Northern Ireland

I went to Northern Ireland back in 2003 with an idea: I wanted to try and document the people, politics, and spiritual conflict in a modern context as told through the very landscape itself. To me nothing is more telling about who we are than the environment we surrounds ourselves in. We make our mark on the landscape around us - our environment shapes our lives.

Through staying with my friend Stephen I was fortunate enough to experience living in the beautiful countryside (in Broughshane) and work in Belfast. The contrast between the city life and the country life (only 20 minutes away by car) says so much more about the current economic climate of the region than any political or spiritual strife known to happen there. If you have the income, you leave the city after work and retreat to the countryside where it is serene and peaceful. If you don't, you can't.

Some of the images may seem, to some, a bit bleak - but to me they are all beautiful. They are reality. At least as I saw it in my short time there.

I want to thank Stephen and my good friend Brian for allowing me to impose on their lives, families, insights, and couches. For showing me how hospitable local life can be, and mainly for just being my friends. The images I captured will always remind me of a place that will haunt my imagination and serve as a source of continued inspiration in all the fine art work I do from here forward.

All of these images were taken in Northern Ireland (specifically West Belfast & Broughshane/Ballymena). All images shot with 120 film.