Author: Solas Photography Club

Solas National Club Championship Achievements May 2026

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Solas Photography Club competition committee selected 2 panel of images, one in Colour and one in Monochrome, and entered the Irish Photographic Federation National Club Championship which was held in the Atrium, County Buildings, Mullingar on Saturday and Sunday the 23rd and 24th May. The event was represented by Club Chair, Enda O’Loughlin, and Club Treasurer, Joe Silke. Saturday 23rd was the Monochrome printed panels and Sunday the 24th was the Colour printed panels. In total 25 IPF affiliated clubs had submitted panels to the competition. Both panels are shown below.

Solas Photography Club’s Colour Panel finished joint 2nd place along side Drogheda Photography Club. Our Monochrome panel finished 16th place, and Solas Photography Club finished 9th overall in the competition, which was a super achievement as this was the Club’s first time entering the National Club Championship.

The Club was hugely honoured to pick up a trophy for finishing joint second in the Colour panel and for picking up a Judges Favourite award for Club member Cathal Bowe for his Monochrome image “Daddy’s Girl”.

Special thanks to the Competition Committee, Anton Makarenko, Catherine O’Dowd, Joe Silke and Enda O’Loughlin, and in addition special thanks to Andreas Riemenschneider for the printed images and to Joe Silke for coordinating the printing and mounting of the images.

Stick Man — Coastal Landscape Category Winner, Clean Coasts Love Your Coast 2026

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“Stick Man” by Adrian Nolan

Some photographs are carefully planned. Others come down to being in the right place when nature decides to put on a show.

I captured “Stick Man” on Salthill Promenade during a late-summer thunderstorm—a shot I had been hoping to make for several years. As lightning flashed over Galway Bay, the coastline and Salthill’s lights came together in a scene that lasted only seconds. A long exposure allowed me to capture that fleeting moment.

The 30-second exposure smoothed the water around the rocks, while the lightning froze the spray directly beneath the strike. The result was an almost surreal contrast: a calm, silky sea set against the raw energy of the storm.

 

When I first showed the image to friends, someone noticed that the main lightning bolt looked remarkably like a stick man walking across Galway and out into Galway Bay. The name stuck.

Winning the Coastal Landscape category in the Clean Coasts Love Your Coast 2026 competition was wonderful recognition for a photograph that began with a simple plan: wait for the storm and hope lightning struck in exactly the right place.

 

Adrian Nolan – Solas Photography Club Member

May 2026 Highlights at Solas Photography Club – A Month of Inspiration, Education and Artistic Excellence

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The final month for Solas Club Year started with the result of Round 3 POTY “Open Colour” and “Narrative Portraiture”. 06-May-2026

Jennifer Willis, Chair of the Catchlight Camera Club, was our judge for the final rounds of the POTY for the advance and non- advance internal competitions, The themes for the month were “Open Colour” and “Narrative Portraiture”. Jennifer provided feedback and scores on over 80 images submitted for round 3. Jennifer put a huge amount of work into judging both themes and she particularly gave us some very interesting feedback on the images. Congratulations to all who entered and to our members who were successfully placed.

Non-Advanced – “Open Colour”

Advanced – “Open Colour”

Non-Advanced – “Narrative Portraiture”

Advanced – “Narrative Portraiture”

Long Weekend Trip to Inishmore, Aran Islands – 14th to 17th May 2026

A very special thank you to Solas Photography Club Treasurer Joe Silke for Organising the long weekend trip to Inishmore, Aran Islands. Joe planned a very detailed schedule for the weekend along with block booking accommodation for the Solas Photography Club members.

The weather was fantastic for the weekend, and the activities covered over the weekend included ferries to and from the islands, via the Cliffs of Moher on the way back offering a unique seal-level photography opportunity, photography opportunities all around the island including Kilronan Harbour, Dún Aonghasa, Poll na bPéist (Worm Hole), Kilmurvey Beach, Na Seach dTeampaill (Seven Churches), Dún Dú Chathair (Black Fort), as well as a number of evening coastal shoots, sunset on a cliff-top and Teampall Bheaná, and a bit of astro photography thrown in to top it off.

AGM and Awards Evening with SOLAS Committee – 20th May 2026

One of the most anticipated evenings of the club calendar, the Solas Photography Club AGM and the Awards Evening.

Enda O’Loughlin the Club Chair presented a summary of the year gone by for the club, reminding the members of the many activities, workshops, field trips, internal competitions such as the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) and the Photography of the Year (POTY) for both the non-advanced and the advanced members. Enda also reminded the club of the massive success the club had in the National Shield back in October. Joe Silke provided an update on the finances of the clun after the year and where we are heading into the new season. At the AGM a motion was passed to purchase a Sound System to help support speakers and audience members heading into the new season. We also elected our committee for the 2026/2027 season, with new and returning members excited to get organising for the year ahead!

We’re delighted to share the results of all our internal competitions: 


  • Annual Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) print competition 2026 (Non-Advanced & Advanced),

  • POTY Digital Competition over 6 themes of 3 rounds.

We were delighted and honoured to have four renowned photographers and judges who have extensive photography experience which provided great feedback throughout the year, in total over 340 PDI and 30 printed images where submitted by members.


  • Seamus Costelloe (FIPF) of Kilkenny Photographic Society – KPS who judged our Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) print competition
  • Martin Kalvaster who judged  Round 1 “Open Mono” & “Game of Sport” themes
  • Suzanne Behan (FIPF, ARPS and Secretary of the Irish Photographic Federation) who judged Round 2 “Minimalism” & “Wildlife/Biodiversity”
  • Jennifer Willis (FIPF) from Catchlight Camera Club who judged Round 3 “Open Colour” & “Narrative Portraiture”.

We are extremely grateful to the judges for their time, dedication and feedback throughout the year. We also offer special thanks to our competition secretaries Catherine O’Dowd and Anton Makarenko for co-ordinating the above competitions. Congratulations to all our members for entering and to all who received awards. Thank you to all our members who participated in all of our activities, workshops, photoshoots, social events, IPF Competitions and all our Solas Club Competitions.

Wild Atlantic Way

WAW – Non Advanced

1st – Marco de Clemente
2nd – Filipe Lopes
3rd – Sandra Buck

WAW – Advanced

1st – Des Glynn
2nd – Sigita Playdon
3rd – Owen Nally

POTY Individual Themed Awards

Non Advanced
Best Open Mono Photo:
 Almila Tarakali
Best Game / Sports Photo:
Clár Ní Néill
Best Minimalism Photo:
 Filipe Lopes
Best Wildlife / Biodiversity Photo: Glenn Nolan
Best Open Colour Photo:
Ger Considine
Best Narrative Portraiture Photo:
 Michael Cullina

Advanced
Best Open Mono Photo:
 Anton Makarenko
Best Game / Sports Photo:
Owen Nally
Best Minimalism Photo:
Catherin O’Dowd
Best Wildlife / Biodiversity Photo: Des Glynn
Best Open Colour Photo:
Sigita Playdon
Best Narrative Portraiture Photo:
 Dermot Morris

Photographer of the Year

Non Advanced
1st –  Filipe Lopes
2nd – Ger Considine
3rd – Clár Ní Néill
4th – Grainne Kelly
5th – Almila Tarakali

Advanced
1st –  Sigita Playdon
2nd – Des Glynn
3rd – Owen Nally
4th – Anton Makarenko
5th – Enda O’Loughlin

April 2026 at Solas Photography Club

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Fine Art Printing with Andreas Reimenschneider 

Our April meeting welcomed back former Solas Photography Club member and good friend Andreas Reimenschneider for an inspiring and highly practical evening on photography and fine art printing.

Andreas, who runs Doorus Photography, is a well-known local professional photographer specialising in weddings, events and portraiture. Alongside his photographic work, he has developed an outstanding reputation for artwork reproduction and museum-quality fine art printing, making him the ideal person to guide members through the often-overlooked final stage of the photographic process.

During his presentation, Andreas showcased a carefully curated selection of his beautiful images, explaining the creative and technical decisions behind each one. He also brought an impressive range of fine art prints produced on different premium paper stocks, allowing members to compare textures, finishes and tonal reproduction firsthand. Seeing the same image printed on matte, lustre and fine art cotton papers demonstrated just how dramatically paper choice can influence the final presentation of a photograph. 

A particularly valuable part of the evening focused on colour management. Andreas clearly explained the differences between the major colour spaces sRGB, Adobe RGB and ProPhoto RGB and when each should be used for screen display, commercial printing and high-end fine art output. He demystified what can often seem a complex subject, giving members practical guidance on maintaining accurate colours throughout their editing and printing workflow.

To finish, Andreas shared a series of essential tips for preparing photographs for print, including image resolution, sharpening specifically for print, soft-proofing, monitor calibration and exporting files with the correct colour profiles. The session was packed with useful advice that members could immediately apply to improve the quality and consistency of their own printed photographs.

It was an engaging and informative evening that reminded us that a truly great photograph is not only captured and edited well it is also printed with care.

Light & Shadow Photography Workshop

April’s hands-on Light & Shadow Photography Workshop was one of our most creative evenings of the season, hosted by Joe Silke in the Blue Room.

The workshop explored how light and shadow can transform ordinary objects into striking photographic subjects. Using simple indoor lighting setups, members experimented with still life arrangements, household objects, flowers and everyday items, discovering how the direction, quality and shape of light can dramatically alter mood and composition.

A range of techniques was demonstrated, including creating dramatic high-contrast images, projecting patterned shadows, and using continuous lighting to produce bold monochrome photographs. Members were encouraged to experiment freely, resulting in an evening filled with imaginative images and plenty of shared ideas.

The session proved that compelling photography doesn’t require elaborate equipment just an understanding of light, a willingness to experiment, and a creative eye. It was an enjoyable and inspiring workshop that left everyone seeing familiar subjects in a completely new way.

Exploring the Burren

On 25 April, Solas Photography Club headed to The Burren for a full day of outdoor photography, enjoying one of Ireland’s most remarkable landscapes under favourable spring conditions.

Our itinerary took members to some of the Burren’s most iconic locations, including Poulnabrone Dolmen, the limestone pavements of Burren National Park, the dramatic Atlantic coastline at Fanore Beach, the famous Lone Tree, and the historic Kilmacduagh Round Tower. Along the way, members had opportunities to capture sweeping landscapes, delicate spring wildflowers, ancient monuments and coastal seascapes.

The trip catered for photographers of all experience levels, with plenty of opportunities to share ideas, exchange techniques and receive informal guidance throughout the day. Many members also experimented with macro photography, taking advantage of the Burren’s unique flora in peak bloom.

As always, the day was about more than photography it was a wonderful opportunity for members to enjoy the outdoors, strengthen friendships within the club, and return home with a diverse collection of images from one of Galway and Clare’s most inspiring locations.

March 2026 with Solas Photography Club

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We held a number of really interesting presentations, judging session and field trip in March, as members kept up a steady run of activity as we enter the final term of the club season.

The Wild Atlantic Way Judging 

The Wild Atlantic Way Print Competition was an early highlight, judged by Seamus Costello FIPF who came up from Kilkenny for the night. The overall standard was high, with a wide range of styles and interpretations on display. Seamus offered thoughtful and grounded feedback, pointing out what worked well while also encouraging members to look more closely at detail, composition, and storytelling in their prints. He also showed a broad range of his own printed work, from wedding and glamour photography to fine art and some highly imaginative pieces. He was generous in sharing his knowledge, particularly when it came to lighting and the importance of getting things right in-camera.

Nature Photography with Jimmy McDonnell

In mid March, we welcomed Jimmy McDonnell FIPF from Greystones Camera Club for a talk on his nature photography, including wildlife, landscapes, seascapes and macro. He spoke about the realities of working in the field, from patience and timing to understanding your subject and making the most of challenging environments. He showed us his Fellowship panel, entitled ‘Life in a Native Irish Woodland’ and explained the background and development of the panel. It was an engaging and enthusiastic session, with plenty for members to take away and apply to their own work.

Dublin Zoo Club Outing 

Later in the month, a club trip to the zoo in Dublin provided a chance to put some of that into practice. It was a relaxed and enjoyable day in fine spring sunshine, with members experimenting with different techniques and approaches to animal photography, while also taking the opportunity to share ideas and enjoy the social side of the club.

All in all, March set things up nicely for the closing months, ahead of our summer break, with plenty of ideas, energy and momentum coming out of the competitions, talks and outings.

February 2026 Updates from Solas Photography Club

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Lightroom Skills Workshop – January 3rd

February kicked off with Solas welcoming Sean McCormack on Wednesday February 4th to share his expertise with us on editing in Adobe Lightroom Classic. We are very lucky to have a photographer and educator of Sean’s calibre here in Galway on our doorstep. He is an experienced commercial photographer who is an Adobe Community Professional and an official Fujifilm X-Photographer. He has been running a Lightroom blog for 20 years, has written books on Lightroom and regularly contributes to several magazines.

Sean showed us a variety of techniques in Lightroom including how to retouch portraits, edit landscapes, and make the most of astro shots like the Milky Way. He also demonstrated techniques such as Lightroom’s powerful masking capabilities, colour grading and distraction removal.

POTY Round 2 Judging  – February 19th

On Wednesday, 19th February, we were delighted to host Suzanne Behan to judge our Photographer of the Year (POTY) Round 2. Suzanne holds her FIPF and ARPS, and is currently secretary of the Irish Photographic Federation. She visited the club last year to talk about her grandfather’s legacy as a photographer in Dublin’s Liberties in the 1950s and 1960s.

 

The themes of POTY Round 2 were Minimalism and Wildlife/Biodiversity, and as usual there were separate Advanced and Non-Advanced categories under both themes. We had a great response with 110 images entered in the competition. Suzanne put a huge amount of work into judging both themes and she particularly gave us some very interesting insights into best practices regarding entering wildlife photography competitions. We now have just one round left in this year’s POTY competition.

On February 19th, we also took print submissions from our members for the annual Wild Atlantic Way print competition, which will be judged in March. Watch this space for the results of that!

 

The weather didn’t look kindly on us this month, and our planned outing to Connemara had to be postponed twice. We are looking forward to holding it during March instead.

January 2026 Highlights at Solas Photography Club

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A month of warm welcomes, winter sunrises, coffee mornings, fine art inspiration, and a deep dive into underwater ecology 

January arrived exactly as a new year should — with energy, enthusiasm, and the click of camera shutters. After a well-earned Christmas break, active members reunited while new faces joined the fold, bringing fresh curiosity and, in some cases, shiny new photography gear. With the club year already halfway through, January’s calendar proved there was no slowing down. It was a month dedicated to creating, learning, and collaborating — the very heart of Solas Photography Club.

A Solas Tradition: Sunrise at Blackrock Diving Tower – January 3rd

Some traditions never lose their magic. The annual Solas sunrise meet at Blackrock Diving Tower unfolded as if Mother Nature herself was part of the committee. A crisp winter morning greeted members with frost underfoot and a breathtaking sunrise stretching across the horizon.

Scattered left, right, and centre around the iconic tower, 25 members captured the scene as low tide revealed a perfectly dramatic stage. Locals paused, puzzled, perhaps wondering which celebrity had arrived — but for Solas members, the star was the sunrise in all its glory.

Each attendee was gifted a Solas Photography Club cap, worn with pride before retreating to the warmth of Blackrock Cottage Restaurant. There, over hot coffee and much-loved limited-edition scones, stories were shared, laughter flowed, and new photographic plans were born.

An Evening with Denis O’Reilly – January 7th


The first guest speaker of 2026 set the bar high. Denis O’Reilly FIPF, ARPS travelled from Kilkenny to present a stunning panel of fine art flower and still life photography.


Denis didn’t just talk about images — he revealed the passion behind them. From planting and nurturing specific flowers solely for photography, to harvesting them at just the right moment, his dedication was inspiring. He shared his studio setups, lighting techniques, recommended reading, and the extensive equipment that brings his vision to life. The evening was rich with insight, leaving members both informed and creatively energised.

Chasing the Northern Lights – January 19th–20th


Some nights are simply unforgettable. An unplanned but spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis lit up skies across the island of Ireland, and Solas Photography Club members were ready.


From early evening on the 19th through to the small hours of the 20th, cameras were pointed skyward as the “Northern Nights” danced overhead. It was one of those rare moments photographers live for — miss it, and you’d regret it. Members shared an array of stunning images that captured the magic of the night.

Underwater Explorer & Ecologist: Nick Pfeiffer – January 21st


With a slight change to the schedule, January welcomed underwater explorer and ecologist Nick Pfeiffer — and he arrived with an impressive arsenal. The club meeting room was transformed, layered with gear including Sony A7s, Nikon Z9s, Canon D90s, GoPros, underwater domes, and specialist diving rigs.

Nick offered a fascinating insight into his world beneath the surface, narrating his dives through powerful imagery and immersive video. His work highlighted both the beauty and complexity of underwater ecosystems, and one truth became clear by the end of the night: capturing an underwater image makes landscape photography feel easy by comparison.

January at Solas Photography Club was a month of connection, inspiration, and unforgettable moments — a perfect opening
chapter to the year ahead.

December Reflections at Solas Photography Club (2025)

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December found us rounding out the year with one last workshop and a festive group outing.

We kicked off the month with a fascinating and enthralling presentation by Ruth Medjber, a Dublin-based photographer, who spoke about her experiences starting out in photography and as being one of the only women in Irish music photography at the time, to her journey to being a tour photographer for Arcade Fire and Hozier. Ruth also spoke about some of her projects, including the covid-inspired Twilight Together: Portraits of Ireland at Home series which culminated in a book, her regular articles for the Irish Independent, and her newest project coming up for 2026 where she will venture all across Ireland taking portraits and stories of a new person every day. The series is called Sin Scéal Eile, which translates to That’s Another Story. The club were very grateful to Ruth for sharing her insight and stories with us all, and we look forward to following along on her new project.

Later in the month, getting into the festive spirit, some of our members gathered for the annual Festive Photo Outing in Galway City. They split into groups and took photos to fit into different categories: Architecture/historic building, Christmas market vibe or Christmas vibe (e.g. Shop/stall/market/food/drink), Movement, Transport or any intentional motion, Portrait/people, and water or anything that contains an element of water. This is always an enjoyable session for our members, and a fun day out was had by all!

As we close out the year, we find ourselves reflecting as a club on all that we have done in 2025, and all that is to come in 2026 – and we are excited to continue exploring, creating and snapping to our hearts content! Sending you and those you hold dear festive greetings and best wishes for 2026 from all of us here at Solas Photography Club.

Solas Activities in November 2025

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November was a busy and exciting month for Solas members, full of photography, learning, and a great achievement.

 

The month kicked off with a fantastic two-day trip to the Irish Photography Hides in Ballyfin, Co Laois on the 1st and 2nd. 16 members of the club got hands-on opportunity to capture photos of wildlife in their natural habitats, learning patience within the hide and were rewarded with visits from Buzzard, Kestrel, Pine Martin, Fox, Pheasant, Squirrels and a range of small birds, all while enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Everybody enjoyed the day and managed to capture some fantastic shots, and a few that got away!

On the 5th, our entries to the club Round One of the Photographer of the Year competition were judged by Martin Kalvaster.

Our first two Themes were Open Colour and Sports or Games. It was a great chance for members to see and discuss each other’s work, share insights, and receive constructive feedback in a friendly and supportive setting. The winners and runners up were well deserved and have set the bar for the next rounds in February and April.  The session sparked plenty of conversation and ideas, inspiring everyone to experiment and push their photography further.

Mid-month, on the 19th, we held our Members’ Five presentations. Fourteen members; Adrian, Almila, Catherine, Ciara, Des, Filipe, Ger, Joe, Larry, Maria, Michael, Rachel, Sandra and Tom showcased their recent work.

In particular it was great to see our new members showing their work and discussing their techniques and motivation. The evening was full of discussion, inspiration, and plenty of encouragement from fellow members.

We also had fantastic news from the national scene: Solas came Second overall in the Irish Photographic Federation National Shield. Huge thanks to Catherine, Anton, Enda and Joe for selecting the images, coordinating the high-res images, printing, mounting, and representing the club on the day. Every member in the club, including those who had images selected, and everyone who supported the effort, played a part in this amazing achievement.

We came Second in the Mono Panel and Third in Colour with Commended Mention awards to Michael Gough, Owen Nally and Enda O’Loughlin. We received top score for 50% of our images and the others were not far behind with a final score of 228 / 240, just two points behind the winners Blackwater Photographic Society.

All in all, November was a month of exploration, creativity, learning, and recognition. Solas Photography Club continues to show just how vibrant and talented our club community is.

October Highlights at Solas Photography Club

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A Month of Inspiration, Education, and Artistic Excellence

October proved to be a dynamic and enriching month for the Solas Photography Club, with a packed calendar of events that brought members together to learn, create, and celebrate the art of photography.

An Evening with Cormac Byrne – October 1st

The month kicked off with a captivating presentation by acclaimed photographer Cormac Byrne, who shared the story of his photographic journey with warmth and insight. His talk was accompanied by a stunning visual showcase of his work, each image a testament to his skill and passion. Members engaged enthusiastically, posing thoughtful questions and enjoying a lively discussion that made the evening both educational and inspiring.

Portrait Masterclass with Paul Cooley – October 15th

Mid-month, the club welcomed Paul Cooley FRPS, FIPF, FSWPP, a master of portrait photography. Paul’s presentation traced his path through model photography, detailing the challenges and triumphs that led to his prestigious distinctions: AIPF, FRPS, and FIPF. His talk was rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights, and his displayed images left a lasting impression on all in attendance.

Natural Light Portrait Workshop – October 18th

Following his talk, Paul Cooley returned to lead an exclusive Natural Light Portrait Workshop. Limited to just 12 members, the hands-on session offered participants the chance to refine their skills under Paul’s expert guidance. The workshop featured professional models Sylwia Klimczak and Maria Wiktoria Cieslikowska, whose presence added depth and elegance to the creative experience. The day was a resounding success, filled with learning, collaboration, and beautiful imagery.

Photography of the Year – Round 1 Submissions Close

The month concluded with a flurry of excitement as the deadline for Round 1 of Photography of the Year (POTY) approached on October 26th. A total of 36 members submitted digital entries across two themes: Open Mono and Games or Sport. The submissions showcased a wide range of styles and interpretations, setting the stage for a thrilling competition season ahead.

October at Solas Photography Club was a celebration of creativity, community, and continuous learning. With such a strong start to the season, members are already looking forward to what November will bring.