Togs & Tales
Paul Killeen

Paul Killeen
Landscape Photographer
What was your path to becoming a Landscape Photographer & What was your first camera?
What was your favourite Landscape Adventure Story since becoming a Photographer?

What was your worst in-the-field experience as a landscape Photographer?
1st March 2020. Lofoten Islands. Uttakleiv Beach for sunrise. Later that evening my beloved Aston Villa would also get beat 2-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup Final (whilst I drank the most of a bottle of rum, you will find out that it had been a terrible day). That morning was our third of our twelve day trip to the Lofoten Islands and I had just shot the ‘Dragons Eye’. Close to this spot I was in the process of making another seascape, and to be honest it was never going to be an image worth keeping, but I was caught down a rabbit hole of trying to produce an image. Waves were coming up and around me and I was making images of the waves regressing back to the sea. It didn’t appear unsafe in the slightest during my time at this particular area. As I was about to make my last image a freak wave came up and knocked both my tripod with the camera attached off our feet. I don’t know how but I managed to grab a leg of the tripod. When I got back on my feet the tripod had two legs, the filter hold and two Lee Filters were gone never to be seen again, and the camera never worked again. Almost five thousand pounds worth of damage, not insured. Tyler Collins happened to be running a workshop in Lofoten and seen something I had put out on my Instagram story and had other people coming out to him later in the week so Ricky Linton who was on the workshop was able to bring out my Dads Canon 5d MkII and Andy Coulter, who is now a good friend, and a very good photographer (check out his work) lent me his tripod, filter holders and two filters that I had lost. The camera never worked again but thankfully the memory card and all of the images from the first two days were able to be saved. Looking back on it now, if the wave had taken me out to sea there was no way I was coming back. It has taken some time to realise this because initially I was focused on my loss of equipment, naturally. Now I know that I was very lucky.
Sunrise or Sunset & Why?

Where is your favourite Location in Ireland to Photograph & Why?
What is your favourite photograph, that you’ve taken to date, & Why?

What equipment / Setup are you currently using?
I shoot with a Canon 5d MkIV. I mostly use 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-300mm. Lee Filters are my filter of choice and have been since I took up photography. I consider them to be the best in the business. I am not big into gear or technology. In fact I would say I am the opposite. I am a big advocate for practising and working to get shoot an image correctly in camera. This is the most satisfying thing for me personally, and that gives me such a buzz.
- Canon 5d MkIV
- 24-70mm
- 24-105mm
- 70-300mm
- Lee Filters
You recently won Nigel Danson's World Landscape Photographer 2022 photography Competition. Can you tell us about your image and what winning this competition has meant to to you?

Top Tip for anyone starting out?
Who is your biggest inspiration as a Landscape Photographer?
There are a few photographers that really inspire me. People who I consider to be a class above the rest. Names that spring to mind are Maria Svarbova, Rachael Talibart, Dave Fieldhouse, Leigh Dorey, Neil Burnell, Simon Baxter, Kai Hornung and the long list goes on. I know I have missed loads of photographers whose work I am in awe of, but we’ve not got all day. When I look at their work it’s just on another level. I guess we all aspire to be as good as those that inspire us.
Best Advise you’ve personally been given?

Who is your favourite Irish photographer at the moment ?
John Miskelly immediately comes to mind. Do look for him on Instagram, although he puts very little up there. I think you’ll find a link to his website in his bio though. I have seen John’s prints in person and they are simply stunning. I would recommend his work to anyone. He is a top photographer.