Last Saturday I had the chance to photograph a group of Firewalkers on Portrane beach in Co. Dublin. How did this come about? A chance meeting on Friday, a simple statement and I was heading to Portrane Saturday. OK,I’ll back up a bit. I believe in syncronicity and being in the right place at the right time. If we’re open to experiences they appear to us.
I was at a meeting on Friday in Ballsbridge and initially I’d parked at the wrong end so I jumped back in the car, drove to where the meeting was only to find the car park full. The D4 hotels were opposite so even though I’d paid a street parking ticket already, I was suddenly running late and I decided my best bet was to park in the D4. After the meeting I went into the hotel to pay for my parking and I saw Stevey McGeown walk by. I know Stevey from working at Life Lasting Success events, having seen him and photographed him as a speaker over the past few months. Stevey was in Dublin running one of his success courses, being held in the adjoining hotel. After chatting for a few minutes Stevey informed me that his group were going to be doing a Firewalk the following evening. He wasn’t sure where exactly it was being held but I offered immediately to go and take some photos for him. In my mind I was thinking I’d get some great photos and would happily give Stevey them for his own use. I gave Stevey my card and he said he’d call and less than 2 hours later he did. Within 5 minutes it was all arranged, initially I thought it would be held near the hotel but suddenly I was heading to Portrane Saturday evening for a Firewalk, so my thoughts of a 15 minute drive to the beach near the hotel turned into a much more extensive trip!
When I arrived, the fire was being stoked by the ‘firestarter’ George Hamilton and the group were getting ‘into the zone’. The weather was perfect, for a March day in Dublin there was a gently breeze, not a cloud in the sky and after the previous nights rain it was as if this had all been pre arranged. I took a few shots of the group as they prepared and a pre walk group shot around the fire. I’d also brought my digital video recorder with me so I set that up on the tripod and made sure I wouldn’t obscure it when taking the photos. I must say, my little Kodak Zi8 looks hilarious on my pro tripod, as if I’ve balanced my phone on top! However the quality is fabulous, I’d recommend this camera to anyone, I won’t get into the debate about ‘which pocket video recorder is best’, this one works for me, I’ve a choice of quality and it also takes stills, great when I don’t have my SLR with me. Now back to the walk.
You could actually feel the excitement in the air, everyone had their shoes off, their jeans rolled up and as George and his son set out the coals, the participants formed a line on each side, ready to cheer on each person as they commenced their walk. There was a mix of ages, the youngest being 16 and I won’t say what age the eldest was but definitely well over 50! The walk commenced with Stevey McGeown, determined and in full control marching, yes marching, over the coals. 18 people walked along the burning coals on Saturday night and not just once, it seemed as they concluded their first walk, the adrenalin was so high, they all decided to do a second, third and for some a fourth walk. I was buzzing after the event and I was really just a spectator with a camera.
I love capturing moments with my camera. Sometimes we see things through a lens completely differently than as it happens. You can capture a split second expression that can sum up a whole evening, a profound stillness that words cannot express but a picture can. I believe this is what happened on Saturday night, the variety of photos is essence, from the poignant stillness of the group as they stand on the cliff looking over Dublin Bay to the adrenalin fired participant as they determinedly walk or march over the coals. I may have paid for 2 parking tickets and possibly the most expensive hour of parking in Dublin on Friday but for the experience of witnessing the Firewalk was definitely worth it.
What a great group of people and what a great job Stevey did, training these people to trust in his work, his training, themselves, and while most people were watching the Scotland overcome Ireland in the Six Nations in Croke Park on Saturday, 18 individuals won their own medals of achievement on a cliffside overlooking Portrane Beach.
