The weekly Offshoot meeting on the 8th of October saw us leaving our normal abode for the periodic splendour of Marlay House. Special thanks to the Arts department of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for inviting Offshoot to be part of their programme of events for their Fieldworks iniative (a photographic exhibition of rural Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown featuring commissioned work from Michael Durand and Dara McGrath based at Marlay House). This meeting was open to the public to introduce a local photography club and to see what happens in such a club.
Our guest speaker on the night was Des Connors from Mid Louth Photography Club and famed photographer of kingfishers in their natural habitat on the River Laragh in County Cavan. Des was overall winner in the 2012 IPF National Nature finals with his image entitled ‘Fish Presenting Display’. Des gave the 60 people in attendance an entertaining and enthralling behind-the-scenes look at how he creates such wonderful images. With seven years of experience capturing such beautiful shots we were all very appreciative of the tips, suggestions and practical advice from Des.