Puttnam to open exhibition of West Cork aerial shots

WHEN he opens Dennis Horgan’s exhibition West Cork from the Air Lord David Puttnam will know what to say.

He will know how to put into words the power and the impact of the stunning 22 images that photographer Dennis has taken over the last three months.

The images – all taken from the sky – are of some of West Cork’s finest landmarks from the bridge at the Mizen, to rather mysterious-looking tide lines at Clonakilty Bay.

Dennis Horgan – a former estate agent who divides his time between Cork, Dublin and Glandore – has been known to fly helicopters and single-engine aircraft with the doors removed just so he can get the right shot.

‘It’s quite legal. I’m sitting down and strapped in,’ said Dennis, who admits he is happiest when combining his twin lifelong interests, photography and aviation.

Dennis has already published two books: Cork –The View From Above, which was published in 2015 and Dublin – The View From Above, which was published last year.

Lord David Puttnam officially launched his first, and the broadcaster, Pat Kenny, launched the second. 

David Puttnam, who is very supportive of Dennis’s work, will open the West Cork from the Air exhibition on Thursday, July 28th.

The exhibition – which will be housed in the reception area of Skibbereen Town Hall and is being sponsored by The Southern Star, the Port of Cork and Bantry, Field’s of Skibbereen, the McCarthy Insurance Group and Cork County Council – will run until September 12th.

Dennis confirmed that he is working on a second version of his Cork book and that all of the new West Cork images will be featured in it. He also confirmed that he will be giving away one large, framed aerial photograph of the Fastnet Lighthouse in a reader’s competition in next week’s Southern Star.

‘The landscape in West Cork is amazing,’ said Dennis. ‘The light here is different to anywhere else in the country. I love the landscape, the shape of the coast, and what farmers do when they are ploughing and harvesting. It creates the most amazing shapes.’

Dennis believes: ‘The Fastnet is the most iconic lighthouse in Europe. It is absolutely amazing. I am just fascinated by it and when you are looking at it from above, you wonder how they built it all those years ago.’