WRITER EDNA O'BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN MINIHAN, LONDON 1971
I'm having a me, me, me moment. I could moan and gnash and tell you all why...shall I? Hmmm. Let me put it this way, I'm fed up giving and getting nothing back. Why are certain creative people so selfish!? Grrr, gnash, seethe.
So, to continue with the me, me, me theme of this post, look here in Southword for pics that John Minihan (John effing Minihan!!!) took of me and my partner and Juno at the Frank O'Connor Festival. This man has photographed Beckett, Bacon, Diana the Princess of Wales, and one of my heroines, Edna O'Brien, as well as various other wonderful and famous people. I am thrilled!
John is the annual official photographer at the Frank O'Connor Festival (aren't the Munster Literature people clever?) and you can buy limited edition prints from his website of Beckett if you are flush or buy one of John's books of photographs An Unweaving of Rainbows - Images of Writers here at the Book Depository.
19 comments:
Fantastic photo’s Nu, you look very beautiful! and how wonderful to have such a renowned photographer take your picture alongside such a prestigious list!
I hear you on the subject of giving/sharing creatively while others are just full of secrecy, why? I wonder is it fear? or maybe jealousy? who knows, be it on their own conscience, you reap what you sow!
Nuala
That's a rare distinction, and they are lovely portraits. I'm sure you'll treasure them.
I've never had the pleasure, though remember being incredibly thrilled to be photographed by Mr Kenny in his bookshop in Galway in the late 90s. He took one of me and my mother, which was very special. I don't know what happened to it subsequently.
But to be photographed by Minihan .... that beats Banagher!
PS. Don't let yourself get ground-down by the takers of this world ...
Kar - he's genius. And he uses an old Rolliflex which is so cool.
Re the Secrecy Crew - grrr, is all I'll say.
Nessa - I loved the Kennys pics too. Mine made me giggle. I wonder where they are now? There was talk of finding them a permanent home.
Re The Takers - what a great phrase! Hits the nail. I personally prefer give and take...
They are just beautiful - luminous!
You lucky thing. John took a few they year before... me in the street outside isaacs Hotel. And one with Jhumpa Lahiri. I must have broken the camera, sadly - they never appeared anywhere, and Ive had no joy getting them out of him. Poo!
Great photos, and what a list to be part of! People in general can be selfish, maybe it's more frustrating when they are creative type people because you'd normally think of them as more perceptive/ intuitive/ sensitive than others.. Hope they read your blog and cop on whoever they are!
You ,you ,you look great in those photos.The first one is fantastic, it looks almost 3D with the blurred background and I really like your hands holding the book.What a rare treat to treasure.I'm a bit of a fan of JM and was over the moon when my first poem in The SHOp (isue 13)had a photo by himself with it.Me, Me ,Me. ;)
Vanessa - John took some of me in 2008 too but I never saw them either. I think he just sent a selection into Munster Lit - so I gathered anyway.
Niamh - I laughed at your comment hee hee! There are a few culprits in question. I normally don't think twice but some people I have bent over backwards for and it's starting to feel like a piss take when there is no flow back. And not a word of thanks! I could give examples but, in case they do read, I had better not...
TFE - thank you , thank you, thank you. I hoped as a camera-toting poet that you'd see these.
John Minihan is a lovely fella - really interested in people. I hate getting my piccie taken but he made me feel less self-conscious than normal.
Congratulations, Nuala, your photo is stunning. Thanks for also posting Edna O'Brien's provocative photo. I'm also a big fan of hers, and had the pleasure of meeting here a couple of times here in San Francisco.I LOVED NUDE and am reading it through for the second time right now. It just gets better and better. Stay clear of the chi-snatchers :-)
Oh Ethel - I'm thrilled you liked Nude. Yay!
Doesn't Edna look stunning?!
I was too shy to approach her when I heard her read in Cork. She was great - feisty! My mother gave me her books when I was a teenager and I always go back to the greats like The Country Girls and A Pagan Place. Love her!
Human beings...can be so fantastic...and so disappointing...
in every walk of life. I struggle with it all the time...and then feel stupid (like haven't I got used to it by now?). No. I haven't. I still expect the best of people.
x
Yes Rachel, I'm the same.
I don't mind when I give from my own choice, that's my choice.
But when I am asked to give and I give freely, over and above, shall we say, and then I get nothing back, not a droplet of gratitude or good karma, well, then I feel put upon and grudgy.
I think I'll shut up now. At this stage I am annoying myself.
Gorgeous, gorgeous pics! Wow. And like Vanessa John Minihan took pics of me in Cork in 2008 that never materialised, so we both must have broken the lens! Next year...
So sorry to hear about creative people being shitty and ungrateful. I hope they feel your displeasure through the karmic airwaves and reform.
Hey T - yes, like I commented to V, only a handful of the 2008 Minihan pics appeared. Not mine either.
I am done giving out about creative leeches. I'm finished with them! No more of my time or energy will be given over to their needs. From now on it's all about me!
N - I certainly asked John if I might buy the pics, when he took them, and he said 'of course'... do you suppose he just dumped those he didnt like himself? Id LOVE the ones with JL, if he still has them, but havent been able to get a peep out of his website contact...any ideas??
Hi V - try contacting Pat at Munster Lit. He may have a number for him. G'luck. N x
Nuala,
I love those photos. You look stunning! I loved the poems for your sister also on your blog. It was so vivid - I still see the RED from the last line.
I hope your Christmas was peaceful and fun with the little ones. Ours is going nicely and calmly - thanks to a willing Granny nearby :-) Best Wishes for the new year! Móna
Thank you Móna!
Our Xmas has been lovely - low key.
Wishing you a creative 2010,
Nuala x
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