Monday, July 5, 2010

Listowel Syndrome


I was recently asked to shoot publicity images for a project created by dancer/choreographer Emma Martin, entitled 'Listowel Syndrome'. It was a very interesting proposition; the work is based around a story that featured heavily in the irish news over the last couple of years, revolving around a conviction for sexual assault by a club doorman in the town of Listowel, and the rather strange reaction that he received from the local community upon his conviction. They basically lined up and gave him an honour guard and applauded him out of the courtroom.

The subject matter is pretty bleak, and Emma is tying it in to the legend of Faust; we really wanted darkness, a sense of despair, to come out in the images. I had in my mind as inspiration the movies of Nick Roeg, and the photographs of Cindy Sherman.

Emma had found a fabulous location out in the wilds of Co Meath, which really gave us the foundation to build the images upon, and Emma was a delight to work with; not a word of complaint, even as the late was fading and the temperature plummeting...

'Listowel Syndrome' will premiere as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival, 2010.

































































all images are copyright Jonathan Mitchell 2010.
no unauthorised reproduction/downloading or other use.



3 comments:

  1. Mitch fella. Just had a look. These are great photos. I'd say the best of them are the first and last images. Using a path of light in a dark wood with those colours gives a great dramatic story. And the last is beautifully caught and composed. Stunning stuff.

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  2. Mitch,
    Somehow I missed that you had posted these images some months ago?
    Great work Mitch, love the top image, reminds me of a bull fighter, keep up the good work mate.

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  3. that club doorman is being released from prison tomorrow

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