We spent a wonderful few weeks in Goa and am absolutely fascinated by the place. The humbleness of the people, the delicious freshly made food, the aromatic smells, the fiercely territorial beach dogs, the holy cows, the breath-taking vistas, the simple but energetic culture. We will be back.
This was a commercial shoot for Belfast City Council's 'Visit Belfast' Christmas Campaign. Working along side commercial photographer Richard Watson, we shot a number of locations around Belfast City Centre on a cold wet November day, finally wrapping up around midnight!
I love watching people, and how they interact with the other people around them and the environment they happen to be in at the time. The people in these photos were generally unaware that I was photographing them.
Orange vinyl wrapped, customised BMW shoot on a grey, wet night at Titanic Belfast.
Bridal shoots are always challenging, but I had the pleasure of shooting this one in arguably Belfast's most iconic and beautiful building, the Grand Opera House.
The brief was to capture the grandness and luxury of the 120 year old building for their wedding brochure. Working closely with the GOH team and to a very tight timescale, we set up a number of different rooms and themes with our model Amy.
In an interior as sumptuous as this, it's difficult not to get great photographs!
"Thanks again for your work, the photos look truly amazing!"
Ashleigh Davidson, Events and Conferences Manager, Grand Opera House.
Belsonic is a fantastic music festival that takes place every year at the end of August, at Custom House Square Belfast. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to photograph the likes of Kasabian, Dizzy Rascal, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Florence and the Machine, Biffy Clyro, Stereophonics, Soulwax, 2manydjs at the site in the middle of Belfast.
Trip to Berlin during the summer of 2014. We arrived just as Germany were playing in the World Cup final against Argentina. The street parties after they won brought the whole city to a standstill.
Part of the journey included a visit to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, and even though it was a July afternoon and temperatures reached 30C, it was still a cold and bleak place.
Some of my favourite portraits (some environmental) of friends and family.
Bistro 155 is a newly refurbished restaurant in Belfast. It was recently bought over and the new management have spent a lot of money making the place look fantastic. I shot the interior just a few days before it opened. Photos to be used for future online and print marketing.
Limited edition BMW Z4M shot for a private owner in Belfast.
I was commissioned by ladies fashion retail brand Mexx Clothing UK, to shoot their last three season campaigns on location in Belfast and Derry. Each shoot presented its own unique challenges but working with senior stylist Alison Paul and her amazing team, we managed to exceed client expectations every time.
"Michael is more than a photographer.
I have worked along side Michael on many different events such as fashion shoots, VIP events, magazine covers and advertising design. He is professional at all times and has the natural ability to make a client, model, guest - in fact the entire crew feel relaxed and comfortable. His quirky fun approach suits all styles and is really reflected in his amazing work.
Somehow he manages to be in five places at once - makeup, hair, styling and behind the scenes giggles... He captures it all!
I think Michael's attention to detail is fantastic and have always been thrilled with the end product.
Summary - not too many photographers can double up as a creative genius, a genuine nice guy and most importantly a great friend!"
Alison Paul, Senior Visual Stylist, Mexx UK.
I love getting up high to shoot night and aerial photography from the top of a building or even a helicopter.
The photos of Wolfgang Buttress's 'Rise' sculpture at the junction of Westlink and Broadway, were commissioned by the artist for his own website. Hanging out the back of an R44 with no doors and just a car seat belt on to stop me plummeting 1500ft to a certain death, is an experience I won't forget in a hurry!
Other night photos of Belfast city centre were used for promotional purposes by MTV and Belfast City Council when the MTV Music Awards were held in the Odyssey Arena in 2011.
Belfast is an amazing city and for all its troubles, I still love it as much as I hate it.
I was in Belfast harbour, filming some BMX stunt riders near the Titanic building, when I noticed a bright light reflecting off something in the shipyard onto the back of Goliath. The light only lasted a few seconds and I was lucky enough to capture such a surreal photo.
I love photographing weddings. My style is very much a candid, documentary approach, but I fully understand the importance and necessity of the formal photos also. My idea of 'formal' may not be the same as yours though!
Here is a selection of my favourite weddings, communions, christenings, and graduations that I have photographed.
Lithuanian model Ruta Mineikyte's on the beach at Murlough Bay, County Down, on one of the hottest days of the year.
This is a collection of my favourite portraits. Some are probably NSFW!
Serotonin are a young, highly acclaimed, Belfast band that are taking the local music scene by storm. After hearing them play live to a packed house at the Oh Yeah Centre, I was delighted to be asked to photograph them.
We took to the streets of Belfast on a cold wet November night to do the shoot. I've been promised warmer climes for the next one!!
Fractious is Belfast electronic music producer Stephen Garrett. He needed some PR shots for a forthcoming record release and asked me to do the shoot. My idea was an interpretation of the word 'Fractious' and to set up the main shot using headless mannequins and shoot Stephen's head and set it on the plate in post. The shoot took place in Stephen's studio in Belfast.
"After working with Michael a few times, he has a very professional approach to his work and you know he has a real passion for it. Great at coming up with ideas for shots that are creative and innovative. I especially like his use of lighting which makes his shots stand out from others I have seen. A pleasure to work with and highly recommended!"
Stephen Garrett (Fractious)
The Festival of Fools is a street comedy festival that usually takes place over the Mayday Bank Holiday in Belfast city centre.
"I asked Michael to help me promote my business. He set to work on a new company logo, photo shoot, website, business card and promotional video.
He was meticulous, worked quickly and took any stress away from myself. I couldn't have been happier with the result.
Michael is a total professional who knows his trade inside and out. I wouldn't hesitate to use his services again and can't recommend him highly enough."
Ian Coomber, Personal Trainer, DW Sports Fitness.
Nothing like a fisheye lens and some heavy processing to sort out a few clown portraits!!
Photos of the Northern Ireland Football Writers Association annual awards dinner.
I've been asked to photograph various White Collar Boxing events throughout Ireland, including the first ever boxing match held in the Great Hall in Belfast City Hall in 2013. Working closely with the promoters, I try to capture the boxing in the context of it's setting, as well as the blood and tears.
'''I have worked with many photography companies and there is none I trust more to maximise & best represent the atmophere of our productions pictorially than Walsh Visuals. Every image they have produced for us over the past three years is unique, creative and of absolute quality.
The best way for a customer to get what your product is all about is to show them the right image.
Michael consistently produces those images, so they are a great investment. He somehow manages to capture more images that make people say 'wow'. It's as simple as that. ''
Chris Hughes, Events Producer.
"Michael, just want to say a big thank you for all your efforts with the Showroom Showdown White Collar Boxing Challenge. The work you do is fantastic and I'd highly recommend you to any one wanting a camera man for multiple purposes. Pictures are fab and I hope you'll work alongside me next time. Thanks again."
Bill Morrow, Bill Morrow Promotions.
Various landscapes from around Ireland. This is an area of my work that I really love, and one I intend to develop in future.
Shoot for Ulster Tatler Interiors magazine.
Ventnors make the best sandwiches in Belfast. So when they asked me design a new website for them and shoot the photography for it, I had to insist they pay me in ham baps. And that's what they did.
My idea was to keep the design simple and allow the black and white photos and the fresh greens of their existing identity to do talking. The finished site can be viewed at: www.ventnorsdeli.com
Down Royal, situated just outside Lisburn in Co. Down, is Northern Ireland's premier horse race course.
The infamous Asylum club was held in the arches beneath Connolly Station in the centre of Dublin. I have fond memories of photographing some world famous DJ's and live acts such as Hardfloor, K-Klass and Blue Amazon.
Who doesn't love cars?
Scope are two Belfast electronic music producers.
Miniminds are Belfast electronic music producers and DJ's, Stephen Garrett and Gary Dickenson.
Doreen McAleer is a Fermanagh based fashion designer.
Stunt team UKFMX, performing at Belfast Harbour in front of the iconic H&W cranes and Titanic building.
Catalogue shoot for Irish retail store chain, Menarys.
Promotional photos for DJ Darren Graham.
"I had asked Michael to come to our printworks to take a few photographs for our website.
The photographs were way beyond our expectations and quickly found that Michael’s work stood out because he has an amazing creative ability to see what others cannot.
We still use the photographs for social media and our website.
I would have no hesitation recommending Michael to any future creative project."
Geoff Truesdale, Managing Director, Print Library/printproject.co.uk
Monthly Belfast drum and bass club night.
Cherryvalley Dental Practice were creating a new website and needed up-to-date photography of their staff. To help create a sterile looking blue environment, I used tungsten balanced lights and adjusted in the temperature in post. It was a pleasure working with such a professional team over the two day shoot.
Ulster Weavers asked me to photograph their entire product catalogue.
Part of a series of photographs that were to be used in an outdoor advertising campaign for Belfast radio station Citybeat 96.7FM. The chosen shots were used on 48 sheet billboards and on bus advertising.
Legendary DJ and electronic music producer Sasha, plays the Ulster Hall for Shine. Support from Psycatron.
Pop superstar Rihanna, filmed the video of her single 'We found love' on the streets of Belfast.
These photos were then licenced to Splash News in Los Angeles and published in a number of newspapers and glossy magazines around the world.
High end studio monitor manufacturer.
Chicago DJ Felix da Housecat plays the Stiff Kitten in Belfast.
