While not deliberately artistic, people have often been drawn to these images on the basis of familiarity and seeing their local landscapes and features carefully documented in great detail. With the benefit of many years of such interaction and discussion, Nik has identified that although people are naturally drawn to artistic and minimalist photography (often processed to highlight certain features and mute distractions), there also exists a solid interest in imagery that people can relate to, that accurately depicts the views they know and cherish. Such views don’t necessarily conform to the rules of artistic photography that push for leading lines and framing to draw the eye towards a standout subject - they simply exist, and their beauty emanates from their being uniquely familiar.

Ireland-In-Detail is designed to continue with this documentary approach to landscape photography and to showcase full views with detail and precision. It aims to present imagery that is faithful to the views across the Irish landscape that are inherently stunning. The Irish landscape doesn’t need enhancing - just perseverance and patience and to be ready when it reveals itself.

Panoramic Format

It requires both an artistic eye and skill with a camera to capture a single photo that balances tone, light and colour whilst highlighting the particular subject matter of a scene. The photographer must use the constraint of the single photo format to hone in on the desired area and filter out any surrounding distractions.

When capturing full panoramic scenes, however, framing is not constrained by the camera - it is a function of the location and the features that make up the entire scene, and their positions relative to each other are guided by the precise positioning of the camera. Detail and colour have to be inherently balanced across the view, and light (a random function of time and weather) also has to make sense all the way from left to right. Getting all of these elements to harmonise across a full vista at a particular moment requires a lot of planning - and a bit of luck always helps!

When purchasing photographic prints it is a bold step to break with the traditional single-shot format, however, when you take a leap of faith into panoramic imagery you are breaking from the constraints of a view framed by the photographer and allowing your eyes to roam and experience the full unconstrained view of a beautiful location - as though standing there. More than passive art pieces designed to fill a blank wall space, these high-detail panoramic images draw peoples’ focus and attention and are talking points by virtue of their uniqueness and the relationship that exists between persons and place.