A book of photographs capturing the lifestyles of natives of the Aran Islands will be launched next week.
The book of photos documents the daily lives of people of Inishturk, Inishark, Clare and the Turbot Islands. The pictures span from the early 1960s up the modern day and give an insight into the evolution of life on the Aran Islands.
The book was produced by photographer John Carlos. He first visited the Aran Islands at the age of 12, and has been taking shots ever since. Carlos said: “This is not an attempt to define the islands or the people but rather to preserve a memory of the islanders and their homelands.
“What I wanted to do with these photographs is to celebrate the islanders in their environment, while reflecting on disappearing traditions and values in the face of materialism and pop culture.”
Ireland’s Western Islands will be launched next Friday as part of the Inishbofin Arts Festival. It will be given another launch on the mainland aswell, with poet Mary O’Malley guesting at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop in Galway next month.
Some of the photos in the book point to the more agricultural nature of life on the islands. Tasks such as digging potatoes, loading trawlers and transporting livestock are all featured.
Carlos is a professional photographer and has worked for numerous newspapers and magazines throughout his career. He revealed that timing is key to getting the perfect shot, and patience is a must for a successful photographer: “Some photos took 20 years of waiting for the perfect light and conditions such as that of the signal light tower at the mouth of Inishbofin harbour.”
Ireland’s Western Islands – Inishbofin, The Aran Islands, Inishturk, Inishark, Clare & Turbot Islands by John Carlos, is available to buy online now.
Click here to buy the book on Amazon
