Big Picture Festival in Cork highlighting valuable role of press photographers

Sat, 19 Oct, 2024 - 12:37

Rachel Lysaght

A festival celebrating the works of several multi-award winning Irish photographers is taking place in Cork this weekend.

The Big Picture Festival, now in its third year and organised by Press Photographers Ireland, is taking place in Kinsale across today (Saturday) and tomorrow at Temperance Hall.

Alongside the celebrated works, the AIB Press Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition is also on display.

Photographers that will be celebrated include retired The Echo/Irish Examiner staff photographer, Denis Minihane, presenting images from the Air India disaster, and the Kowloon Bridge shipwreck; AIB Photographer of the Year 2024, Alan Betson; and Fleet Street photographer, John Minihan, who will present some of his iconic work featuring Diana, Princess of Wales, Alfred Hitchcock, and Samuel Beckett.

Valuable

The president of Press Photographers Ireland, David Brannigan, said press photographers continue to "play a valuable public role by recording the stories of our times,”
“In an age of AI fakery and misinformation, the images and creators at Big Picture 2024 can be relied upon for upholding the best traditions of photo-journalism."

Other presentation highlights include Clodagh Kilcoyne, an Irish staff photographer with Reuters International News Agency, whose work ranges from the war in Ukraine to major sporting events; as well as a special tribute to the late Shane MacGowan of The Pogues by Tipperary photographer, Padraig O’Flannabhra.

Canon Ireland will also host a special day of activities on Sunday as part of the festival, including a guided photographic walk of scenic Kinsale and a look behind the scenes of the Paris 2024 Olympics with Inpho Photography photographer, James Crombie, as well as an insight into war and conflict photography with Andrew Parsons.

Up to 200 second-level students will also be attendance as they enjoy a series of events organised by NewsBrands Ireland promoting awareness of the importance of media in our lives.

Chairperson of the organising committee, Alice de la Cour, said: “The Big Picture Festival of press photography continues to grow in popularity after more than 1,000 visitors took part in 2023. Kinsale is the ideal venue for anyone with an eye for a photograph and there’ll be plenty for everyone to see over this weekend.”