The Gasman - A short film from Conor Masterson on Vimeo.

]]> <![CDATA[Djupavik A Short film for HIGH]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/djupavik-a-short-film-for-high Iceland. Remote. Epic. Fashion. History. Decay and Re-birth. All the ingredients of a good stew.

Djupavik - A short film for HIGH from Conor Masterson on Vimeo.

]]> <![CDATA[Book Cover for The Mark of Cain by Lindsey Barraclough]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/book-cover-for-the-mark-of-cain-by-lindsey-barraclough Nice to see the gothic results of a book cover collaboration for Random House with designer James Fraser coming out this month. The Mark of Cain is a new book by author Lindsey Barraclough.

]]> <![CDATA[Noir Portraits disposing of the bodies]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/noir-portraits-disposing-of-the-bodies You know that age old problem, what to do with photographs of murder, adultery, gangsters, patriarchs, matriarchs, cut throat razors, beautiful corpses strangled with a shower hose? Ok, it’s just me then.

]]> <![CDATA[Flower still life]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/flower-still-life <![CDATA[What does Rock and Roll look like?]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/what-does-rock-and-roll-look-like A short film of photographs from the recording session for ‘Ladies On The Way’ by hofman

]]> <![CDATA[FOALS LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL Blu Ray packaging]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/foals-live-at-the-royal-albert-hall-blu-ray-packaging The quite brilliant FOALS have a new live DVD & Blu Ray out and I’m tickled that they are using my photographs for the packaging.

]]> <![CDATA[Paris in a Dream Photographs on the streets]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/paris-in-a-dream-photographs-on-the-streets The last time I was in Paris I spent some time soaking it up with my camera. This gallery of images was taken in full on, dreamy Paris mode!

]]> <![CDATA[New short film for fashion label HIGH featuring Kim Noorda and Ilse de Boer]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/new-short-film-for-fashion-label-high-featuring-kim-noorda-and-ilse-de-boer My new film is a fashion short made for HIGH featuring Kim Noorda and Ilse de Boer

Ilse de Boer for HIGH

]]> <![CDATA[Rock Seen Book 1992]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/rock-seen-book-1992 During the filming of my recent feature documentary about the Irish band The Frames : ‘The Frames In The Deep Shade’ they ended their 20 year anniversary tour in Whelans in Dublin. Whelans was, and still is possibly, the best small music club in Dublin and I knew it well. In fact I shot my first ever live music photography there watching The Davy Spillane Band in August 1991. It was a nostalgic visit coming back and seeing that it is still a thriving venue. It also made me think of the book I produced when studying photography in 1992. “Rock Seen”.
Dublin Rock Music Capital of The World Graffiti

]]> <![CDATA[Lets make an Art film, about The Frames]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/lets-make-an-art-film-about-the-frames The feature film I have made about a creative band, ‘The Frames In The Deep Shade’, is out now on DVD. It was No.4 in the Irish charts in the first week of release so it has been a proud moment. It all began as the simplest most informal chat after a Swell Season gig in 2010 about making an art film…. I’m sure there are a few questions to answer. Why did it take so long?

2018 Note - I’ve added some unreleased artwork to this post when I was fixing a few bugs on the site including a lush poster by Nick Jeeves that was developed early on in the design process

]]> <![CDATA[Glamourous Ladies at the Norman Parkinson Exhibiton]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/glamourous-ladies-at-the-norman-parkinson-exhibiton I was at the private view of the new Norman Parkinson exhibition last night at the National Theatre as a guest of Elegantly Papered and I couldn’t resist a photograph of Princess Anne & Maggie Smith mingling with a guest.

]]> <![CDATA[Glen Hansard portraits before and after Man Ray]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/glen-hansard-portraits-before-and-after-man-ray I visited the superb Man Ray exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery last week and was reminded of the outakes from a portrait session I did with Glen Hansard in 2012 where we solarised some of the images.

]]> <![CDATA[The Frames In The Deep Shade World Premiere at The Dublin Film Festival]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/the-frames-in-the-deep-shade-world-premiere-at-the-dublin-film-festival We are just back from The Dublin Film Festival and it was a wonderful weekend. Our film ‘The Frames In The Deep Shade’ received its world premiere with a sell out audience on the Sunday night.
One of the more surreal experiences was attending a reception at the American Ambassadors’ residence on the Friday and seeing the trailer beside the podium in the main room.
It was all very Homeland and I’m convinced the uber friendly staff were CIA. You can’t be that nice and love horses and people without it being a cover right? They wouldn’t give us any news on series 3 and ol’ crazy eyes next move.

]]> <![CDATA[Premiere of In The Deep Shade is announced for The Dublin Film Festival 2013]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/premiere-of-in-the-deep-shade-is-announced-for-the-dublin-film-festival-201 I have some exciting news. My debut feature documentary film ‘The Frames - In The Deep Shade’ was announced this week in the lineup for the Dublin Film Festival on Sunday February 17th. It will be the premiere and I am planning to be there in Dublin. Very exciting after wrapping the film months ago its great to be finally sharing it.

]]> <![CDATA[Gary Bricklebank Polaroid]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/gary-bricklebank-polaroid A Polaroid from a shoot with Gary Bricklebank

]]> <![CDATA[The French love photographers]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/the-french-love-photographers I’m posting these photos as a big thumbs up to the French, especially the couple in the window behind me.

]]> <![CDATA[Just another afternoon in the effortless cool universe of the French teenager]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/just-another-afternoon-in-the-effortless-cool-universe-of-the-french-teenag I was photographing in Paris, as you do, in Palais de Tuileries, as you do, and I loved the effortless cool of these teenagers turning up and shooting some fashion.

]]> <![CDATA[The Frames -  In The Deep Shade Trailer]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/in-the-deep-shade After a short tease we have released the trailer for my feature length film about the Irish band The Frames

]]> <![CDATA[John Smith & Glen Hansard gettin’ all spiritual in a church]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/john-smith-glen-hansard-gettin-all-spiritual-in-a-church The wonderful John Smith with Glen Hansard and The Frames singing ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ In the Union Chapel in London. September 2012

]]> <![CDATA[Going into Battle]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/going-into-battle I took this photograph in Galway in the west of Ireland. It shows a young lad walking across playing fields with his coach in dense fog to join in a game of Hurling.

]]> <![CDATA[BMX in Australia]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/bmx-in-australia I shot these at a skate park in Australia in 2006.

]]> <![CDATA[This Gift - A video for Glen Hansard]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/this-gift-a-video-for-glen-hansard Linked below is my new video for ‘This Gift’ by Glen Hansard. The song features in a new film by Disney, The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
‘This Gift’

]]> <![CDATA[Friends with The Frames]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/friends-with-the-frames Simon Good and Karl Odlum of The Mary Janes playing a Mary Janes classic ‘Friends’, with The Frames in 2011.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Glen Hansard video for Philander]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/glen-hansard-video-for-philander I directed the video for Philander from Glen Hansards lovely new album Rhythm and Repose.

]]> <![CDATA[Glen Hansard - The Parting Glass (trad)]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/glen-hansard-the-parting-glass-trad We filmed this at the end of the video shoot for Philander

It’s an old traditional celtic ballad. Nice to get it out on St Patricks Day.

]]> <![CDATA[Shooting on film again 10x8 in the back Yard]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/shooting-on-film-again-10x8-in-the-back-yard I was shooting some portraits on 10x8 and 5x4 film this week. Old School!

]]> <![CDATA[Gerhard Richter at The Tate Modern]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/gerhard-richter-at-the-tate-modern Apologies to The Tate Modern for taking a forbidden photograph at the ‘Panorama’ retrospective for Gerhard Richter. To be honest though I have never understood why a gallery would stop people from taking photographs at exhibitions. I think it’s an over reaction on the part of the galleries and an unrealistic fear of theft. And yes I totally understand that they rely on the sales form the shop and that you can use very good cameras these days and blah blah blah…

]]> <![CDATA[Clockwork Studios Open Day 2011]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/clockwork-studios-open-day-2011 It was great fun taking part in the Clockwork Studios Open day again. This is Bridget Bailey and Otto doing the washing up on Sunday… Nice jacket and coat combination.

]]> <![CDATA[Finishing the shoot for The Frames Film]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/finishing-the-shoot-for-the-frames-film I have just returned from filming The Frames near the site of the Santa Maria wreck in Ventry Co.Kerry. I shot this on my iphone at dusk as I was climbing the rocks and leaving the cove and just before complete darkness. It was a tricky exit and this film belies the depth of the shadows, those rocks were very slippery!

]]> <![CDATA[Allotment In Kent]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/allotment-in-kent An allotment I found near the M25 in Kent. It was a gorgeous time of the day there was no one there on a Sunday evening in winter.

]]> <![CDATA[We shot the new ARGOS posters for CHI & Partners]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/we-shot-the-new-argos-posters-for-chi-partners The New Argos Summer ads are out. We shot them in North London in July

]]> <![CDATA[Another beautiful Platinum Print]]> http://www.conormasterson.com/blog/view/another-beautiful-platinum-print I’ve had some prints made from the ‘We Are Loughborough’ series. These are Platinum prints made with a very old school print process by the guys at 139 Printroom. A platinum print uses platinum instead of the traditional silver. Best explained on their website:
“Platinum/ Palladium
Developed by William Willis in 1873, the Platinum Print is, for many, the epitome of photographic printing. Famed for it’s long tonal range and delicate warm colour, a Platinum/Palladium print possesses a luminosity not seen in more contemporary printing processes. “

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