Rosemount resident making most of renewed outlook on life

Rosemount photographer Ken Byrne is basking in the glow of recognition for his work at the Icon International Photography awards.

The awards, which celebrate excellence in photography, are "one of the most respected global competitions" in the industry, and Byrne's "technical and artistic mastery" was recognised by his international peers with multiple silver accolades in the 'Fine Art Portrait' category.

This moment of achievement is significant for the local photographer who has endured "low times" on a personal journey which, he said, has brought with it a "fluctuation of emotions".

His passion for photography clearly evident in conversation, Byrne has had camera in hand for over 20 years, developing his craft to such an extent that his talent was recognised in such a lauded industry setting as Las Vegas.

Along his personal journey, he has experienced moments of low self-worth when he truly believed he would not reach the heights of his chosen career.

This path included a kidney transplant which saved his life in 2017. It was an experience that "profoundly changed my outlook on life, creativity, and purpose".

"Since that moment, my work has focused heavily on storytelling, emotion, and the deeper human experience," Byrne said.

Byrne's recent accolades are not the first occasion his photographic prowess has been rewarded. His early career saw him receive 12 IPPA awards in 2015 and an invitation to speak as a masterclass presenter at the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) in London in 2016.

However, such was his state of health and mind at the time, Byrne never celebrated these achievements "due to low self worth".

"Today, that has changed. These new awards mark a powerful turning point, both personally and professionally, and I’m proud to represent Westmeath and the Irish Midlands on an international stage," Byrne said.

Reflecting on his journey to this celebrated moment, Byrne recalls his initial career choice, that of a welder, but "an injury while training" saw him chose a career in photography, initially as a salesperson for an international company operating in over 32 countries.

He soon developed an interest in the photography he was selling and so began the honing of a career craft that has since brought him great reward.

"My employers trained me over a four-year period and during that time I sampled all genres of photography, receiving great understanding of how best to use the camera in a number of situations," Byrne said.

A love for portrait photography blossomed and so too did his personal life when he met his future wife, Áine, "on the job" at a showjumping shoot.

Áine has been a source of "all that is positive" in Byrne's life and when the photographer's kidneys failed in 2016, she donated her organ to "save my life".

"When my kidneys started to fail, it deeply impacted my mindset. I had to deal with so many life fears which I suppressed and ultimately led to a depression. I brought these fears on myself. The situation was very distracting and I was of the view that this health issue was holding me back in life," Byrne said.

Thankfully, Áine proved to be a kidney match and on January 13, 2017, Byrne was given a "new lease of life" when he had kidney transplant surgery. Byrne is effusive in his love for his wife with whom he has three children, eldest son Keelin (17), daughter Fia (11) and youngest son Kai (6).

"The greatest healing ability is love and Áine's enduring love enabled me to have a kidney transplant and ultimately a renewed outlook on life. I am now at ease with my life. She is actually the heroine of my story," Byrne stated.

Áine also serves as Byrne's partner in their family-run photography business developing a niche for a craft which sees her working alongside her husband at intimate wedding ceremonies both nationally and internationally.

"I have become a better person because of Áine," Byrne stressed.

While recovering from his transplant, Byrne paused to reflect on his personal life, his illness, he believed, impacting "promises made" to his family.

"My family deserved better from me and I made a personal pact to deliver on my promises to them once I returned to good health," Byrne added.

With a working mantra of "never letting clients down", within five weeks of his surgery Byrne was back in photography mode. Discharged from hospital on a Thursday afternoon, he was back with camera in hand shooting a wedding on Friday morning.

"If I could return to work so soon after my transplant, my next thought was what more could I now do for my family. They are my life," Byrne said.

His passion extends to his award-winning photography. He is immersed in his craft continuously striving to enhance the quality of his output.

"I always aim to bring my subject's stories to life through my lens. There are five aspects to fine portrait photography which I always draw upon during my work - light, location, pose, in-camera technique and impact for the viewer. Combining all five elements to the best of my ability is my sole focus when working with my subjects and allows for creative flow at its finest," Byrne added.

In an industry where "you can never stand still", Byrne looks towards the future with his now trademark optimism.

"Professionally, you always want to continue mastering your technique and bring your craft to a higher level. I would like to become a mentor in the industry, but in general I aim to become a more positive influence on those who are part of my life," Byrne added.