This Samhain, the veil between worlds felt a little thinner — not just in spirit, but in art. Over two unforgettable days at the wonderful venue of Lumen Street Theatre, Limerick, my talented colleague Céline Mermier, with our two wonderful models – Lauren Blake and Eoin Coveney, – shared the joy of co-facilitating our first Fine Art Photography Workshops in Ireland, inviting 20 photographers from across Ireland to explore the magic of fine art image-making through the lens of storytelling, myth, creativity, and experimentation.
Our shared vision was to create a space where creativity could move freely — where beginners and seasoned photographers alike could explore light and darkness, both literally and symbolically. What unfolded was far more than a technical workshop: it became for each photographer a personal, playful journey into the poetic and performative heart of fine art photography.
The Alchemy of Light and Darkness in Samhain
Fine art photography thrives in the tension between what is seen and what is felt. During our Samhain photography workshop sessions, we embraced that duality fully — working with costumes, studio lights, natural light, shadows, and movement to sculpt images that balanced clarity with mystery.
Participants learned to control light not as a neutral tool, but as an expressive medium: using shadow to evoke atmosphere, and light to reveal character. In the theatre’s dimly lit corners, images emerged that felt cinematic, surreal, and deeply human all at once.
The concept of light and darkness became more than a visual motif — it was an inner dialogue. Many photographers reflected on how the process invited them to meet their own creative edges: to release control, trust intuition, and discover that sometimes, the most hauntingly beautiful photographs are born in moments of accident and spontaneity.
From Victorian Spirit Photography to Contemporary Imagination
Drawing inspiration from Victorian spirit photography, we reinterpreted historical techniques — slow shutter speed, motion blur, and double exposure — not as tricks of illusion, but as tools of expression. The aim was to capture traces of energy and emotion, to translate movement into memory.
Some photographers worked with spectral motion and ghostly overlays; others explored the quiet poetry of stillness. The results were mesmerising — portraits that appeared to breathe, gestures suspended between time and transformation. Through experimentation with natural and studio light, participants discovered how different qualities of illumination can carry narrative and emotion — from soft, translucent daylight to bold, theatrical contrast.
Ghost Photos by Morgana R. Cabral @morganarcabral.photography
Working with Models and Fine Art Characters
One of the great strengths of these workshops lay in the collaboration with our experienced fine art models, who helped bring mythic archetypes to life — from the fallen angel to the broken doll, from the broken doll to the silent witness. Céline and I guided participants through the process of directing models, shaping visual mood, and constructing narratives through gesture, costume, and gaze.
As the sessions unfolded, each photographer developed their own interpretation. Some leaned into gothic romanticism, others towards cinematic minimalism. Together, we witnessed how a shared theme could produce radically different outcomes — proof that fine art photography is as diverse as the imaginations behind the camera.
Here are a few photos from our talented students – Ken, Anne Marie and Trina.
Community, Creativity, and What Comes Next
What touched us most was the atmosphere of collaboration. Beginners received hands-on support and encouragement from more experienced photographers, while seasoned practitioners rediscovered the joy of play. Conversations about light, composition, and concept flowed naturally — punctuated by laughter, curiosity, and the occasional gasp of delight when a shot came together.
Our Samhain workshops were the beginning of something larger — a growing series of Fine Art Photography Workshops that will continue throughout 2026. Each will explore a different theme, expanding the creative and technical vocabulary of those who join us.
For Céline and me, the greatest reward is witnessing transformation: photographers finding new confidence, new ways of seeing, and new stories to tell through their art.
Closing Reflections
Samhain is a time of transition — of honouring what has passed and inviting what is to come. In that spirit, these workshops reminded us that fine art photography is not only about capturing images, but about opening portals: between light and shadow, between reality and imagination, between artist and subject.
To everyone who joined us — thank you for your openness, courage, and creativity. You reminded us that the camera, when used with intention, becomes not just a device of capture, but a vessel of transformation.
Special thanks to Benjamin Santon for supporting us so generously through this journey.
