Meet Barry Butler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Butler.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Over 20 years ago, I was a playing hockey and sustained a severely broken collarbone injury that prevented me from doing many things for about 8 months. Since I only had one arm to work with and was limited with activity, I decided to teach myself photography. It was back in the film days, so mistakes were costly. No screen on the back of the camera to view my work immediately. It was an interesting learning curve, but I had time since I couldn’t do anything.

Please tell us about your art.
I think the best way to describe my work is I am a landscape/cityscape journalist. The images I produce are what I saw at the time. I keep true to the image. I shoot my work just as I did when I was shooting slide film when you had to get right in the camera in the first place. With the images I capture, my intent is to record a moment that someone would think “oh, I wish I was there at that moment”.

We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
My 11-year old labradoodle, Ajax, is with me most of the time when I photograph, so I do have company when I’m in the field. Loneliness is not an issue with me. If it’s not my dog, in city like Chicago, there is always someone, including police officers, who stop by to see what I am working on. Some great conversations get started that way. I never feel alone. Heck, I’ve had Chicago police officers stick around while I shoot because they didn’t feel I was in the safest of areas in the city. Social media, I believe, has made it easy for photographers to connect with each other. In Chicago, every once in a while, some of the local attractions will host an event for photographers to come shoot with special access…so connections are made that way.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I just finished a month long exhibition of my Chicago and Ireland photographic work at the Irish American Heritage Center. I’m originally from Wexford, Ireland. The exhibition was considered one of the most successful in the IAHC’s history. I photograph every day (unless it’s pouring rain) and my images are posted at least once daily on Facebook at Barry Butler Photography and on Instagram/Twitter at BarryButler9. I also have a website showcasing a selection of my Chicago and Ireland images at BarryButlerPhotography.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: BarryButlerPhotography.com
• Email: secondcityshots@yahoo.com
• Instagram: BarryButler9
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrybutlerphotography
• Twitter: BarryButler9

Image Credit:
All photos by Barry Butler

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