1. A New Era in Photography For Ashbourne, Co Meath
On Friday 21st of November Michael J Keane produced his first
Guerrilla style Photographic Exhibition at the new parish hall on Frederick
Street, Ashbourne Co Meath. This purpose built centre is currently being
used to facilitate a whole array of community activities and groups.
Michael J Keane has been running photography workshops for the past 10
weeks and was initially listed for beginner’s photography. Seven individuals
attended these workshops every Wednesday night for ten weeks,
concluding with a public display of 2 / 3 framed images that represented
what they had learned on the course with Michael.
It was an astoundingly successful night with the gallery space packed to
capacity with friends, family and the general public. Although the weather
on the night would not have persuaded even the most determined artistic
searcher to remove themselves from the comfort of indoors to attend the
opening, this proved not the case. From 6.30 pm onwards a constant flow
of visitors took the time to drop in for a glass of wine and were treated to
a whole array of astoundingly amazing images on display.
The results of tuition from Michael J Keane manifested itself by way of
some very unusual imagery; A4 sheets of white paper meticulously folded
into a triangular shape, with a single source of light and through further
exploration of some intriguing use of white balance settings, an image of
an A4 sheet of paper could take on the form of a sailing ship in the night.
Some of the images on display were produced with the simplest of digital
pocket cameras however, the results enclosed within the frame, were just

2. picture-perfect. Using the tuition gained on lighting and camera settings
one artist/photographer photographed a fellow artist at her home, with the
resulting images resembling those of a hi end DSLR.
To say this exhibition was a success would be an understatement; it was a
first for the new centre and it was a new beginning not only for the
participants of the workshops but also for Michael J Keane. Michael is a
former Master Craftsman with Waterford crystal and has being studying
photography in college for the past six years, graduating with a BA
Honours Degree from DIT in November 2014.
Michael’s ambitions for what has now become his home, Ashbourne Co
Meath, are to open a Creative Arts Centre in the Town. This centre will
support his drive to teach photography to all, no matter what level the
client is at.
The centre will also comprise of; a darkroom facility to teach the craft of
shooting with B&W film, developing your film and ultimately printing
images in the darkroom. An exhibition / Gallery space, Craft centre which
will incorporate glass and pottery painting to children’s arts activities and a
Café. This is a long-term plan for Michael but his drive for success and
attention to detail will no doubt be realised when he has raised the
finances for such a centre.
Michael J Keane is currently developing a new programme of photography
workshops to begin in the first week of February 2015. If you require
further information Michael can be contacted on the following:
Home - 01 8010896, Mobile – 085 7648161,
E mail – foto.genic@yahoo.com.

3. Website – www.michaeljkeanephotography.com