16th to 18th October 2015 saw history been made in the quiet village of Ballyliffin, Clonmany, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
 |
| Elena Shumilova & Brendan Diver |
35 elite photographers from across the world flew for world famous Russian photographer Elena Shumilova the brain child of local photographer Brendan Diver from Photos From Ireland
www.photosfromireland.com
Photographers from USA, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Latvia, Croatia, Romania, Moldova, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Ireland merged upon the beautiful settings of the Strand hotel. Elena Shumilova was invited over to Inishowen by Brendan Diver nearly six months ago. Brendan said it was a huge undertaking in the logistics, planning everything from travel, accommodation, meals, props, models, animals, clothing, interpreter, etc....
 |
| Workshop Participants |
 |
| Photographers during the Workshop |
Several local businesses came on board and helped out, Doagh Famine Village, Bradleys Buses, Jean O'Flaherty, Malin stables, and the Strand hotel.
With over sixty million followers worldwide Elena is considered by many to be in the top eight photographers in the world
elenashumilova.smugmug.com Such has the demand been for her first ever European workshop, two workshops in 2016 have already been sold out.
 |
| Photo: Elena Shumilova |
Brendan himself whose work has been seen across the world with his famous well known images of the northern lights from across Inishowen gave a night workshop on landscape night photography and his dream came true when on two nights these elite photographers photographed the northern lights themselves. During the photoshoot part of the workshop the photographers also got to see seals swimming in Trawbreaga bay just on the doorstep of the Doagh Famine Village.
 |
| Photo: Elena Shumilova |
Irish TV were also up filming and did an interview with Elena and Brendan himself. Which can be seen on Thursday 29th October at 7.30pm on Sky 191 and then repeated Saturday 3.00pm and again on Sunday at 11.00am. It can be seen again online at :
www.irishtv.ie/category/ireland/ulster/donegal
Such was the impact that Brendan and Elena's workshop had on this elite group of world class photographers that tree families are now looking to purchase property around the Ballyliffin area.
Before Elena left she said it was one of the most beautiful locations she had seen in the world and presented Brendan with one of her famous images signed personally. You can see more images about this amazing weekend at
www.facebook.com/photosfromireland
 |
| Brendan with the picture gift from Elena |
Such has the interest that this has created Brendan has had over 45,000 Facebook hits in only three days and Elena Shumilova and Brendan have well and truly put Ballyliffin and Inishowen on the International stage for everyone to see how lucky we are to live here.
 |
| Elena & Brendan, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, Ireland |
