Like samurai ghosts they shriek and clash. Kendo (the way of the sword) was practiced by the samurai for more than a millennium. It is still practised (as a competitive sport and cultural pursuit) in every school in Japan. These images come from Osaka Shudokan, a famous centre for kendo inside the grounds of Osaka castle. In Shudokan, drums are beaten before training starts, everyone bows to the flag and then the hard lessons commence.
Stephen Cummins, a Dubliner, has lived 10 of the last 20 years outside his native Ireland (in England, Italy, France, Japan and Spain). When he was 8 years old his father gave him the gift of a book focussed on the great French photographers. He was mesmerised by Cartier-Bresson, Brassai and Doisneau. Aged 10 he received his first camera , a second hand 35mm Halina and he's been obsessed with the art of photography ever since. When he was 30 years old, he had created a large collection of photographs from Japan, Korea, Portugal, Spain, Morocco. These were all lost by someone he had entrusted the negatives to, leaving him only with a few prints. This was devastating and he almost left photography behind as a result. He switched his creative activities to other multimedia activities. In 2001, he achieved an MSc in Digital Media Design from Trinity College (Dublin University). He designed and exhibited 'Empatheia' in the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Dublin (a series of 300 videos grouped into a complex web of interactive narratives).
He eventually picked up the camera again (this time in the digital age) and travelled extensively, building up a large collection of works. In a period spanning 2007 to 2009, he spent 15 months travelling around the world focussed completely on photography. In February 2009 he launched www.StephenCummins.com to showcase his work. In March 2009 he exhibited 'A Través' (Through) in Palacio Dávalos, Guadalajara, Spain. As part of the exhibition he also held a public conference called 'Fotografia Sin Techo' (Photography with No Fixed Abode), to showcase and discuss his photography. The exhibition and conference attracted a lot of media attention in Spain. He had several radio interviews with Cadena Ser and Radio Alcala. Detailed newspaper articles on his photography were published by Nueva Alcarria, La Tribuna and El Dia.
His only way to deal with the rectangles that appear in his head and in front of his eyes every day is to capture them with his camera. An interesting activity for someone who struggles to think inside the box. He is also a polyglot who can speak 6 major languages fluently, which comes in handy when photographing potentially sensitive subjects and, more recently, with media interviews.
Before March 2009 he had never submitted a photograph for competition.
Awards 2009 PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris
'Above the Canopy' wins 1st place in 'Nature'
Honourable Mention: 'Humid City', 'Samurai Spirit'
2009 PX3 People's Choice Awards:
'Dreamscape' series won 1st place in Nature/Landscape + 3rd place in Fine Art/Landscape
'Above the Canopy' won category 2nd place
2010 5th Black&White Spider Awards:
9 nominations in record 7 categories
'Above the Canopy' Honourable Mention (Silhouette)
Nominations:
Silhouette: 'Moonboat'
Fine Art: 'Uruguay's Imports'
Architecture: 'Calatrava was Here'
People: 'Fine Line'
Photojournalism: 'The Silver Hunters' Break'
Nature: 'Dreamscape' series
Sport: 'Samurai Spirit', 'Young Samurai'
2010: 4th Photography Masters Cup (Color Awards)
5 nominations in 4 categories
Architecture: 'Calatrava was Hereq 2'
Portrait: 'Fine Line'
Still Life: 'Stingleaf'
Nature: 'Ripple', 'My Perfect Cousin 3'
2009 IPAs (International Photography Awards): 12 nominations
