Elena Shumilova Loves Ireland

Elena Shumilova returned to Co. Donegal again this year in October 2019 for another amazing workshop. This year we did things different we had some new models, new locations and new themes. What an amazing workshop this year was. There is something very special about these workshops for some reason the Irish workshops are very International in those that are attending. We have photographers from across the world come here and many are returning for their second and even third workshops. As a photographer and organiser of photography tours and workshops I am striving to make these the best possible experience possible and it makes me very happy to see many past photographers returning time and time again, it’s a good sign that we are doing something good.

So let me share the whole week of events here in Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal. On Tuesday 1st October I collected Elena from her bus journey from Belfast to Derry and we went directly to the new photoshoot location that I had planned for this years workshop. We wanted something new, something different, something very special that was uniquely Irish in style and theme and something that would make for stunning images. I had been working all year on new ideas and locations and this place was in my mind for years so I decided this would be our new location for 2019. To be honest I was a little nervous I knew Elena loved it and the ideas I had as I had sent photos to her but would it live up to her high standards and would the reality be as good as the dream and vision that we had planned?

You can book on the workshops with Elena Shumilova at www.photosfromireland.com/elenashumilovaworkshops

My fears were put to rest when she arrived at the location immediately she fell in love with what I had planned. The location was in Urris in Clonmany and the old restored Irish thatched cottages were Mamore Cottages check out their website at www.mamorecottages.com these beautifully restored cottages are in pristine condition and if you are looking for that real authentic old style experience definitely check out these houses they are stunning. You can actually book these cottages to stay in, the area is stunning set against the backdrop of the Urris hills and the famous Gap of Mamore. Big thanks to the Kearney family who own these cottages for allowing me to use their cottages for the workshop.

The light here in Ireland and especially here in Donegal is amazing for photography this year certainly did not disappoint. Elena has often said there is a very similar light in this area to Norway, Iceland and Scotland.

I had an ace card up my sleeve something different planned for Elena and all those participating on the workshop. Elena’s work is beautiful and inspiring and her love of people and animals always makes for beautiful creative dream like stories. We always have the most amazing characters on our workshops and this year I really wanted to go big. We were going to have animals, not one or two but over twenty of them, donkey’s loads and loads of donkeys! This was donkey heaven!

Sean Mclaughlin with some of the other models

I told Elena I had a surprise for her this year with some new four legged models……lol……She was very happy to see these beautiful well kept animals and remarked how well looked after and clean they were. She told me she has used donkey’s before in photo shoots maybe one or two but never in her life had she seen so many in one place. They were so friendly and tame and I knew by the big smile on her face she had so many amazing magical ideas. Here is a little known fact that many people don’t realise the donkey’s here in Ireland, you will notice the cross on the back and shoulders of the donkey’s.

Legend has it that a poor farmer near Jerusalem owned a donkey far too small to do much work at all. He felt that he couldn’t afford to feed a worthless animal like this, one that could do him no good whatsoever, so at the supper table he told his family that he was going to kill the donkey. His children, who loved the little donkey, begged him to sell it rather than harm it. But the farmer said, “It’s wrong to sell an animal that can’t do a good day’s work.” Then his oldest daughter suggested, “Father, tie the donkey to a tree on the road to town, and say whoever wants it may take it for nothing.” And the next morning, that’s what the farmer did. Soon, two men approached and asked if they could have the donkey. “It can carry almost nothing,” the farmer warned them.

“Jesus of Nazareth has need of it,” replied one of the men. The farmer couldn’t imagine what a great teacher would want with such a worthless donkey, but he handed it over. The men took the animal to Jesus, who stroked the grateful donkey’s face and then mounted it and rode away. So it was on the day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus led his followers into the city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a small, common donkey. The donkey so loved his gentle master that he later followed him to Calvary. Grief-stricken by the sight of Jesus on the cross, the donkey turned away but couldn’t leave. It was then that the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and back of the donkey, and there it stayed. All donkeys have borne the sign of the cross on their backs since that very day.

I have noticed in Spain and in Portugal any donkey’s that I have seen there were a larger animal and did not have these markings.

Time was moving on and we headed back to the Strand hotel in Ballyliffin where the workshop was being held check out their website www.ballyliffinstrandhotel.com . For many years now the Strand hotel in Ballyliffin has been our workshop partners and I cannot recommend this venue enough and all its staff. From the minute you walk in the door you will be welcomed in a friendly warm genuine Donegal welcome, a big thank you to Johnny McLaughlin the Proprietor and John keyes the Marketing Manager and all the staff. It’s a warm friendly place that makes such a difference to a special event like these workshops and tours from Photos From Ireland. Check out their videos below!

Time for a quick bite to eat and then myself and Elena went to the meet and greet that we had arranged for all those attending. The meet and greet for these workshops are always very relaxed and informal and this year started at 8.30pm. Heidi Doherty from Go Visit Inishowen was there that evening to say a few words to everyone as well to welcome everyone to Inishowen and if anybody wanted any help or advice on what to see and do she was on hand as well to help. She also kindly gave out goodie bags to everyone in attendance.

Local artist John Quigley from www.ardruastudio.com also gave everyone a lovely hand made locally produced gift. It’s these little touches from workshop partners that really make these photography experiences really special.

The meet and greet started with light refreshments and then myself and Elena welcomed everyone to Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Many had travelled from across the world to be here and had heard from many past photographers who had attended previously about how special this workshop was going to be. We were very happy to see so many past photographers in attendance at the workshop, this makes both myself and Elena very happy that people are happy to return year on year again. For many they have said Ballyliffin feels like their second home. Elena as usual was very down to earth and humble and for one that has done so much in her career, travelled to so many countries and been on stage at so many big major International photography events she is still the same Elena that came here in October 2015.

All the photographers were invited to say a little about themselves, their day to day lives, families and what they were expecting from the workshop. It was amazing to hear their stories and experiences and for me this is something I really enjoy I think it makes everyone bond together more. Later in the evening we were treated to a traditional music experience with local musicians “Reel Trad” as they are known as. This year I had a very special guest one of my models from the two day photography tour late in the week Sinead McGonagle who is one of the best of the best dancers in the world. Last year she came second in the World Championships, she did a special spot accompanied by Reel Trad. This musical part of the meet and greet is something I believe really believe helps people relax and get to know each other. I don’t want these photography experiences to be just another boring corporate photography workshop I want them to be different I want them to be special.

Next morning after a good nights sleep and a hearty full Irish breakfast served by the Strand hotel everyone arrived in the function room for the start of this International workshop. Elena gave a presentation for two hours on her work, her thought process behind her images. She explained about location, light, posing, clothing and was very open to questions from everyone in attendance. She shared all her knowledge with everyone and at 12.30pm we broke up for lunch.

At 2.30pm we gathered at reception at the Stand hotel where we were met by the models for the day. The legenderry Sean the bearded gentleman and one of our most famous models was reunited with Elena again and also another gentleman Bill who travelled all the way from California with his family to model on the workshop for the second year. Local bus company Bradley’s buses arrived and soon everybody gathered on the bus to the new location just ten minutes away.

Soon after leaving the hotel we arrived at our first photo shoot location the Cottages where we were met by our two young models Ethan and Chloe brother and sister. Elena along with the models chose outfits that she thought would work well with the story and scenes she had in mind. A big thank you to Anne McGonigle from https://glendowen.com who supplied many of the outfits for my workshops in the past and on this one as well. Her work is beautiful and is all made right here in Co. Donegal, check out her website for authentic Donegal crafts that she sells in her store and makes herself.

The attending photographers were broken down into two smaller groups and two scenes were set up. The first part of the shoot was indoors in the cottage and Elena setup scenes and gave direction on what camera settings to use, choice of lens and angles to shoot from. The photographers then had a go at creating their own images and after everyone had taken their images the two groups swapped scenes and created more amazing images.

The next part of the workshop was outside and various scenes and setups were created under the direction of Elena herself. The two gentlemen in the photo were Sean a local man on the fiddle and Bill on the piano accordian who flew over for a second year to model all the way from California.

Sean with his new four legged model friends on the Elena Shumilova workshop. After several hours at this location we moved on then to last location Pollan beach in Ballyliffin. By now it was dark and we had more opportunities to create magical stories. We had some new models join us the beautiful local girl Niamh and two sisters Georgina and Hannah from the UK who flew in for the workshop to model. Birds of prey arrived with their owner Martin Moloney AKA as the “Bird man of Buncrana” and once again we had all the magical ingredients for breathtaking photography.

At the end of the day everyone went back to the Strand Hotel in Ballyliffin where they enjoyed a beautiful warm meal in friendly surroundings and they chatted with excitement about what happened and what they saw that day. A big roaring fire and stories exchanged that evening and stories were exchanged it was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Everyone went to bed for a good night’s rest to get ready for the second day of the workshop which was the editing part in the classroom. As the second day came to a close everyone had a personal photograph taken with Elena and they were awarded with a certificate from her as well. As in previous workshops many new friends were made and I am sure these will become lifelong friendships well into the future.

The good news is Elena is coming back again next year for more workshops and to think this journey started back in 2015 with a casual conversation one evening between two photographers from Ireland and Russia. Never did myself and Elena dream our journey would go into something so big and so International and we would meet so many amazing people along the way.

I will be writing another blog shortly about the rest of the week here in Donegal with our International photographers on tour.

Is turas iontach é agus beidh sé ag dul i bhfeabhas

Brendan Diver