“Living at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains we are blessed to have such beautiful scenery on our doorstep”
By Aura McMenamin
Rob Clifford is a photographer and videographer, based in Knocklyon. Although Rob primarily produces wedding videos, his stunning drone-captured photos of Bohernabreena Reservoir caught our eye.
Strongly inspired by the lush surroundings of South County Dublin, Rob will often bring his camera out with him on a walk the Hellfire Club or a cycle up the reservoir.
This week, the Echo.ie caught up with Rob to ask him about his work.
Have you always lived in Knocklyon?
I am originally from Knocklyon and have never ventured too far away. For several years I lived in a beautiful spot along Cruagh Road in the Dublin Mountains.
I am fortunate to be still living in the area and don't think I will ever move from here.
Where did your interest in photography and videography begin?
I always had an interest in capturing video more so than taking photos. I would bring a video camera on any trips I would go on and make a short montage with the footage when I get home showing all the highlights of the trip.
I also love music, and finding the right track to use in the video was just as important as choosing which clips to use. For whatever reasons I never really pursued it professionally until about three years ago.
Up until that, I think I was more concerned about enjoying myself and lived for the weekends. I knew there was something missing in my life though which I now feel is very much fulfilled, but I still have so much to learn.
What are your favourite areas in South Dublin County to shoot/ photograph?
Living at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains we are blessed to have such beautiful scenery on our doorstep.
I love to get out and walk to the Hellfire Club or Tibradden Wood or go for a cycle to Bohernabreena Waterworks and will usually bring a camera of some sort to capture what I can along the way.
The quality of the videos appearing online is only going to get better and I am looking forward to continuing my videography journey and capturing more areas of South Dublin County.
Where did you attend college?
I attended IT Tallaght where I completed a Degree in Computing but to be honest I knew the whole programming thing was just not for me. I was definitely more interested in the social side of things in college and really enjoyed my time there.
What kind of cameras do you primarily use?
I use Sony mirrorless cameras which are primarily used for Stills Photography. However, it is incredible what they are able to pack into such a small camera body now and the video features are amazing.
Apart from being more portable they are much more discreet. This helps me capture more natural shots as people aren’t conscious of having a big camera in their face.
Tell us about your work with drones – what model is it? How often would you incorporate the use of your drone into making a video?
I am currently using a DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Again, the technology packed into this drone is incredible. I like to use it for capturing establishing shots. It can be an impressive way to start off a Wedding Film but I think it is important not to overuse these shots as they can get boring quickly.
I will alway include a few drone shots in each Wedding Film where I can, so the viewer gets that extra perspective and hopefully makes the viewing experience more interesting for them.
As a hobby, I also like to capture drone footage from local landmarks, coastlines and anywhere interesting I visit. It is important though to be familiar with the regulations and get the required permissions if necessary.
Why is wedding videography so enjoyable?
For me, I can’t think of a better place to spend a workday. Beautiful locations, people are in great form and enjoying themselves.
Each wedding brings its own challenges, but it’s such a great feeling getting home that night and knowing you nailed the shots you wanted.
It’s exciting to get started on the edit and to create a beautiful wedding film that will hopefully blow the couple away.
