AiB Bankcentre

Years ago I was trained to design buildings, to participate in its creation process. Over a decade later I ended up archiving them using my cameras and seeing them being demolished on almost frequent basis. Quite a significant metamorphose, isn't it? 

This blog article is exactly about one of such a subjects ….

Before I start, I would like to say that I had quite a difficulties writing this post. 

Sometimes I would prefer to explain everything only through images as this is exactly what I see and what I want to show. Photography is obviously form of my expression but also my passion and profession since a few years. This passion has to be shared with architecture anyway as architecture is actually still in and around me.  

At the same time however I am aware of the fact that I also need a words every now and then.

Some days I can write a lot. My fingers jumping from one key to another. Words are just flowing and all my ideas are being transformed into short stories almost instantly. The other days however I can’t even think about simple sentence, can’t built proper text…I have everything in my head but just can’t transform it into words… 

I see only images… This is what I have since a few days.

It's one of the reasons why I am often enclosing links to articles from magazines, newspapers or online sources. People already wrote many fantastic articles about subjects photographed by me or its creators so why not to share it  and blend it with the effect of my visual perception.

Lets move on then. 

‘Bankers Paradise’, ‘Garden Bank’ … as this one of Ireland's first campus-style business complexes has been already described.

© Artur Sikora

‘The essence of good taste, discrete, neither imposing nor assertive, a fine example of the demanding art of orderly development. When the balconies are clothed in shrubs and plants we will have nothing less than the hanging gardens of Ballsbridge'

Taoiseach Charles Haughey at the opening of the AIB Bankcentre Ballsbridge, 19 February 1980*

*( 'Garden Bank - AiB Bankcentre'.... from article on Architectureireland.ie )

Beautiful words about incredibly well designed buildings. One of these you can’t just pass without stopping for a while.

Refined and at the same time almost hidden concrete structures gently blended with nature. All of it in Ballsbridge, old Victorian Dublin suburbs just across Royal Dublin Society complex.

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

AiB Bankcentre was designed by Andrew Devane (1979) of Robinson Keefe & Devane Architects. I found very good article about this important Irish architect (by Emma Gilleece). Please click HERE to read it. I would strongly advice to do so as it gives over all a better perspective. 

© Artur Sikora

I visited AiB Bankcentre for the first time while Open House Dublin 2016 tour organised by Irish Architecture Foundation last month. That was the moment when I made a first photographs and decided to come back to see it better, to kind of contemplate the beauty of all complex. That day happened about a week ago. The last day (at least for now) with beautiful sunlight which I was really hoping for. It allowed me to record all I saw with strong contrast which helps to emphasise the structure and perfect form of my subject.

© Artur Sikora

Here I would like to thank Mr Liam Muldowney who played an immense role in obtaining permission to photograph The Bankcentre and also all security people. Mr Muldowney was also a guide on our Open House tour and introduced us to this incredible object. Really appreciate it.

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

Time is passing by, the needs of society are changing. This is also, or maybe first of all, about our surrounding.  

Monuments of our culture are being ‘extracted’ one after the other. This is ‘modern’ outcome of such changes and sign of our time …Unfortunately AiB Bankcentre is not the exemption …

4 front blocks were already sold and the permission for its demolition has been granted.

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

Recently (since a few months) I have an opportunity to record/archive buildings which are on the ‘black list’, buildings which we won’t be able to see in a few years (maybe even months) at all or not in its original form. Fitzwillton House, Bord Fáilte headquarters or Phibsborough shopping centre ...and now ‘Garden Bank’.

It’s like a race against the time. All it can be done now is probably only memorising simplicity of forms, details, functionality of modernist buildings and genuine ideas of its creators, pioneering architects  and innovators of our times.

© Artur Sikora

Presented above photographs it's just a small selection from all I had a chance to make so please follow me on all social media for more updates and to see remaining images.

Links at the top of this blog or directly from my website www.artursikora.com

Thank you!

***

Traditionally at the end the list of equipment used for those analogue photographers (like myself) who just would love to know it :)

- Sinar F2 with Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar S 150/5.6 and Super Angulon 90/8, 

  Fomapan 100 4x5 exposed at ISO 50

- Hasselblad 500 c/m with Planar 80/2.8 and Distagon 50/4, 

  Ilford Pan F plus 50 120 

- Holga 120GN with 60mm optical lens, Kodak Tmax400

- Canon EOS 3 with 100/2 and 35/2, Kodak Tmax 400

Two worlds...

Once again I moved with all my cameras to Olive Tree Studio for a few hours. Once again I was photographing yoga classes but this time  in a bit different way. That was over a week ago.
'Mother/child' and 'Partner' yoga - the theme of my latest session.
To get a context please come back to the previous article where all about Chroi Yoga/Christina Breen (my client) and Olive Tree Studio has been already said. Please click HERE.

This session as the first one was very well prepared in advance by myself and Christina. We met a few times to discus in details how everything should looks like. All this project is my first experience with yoga photography so it was important to know what exactly I should focus on while working on such a specific and very challenging assignment. 
Especially in my case - completely non-yogic person. 
What was important for Christina is my style of photography, her vision and belief that these two worlds /my B&W play of lights, shadows and forms and Christina's bright, mindful way to attain a state of permanent peace/ will work together perfectly. 
...And she was right. It works really well!
I created a series of photographs which shows many significant aspects of yoga represented by Christina as a professional yoga teacher.

We spent some time also after both session talking about every single photograph I edited out from all bunch of processed negatives. That was another interesting experience as we were looking at it from completely different perspectives having in mind mentioned two worlds /our private worlds/. 
There was a few photographs we had opposite opinion about but our conversation created  a really good way to understand each others point of view and find a 'way in the middle'.

 

...Also as before, presented photographs are just a samples. All series you will be able to see in-between other photographs on ChroiYoga new website soon.

Under the olive tree...

I am presenting on this blog varies aspects on my photography. From experiments and tests through my personal projects and exhibitions up to more interesting assignments I have a pleasure to work on. 
We all have own style of work and the way we are the most productive and able to get the best of our knowledge and talent. It is always very personal and depends on many aspects. It concerns not only photographers  but all professions I would say.
As a traditional photographer I appreciate every moment I can slow down and contemplate the scene before recording. Every session takes a time. It has to be planed and properly prepared to eliminate fortuity. It is especially important in case of equipment I am using.
Pressing the shutter release is the final moment. Everything what has to be done in relation to the image is happening before that. After, there is only chemistry…
I am happy enough to work with people who perfectly understand such process most of the time.

Two weeks ago I had a pleasure to work on something completely new for me. I was photographing children yoga classes for Christina Breen (Chroi Yoga), yoga teacher (trained in Yoga for Children & Families with www.rainbowkidsyoga.net) and Montessori educator.  As you probably remember this is not our first cooperation. Last summer I took two portraits during the event organised also by Christina. /You can have a look at it HERE/
This session was a pure pleasure as it suits very well my style of work which is always in benefits for my client and myself. Christina perfectly understand every visual aspect of type/style of photography i am representing and she has a fantastic approach to it. She can also read images in the way that many photographers wouldn't be able to do so.

I came to see the class some time before session to get an idea how everything looks like and what can I do in there to make the best images possible.
Olive Tree Studio, where this session took a place, is located in the basement of 19th century house. It is a beautiful space for yoga and dance. Due to time of the year however we had not enough daylight I needed for this session even if the windows are relatively large. At the same time I didn’t want to use a flash lamps. I am always trying to avoid it as much as possible once I am outside photography studio. It usually flatten image doesn’t matter how well set it is.  I truly love ambient lighting as it give completely different dynamic of the image. It is also very important for me to achieve as much natural and realistic look of photographed person and place as possible. Subdued light, type of the place and the way how the class was runned by Christina - all of it was beautiful and I wanted to show it that way.
That was a challenge...

In this case the space we were working in had a few spotlights giving really nice ambiance. I spent a while before session to set those lights and direct them properly into space of the room I was going to work in.
The light was still relatively low (for photography) but as most of you know I am always pushing my films at least one or two stops. This time even three. It was just right. We were ready.
Session itself took about 3 hours (including over one hour for classes with some beautiful theatrical elements) and it was really hard work for all of us…myself, Christina, our assistants and first of all for children. They were absolutely fantastic and very cooperative. Many thanks to all of them. Here I must also thank their parents! 

That was the first time I was photographing children (beside my own of course) and it was  wonderful  experience. Truly amazing event. Christina is a perfect teacher. She has a great contact with all kids. She is also more then kind and at the same time very professional. If any of you reading this article ever thought about yoga class for your child or for yourself - Christina is a person to contact to.

Above images are just an examples showing different stages of that afternoon session.
More of them will be presented soon on Chroi Yoga website. 
Contact details below:

website:   www.chroiyoga.com
email:   chroiyoga@gmail.com
facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/ChroiYogaPage



Technical part:

I was using there 4 cameras in 3 different formats and 3 films at 4 different speeds. Sinar F2 large format camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 150mm 5.6 lens, Hassleblad 500cm with Planar 80mm 2.8 lens. Canon A-1 with 50mm 1.4 and Canon 6D with 50 1.4 and 35 2 lenses. Yes, I was also using digital camera this time for a few shots but somehow non of them were as good as recorded on film even if this camera is an outstanding performer, especially in low light situations and also during actor head-shots and business portraits in studio.
As for film…a few rolls of beloved TMax 400 exposed at 800, 1600 and 3200, roll of Trix  400 at 800 and for the first time Fomapan 400 4x5 at 400 and also and 1600. It was a test for this film which I never used before. What can I say - I love it!
After first light check I had a plan to shoot all at 3200 but apparently small spotlights properly set gave a couple of stoops better light condition.
All images processed in Xtol 1:1, except Foma 400 and Trix which I souped in Rodinal 1:50. All scanned on great V700 as always. 

Thank you!

Keeping myself busy...

Time for a bit of self-promotion ;) 

It is information rather for those who are not aware of the fact that I am offering a few services related to photography.
I would say even more - they are all related to celluloid based traditional film photography ;)
Let's start then....

Darkroom Service
This one is for photographers, both amateurs and professionals and also for all those who keep their old negatives in boxes and would like to archive/transfer them into hard drive or CD. 

What is it all about?

Darkroom Service offers hand processing of professional B&W negative films from 35mm up to large format 4x5 and high resolution scanning (2400dpi or even higher) - colour and B&W negatives and slides up to 8x10.
Excellent quality and really good prices.

As a Darkroom Service I am offering also B&W negative film processing workshops. It covers traditional way of developing or alternative, using COFFEE. Decision is made by a student.

Here I would like to point that I am open to any form of cooperation with schools or camera clubs on the field of B&W film photography.
Last year I was providing such workshop in National College of Art and Design (NCAD) as a part of Photography and Digital Imaging Course (PDI). I have been also teaching for a few months traditional photography and darkroom printing techniques in The Academy of Photography (within DLight Studio).

You can have a look at www.darkroomservice.ie website for details.

First of all however I am a photographer specializing in portraiture and architectural photography. I work exclusively with analogue equipment which make all process and its result very special and unique.
I am open for commissions!

phot. Rafal Krol

Please contact me in case of any questions or simply if you would like to book a session.
You can have a look at my website for further details - www.artursikora.com


Thank you! 

Long live film :)