Capturing the Portrait of the National Gallery of Ireland’s new Chair of the Board, Adrian O’Carroll: Behind the Lens

There’s a few important steps before taking a portrait when you have a limited amount of time with your subject. Everything is about capturing their essence and personality so it’s important to build warmth and rapport with the person or people I’m capturing.

Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Adrian O’Carroll, the newly appointed Chair of the National Gallery of Ireland. Here’s a peek into the process behind this portrait.

Setting the Scene:

For this portrait, the goal was to reflect the importance and stature of the National Gallery of Ireland’s new Chair while keeping the setting professional and approachable. The wonderful NGI team chose the Shaw Room, an indoor setting within the Gallery itself, backdropped by The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, c.1854, by Daniel Maclise (1806-1870), and surrounded by the rich art and cultural heritage that Adrian will be overseeing.

Lighting and Equipment:

Lighting is crucial in any portrait photo. For this shoot, I used a combination of two large umbrella modifiers (one key light, one side) to ensure even illumination on Adrian’s face. The key was to highlight his features without creating harsh shadows. I opted for the umbrellas to diffuse the light, as time was of the essence, in creating this natural and flattering look.

Camera and Lens:

I shot with the Canon R5, paired with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L lens. This lens is my go-to for portraits because I love the compression, rendering the background beautifully out of focus while keeping my subject sharp and detailed.

The Process:

Before the shoot, I had a brief chat with Adrian, I got a quick glimpse into his hobbies over the weekend, which we both shared an interest in. This familiarised the two of us and helped in making Adrian comfortable in front of the camera. During the shoot, I focused on capturing various expressions, from serious to slight smiles, and a few pose variations ensuring we had a range of options to choose from.

Post-Production:

Post-production is where the magic happens.

I used Adobe Lightroom for basic adjustments like exposure, contrast, and color correction. For finer details, Adobe Photoshop was used to retouch any distractions, ensuring the final image was polished yet natural.

Conclusion:

The resulting portrait of Adrian O’Carroll not only marks his significant new role but also embodies the essence of his leadership and vision for the National Gallery of Ireland. It was an honor to contribute to this moment in the National Gallery with my photography.