A life in images

He is softly spoken and modest of his work, he did it for the money – “put bread on the table”  - he says. But from speaking with him for a short period of time it is clear he always gave his work great consideration.  Influenced by images he saw in the photographic magazines he purchased a Leica and went to Germany to learn about the camera.  This camera choice was essential to his working style – allowing him to shoot fast and in low light situations.

During the visit I got to see the images chosen by the council to go along into their permanent exhibition. The photographs cover every aspect of life in a large provincial town – politics, commerce, rich, poor, living, dying and the dead.

His business in Dundalk was a general practice and he shot portraits, weddings, PR and news. He wasn’t keen on weddings as he ” couldn’t understand the vanity of it” but he loved covering news. He was always ready to drop everything and chase the image.  His daughter, Paula, recalls being on holidays in Donegal and her father taking the family to Derry so he could cover the the apprentice boys parade. Arriving in Derry he agreed to meet them back at their favourite shop and left Paula, wearing a summer dress and sandals,  standing with her Mother in the middle of a shopping street covered in broken glass and bricks.

But being the daughter of a photographer had advantages too.  She recalls the excitement of a phonecall from the office telling her mother to make the sandwiches and get ready to jump in the car. He would cover the marking and then, if deadlines permitted, spend time with family enjoying  a picnic on a nearby beach or hill. If on a deadline he rushed home and processed the film and used an “informal” network to get the material to the nationals and Tefefis Eireann.

Paula joined her father in the business in early nineties.  On her first day she sent out over 30 statements to people who owed the business money.  Paul laughs as Paula recounts this and states that he didn’t want to upset his customers. It was only then that “he realised he should get paid” he says.

Covering the troubles presented it’s own issues.  He always rang ahead to clear his car as he believes there is nothing more dangerous than “a frightened soldier with a rifle”.  Being local also meant he was tipped off about certain events – sometimes before they happened.

I asked Paul what he thought of current photojournalism.  He likes a lot of the current material produced and is slow to tell photographers working today how to go about their business.  He is amazed by the speed of everything.  When I press him a little on this issue he says it leads to too  many thoughtless images. If he would give a little advice to current photojournalist it would be to slow down and consider the subject more carefully.

Finally I asked him if one photograph stuck with him after all these years.  ” The elephants” he states. And then recounts the day a visiting circus brought five elephants through the small streets of Dundalk. “We will never see the like of that again” he says. Indeed we won’t.

Paul Kavanagh

Tags: Louth Paul Kavanagh photography photojournalist