Folk singer Julie Fowlis is from North Uist, a small island in the Outer Hebrides, who sings in her native tongue, Scottish Gaelic. An accomplished musician, playing Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, whistle, and oboe, Julie brings ancient songs from the Hebridean Islands to new audiences around the world.

A mix of powerful yet sweet and expressive vocals intertwined with the driving rhythms of ‘Puirt-a-beul’ (music of the mouth), a traditional singing style native to Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia, makes for enchanting music sets.

Multi award winning, Julie was publicly voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2007 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and her album “cuilidh”, produced with husband Eamon Doorley, was voted “Album of the Year” at the same awards. Other awards include BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award 2006 for Best Emerging Artist and she was also voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2005 at the Scots Trad Music Awards.

Julie presents two flagship music programmes on BBC Scotland – the traditional music programme “Travelling Folk” and the world music show “Global Gathering”.

Julie perfomed at cultural centre An Droichead in Belfast in April 2008 with her husband Eamon Doorley and guitarist Tony Byrne.

There’s a reason why I don’t like doing PR and to a lesser extent, press photography – deadlines and pressure kill my creativity. When it comes to my photography I’ve got to create at my own pace.

I was recently asked to join an award winning press photographer to photograph the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, just as an opportunity to build upon and refresh my technical skills in a different photographic context.

President McAleese was opening a new building for PIPS a suicide awareness/support centre in North Belfast. A charismatic woman, she spoke with conviction and sincerity about the impact of suicide on both individuals and the wider community.

I actually got to meet President McAleese a number of years ago when she visited Tasmania at a state reception the our local government had put on for her. She was very warm and it was very charming chatting to her. I was actually asked to be the official photographer for her visit to Tasmania, but declined, partially due to the fear of getting it wrong, and at the time I was engaging in more fine art studio work and not experienced enough in PR photography.

But as life swings in roundabouts, I got to photograph her again in 2009, and this time without any deadlines or pressures.

“Kíla are right there at the cusp of it. Somehow you get the feeling they lit the fuse for the big bang.” Bono

Kila formed in 1987 at the ages of 17 at Coláiste Eoin Dublin, where a rich Irish cultural ethos is encouraged amongst students in football, traditional music and the Irish language. Kila came out with a talent fostered, and were one of the first groups to hit the traditional music scene with their alternative ‘trad meets dance’ music, shifting them into a whole new genre of contemporary traditional Irish music.

The 7 strong Kila line-up is enviably multi instrumentalists, which inlcudes indigenous instruments, giving their music a rich sound and combined with their high energy playing it’s an amazing dynamic to watch on stage. Tables and chairs are empty at their gigs as the dance floor bursts at the seams with crowds hopping mad.

Kila is photogrpahed playing at the Féile an Earraigh festival in Belfast February 2009.

Rossa Ó Snodaigh – Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Clarinet, Bones, Bodhrán, Bongos, Congas, Djembe, Didgeridoo, Bandooria, Darabuka, Percussion, Vocals Rónán Ó Snodaigh – Bodhrán, Djembe, Congas, Bongos, Guitar, Vocals Colm Ó Snodaigh – Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Djembe, Vocals, Percussion Dee Armstrong – Fiddle, Viola, Hammered Dulcimer, Accordion, Bodhrán Eoin Dillon – Uileann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Shakers, Vocals Brian Hogan – Bass, Double Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Drums, Vocals Lance Hogan – Percussion, guitar, bass and vocals

Kila myspace

Good photography comprises of many factors; composition, exposure, timing, and the ability to see and anticipate a moment to capture. A skilled photographer can bring all these factors together, quite literally, in a fraction of a second to produce a stunning photograph. This is particularly true of photojournalism, one of my favourite styles of photography. Working often in life threatening situations, and to demanding deadlines, a photojournalist must get the shot that tells an entire story to a readership – yes the picture that tells a thousand words.

Within this particular framework a single, strong image works well. In other formats available to photojournalists, such as book publishing and exhibitions, they are able to present a complete body of work as a photo essay. Either way, their work is always contextualised with additional information which connects you more to the work.

When I view photography online a high proportion of it is presented as random single images.mWith a lack of consistency and little or no additional information on why the photos have been taken it’s hard to appreciate whether the photographer crafted the image for a purpose or whether it was a fluke.  After a while, looking at pretty photo’s just doesn’t cut it for me.

As a photographer I see the world as a series of forms, colours, tones, light, and subjects. With Kiritia Images I aim to engage the viewer with what I see and think through my work. There are many photographic project ideas in the mix with new themes and concepts being researched that will be updated on the site.  So you’re very welcome to the site, and come back to visit for the updates.