Out of the Darkness: 40 Years of Northern Irish Press Photography

8th August - 19th September 2007

Northern Ireland has evolved over the past 30 years and with it the role of the press photographer has also evolved. After 25 years in existence, the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association (NIPPA) have an extensive archive of work, from images of riots and bombings, to sporting successes and children at play. A large collection of this has been on display within the Golden Thread Gallery, celebrating the profession and the collection of moments which have been captured over the years.

The images are a mixture of both black and white and colour and span forty years of Northern Irish Press Photography. Some of the earlier images are harrowing, showing brutal street riots, bombings or funeral processions, yet as the images become more recent, there is a distinct change in the subject matter. No longer focusing on the negative, problematic aspects of the country, the images depict sports events and landscapes.