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TADHG ENNIS MOVED from Dublin to New York in 2009 in the wake of the economic crash.
Two years ago, he decided to upskill and enrolled at Miami Ad School in New York to study advertising.
There’s a photography element to his course but, as he works as a barman, the only free time he’s had to take pictures is late at night when his shift finishes which is usually around 4am. His Instagram account – manhattan_after_midnight – chronicles these experiences.
Ennis told TheJournal.ie what it has been like to capture the city that never sleeps in the dead of night.
“It’s an essential component of my course, but it’s turned into a real hobby for me now,” Ennis said. “I started this project around a year ago after a teacher recommend it to me.
I’m in college four days and working in the bar late another three nights so this is the only time I really get to take pictures.
“You never know what’s around the corner,” he said. “I’ve been taking the camera with me at all times now. I have it ready to go out as soon as I get out the door.
You never know what you’re going to see.
His photographs capture a variety of situations, from police on the beat, late-night revellers and people working through the night.
Ennis said: “What you see in midtown, downtown, the Bronx – I always say Manhattan may as well be a load of different cities put together.”
The aspect of taking these photos that strikes Ennis the most is the sheer variety of life he comes across.
He said: “At 4am, there’s all these people simultaneously on the streets for so many different reasons. Every bit of society is bundled together in this one city.”
Now in the Big Apple eight years, Ennis has put down roots in the States, having married an American woman.
“This project is a really great thing I’ve got stuck into.” he said. “Home will always be Ireland, but the opportunities are here.”
You can find more of Tadgh Ennis’ pictures on Instagram here, or on his website here.
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Without taking any credit from him, but the images look pretty average to me. Calling “these stunning images” it’s a bit of an exaggeration.
@Emilio Butler: Perhaps – but unique though, like the place. Full of contrasts, good and bad – 5th Avenue and Harlem!
@Emilio Butler: Yes I would agree nothing stunning about the pics that’s here
@Emilio Butler: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some say stunning others say average. I rest my case
@Emilio Butler: you did take credit away from him. Show us your photos of New York you begrudging begrudger.
@Shane Terry: hey Shane, I’m going to give you a like to your comment!
@Emilio Butler: Welcome to the Journal where over exaggeration is the name of the game, see there numerous other stories that start with the line “Everybody was….” or “nobody could handle….” etc.
@David Wright: ‘their’ of course.
@Emilio Butler: Not dissing the guy’s intentions / efforts, but here’s some serious post production artificial filter / enhancement action going on here.
So calling for the journal to call them “stunning ” is a bit of stretch I agree – but it gets the clicks.
# took photos after work.# im so creative.#load of bollix
Great photos nice work!
Every time the journal posts pics they describe them as ‘stunning’ or some similar undeserved superlative
Without taking any credit from him, but the images look pretty average to me. Calling them “these stunning images” is a bit of an exaggeration.
@Emilio Butler: Didn’t quite get that. Say again..
@The Viking: hello, yes you did :o)
Manhattan – the finest place on earth. 0nly about 10 miles × 3; yet the world flocks there…
@Fank Pulman: full of weirdos
@Hello there friend: Much easier to get in, drive around and park than Dublin city.
@Greg Blake: I live in Dublin, used to work in NY. The place is full of net jobs. Fake people, it’s just so different to Ireland.
@Hello there friend: *nut
Did he ask the poor chap on the stretcher if it was ok to snap him
He doesn’t need permission
great photos
I know likes aren’t the be all and end all of everything but not one of these photos have a single like. If they’re that amazing, surely someone somewhere would have liked at least one of the them?!
@Just2Comment: They all have likes?
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Every single photo in this article has “0 likes” on them. Now maybe they have likes on the Instagram account since this article was published, however I stand over my comment. At the time the article was written, not one of them had any likes.
Photography is up there with poetry as a game for lazy no talent chancers who want to pass themselves off as super deep artist types.
Nice photos. Fantastic city, was there last year. Although within my first hour of walking around Manhattan, I stood in a pile of (human) shit, which kinda spoiled my evening. Still, it was great to take in the sights and the smells of the Big Apple.
@O Swetenham: you stepped right into it#smellsofthebigapple
The first photo with the sailors although typical to a degree is STUNNING!
Good luck to him, but I agree with some of the comments, it’s average at best. Vivian Maier he’s not.
@Seymour business: Ironically, if the headline hadn’t included the (lazy journalism) word Stunning, the comments might have been more favourable – I would describe the shots as keenly observed and very atmospheric.
Well done Tadhg, keep up the good work.
Good man Tadhg, great snaps
Must ” stunning” or ” hilarious” be used by every journo in any given article?
I arrived in NYC in 2000 on a j1 visa. Right lads, lets go on the underground for the craic on the 1st day (white pasty legs and bum bags full of cash). Let’s get off here sure (145th St in the middle of Harlem). Not a white man in sight! Old black lady says: “guys you got to get out of here” while a gang of locals scoped us out from the corner shop! Into the nearest store like a light and called a cab asap! #mixedmemories
@Sean Gillen: Ha,its the pure Irish thing itll be grand.I live in Sao Paulo and one night soon after i arrived i told everyone i was going for a walk,they were horrified,her granny started to cry and everyone was shouting that i was going to be murdered.
I had no idea,the kip i came to live in.5k murders a year in the state.I didnt go out in the end.
Guys were saying San Francisco was rough out in places also. They stayed in a youth hostel and the security guard had to go with them to the local shop. Classy spot
Hope Trump doesn’t read the journal otherwise if “Ennis” is not legit he’ll be deported for “un American” activities……
Fabulous pictures..very imaginative..just a little glimpse of the nightly activities while the rest of the city sleeps
Good man Tadgh , nice snaps , feck the begrudgers !
Taghd for president
Dan Murphy, a man has a hobby after his job = load of bolux, negative begrudging thick = full of bolux
Nightmancometh what was the last article about something you have done, no doubt a lazy talentless keyboard warrior, you negative fool
Fair play to ye Tadhg
They are very good observational photos , recording what he sees late at night. Whey take away from them?
There is no need for begrudery! Let’s be positive, he is clearly on his way up!
Well those pictures were a huge let down!!.
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