About the Artist , Etc.
Concentrating primarily on Nature scenes, my pictures are taken without the use of color filters or digital manipulation of the images. Am always looking for what is real and tangible and in a world that is being experienced more and more virtually this can sometimes present a challenge.
The Natural World is not static but dynamic and fluid , always changing and evolving , ( as are most people ) , and in nature survival depends on evolving and adapting to new and ever changing circumstances. Have recently come down from the Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri after several years and now live in the city of St. Louis. Isolating oneself can often times cause a disconnect from the "real" world , ( similar to when I was immersed in the world of academia in Universities).
In a screen obsessed society where many people have little if any interaction with the Natural World , it might easily be forgotten that humankind is a part of and not apart from the Natural World. It seems that virtual reality is overshadowing some of the spiritual aspects of life including having an actual physical presence in Nature and having time for self reflection are being sacrificed for the sake of materialism. Little time is left for meditation when one is constantly being inundated with external clutter from social media , news outlets , gaming , etc. , sometimes consuming nearly every waking moment of one's day. To quote John Lennon , " Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans " , be mindful of the present , the past is gone.
As an artistic medium photography can only capture a fleeting moment in time , but hopefully it can lesson the distance between the observer and the observed. And similar with musicians , an alliance is formed between the musician and the audience.
My ancestral roots in Ireland run deep , the Moore's from the town of Newry , Co. Down and the Balfour’s from Lisnaskea , Co. Fermanagh , whose residence at one time was Castle Balfour.
A native of St. Louis Missouri , I grew up in a musical household my Father being a Classical Violinist and Mother an Operatic singer. I play the Sitar and the Irish Bouzouki .
Have lived on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California and on the Big Island of Hawaii, where I studied the Biological Sciences at the University of Hawaii in Hilo. After completing my studies at U.H. I remained on the Island for several more years. Upon moving back to Missouri I enrolled in Washington University in St. Louis to study Medical Science. My primary residence now is St. Louis , (a great city ). Go raibh maith agat , ( Thank You ) , Donal