Irish photographer Shane Hynan is set to launch his solo exhibition in Dublin next month, showcasing his acclaimed work including the submission that earned him recognition at the Sony World Photography Awards. The exhibition, titled Beneath | Beofhód, explores the cultural and environmental significance of bogs in Celtic tradition. Hynan's project delves into community, industry, tradition, and landscape changes impacting bogs, and has already been displayed as part of the SWPA exhibition. Following its Dublin premiere, the exhibition will tour regionally across Ireland and Hynan hopes for international touring, leveraging his SWPA nomination to boost his global profile. He previously worked as a structural engineer and transitioned to photography in 2018, with plans to explore the intersection of his two disciplines in future projects.
Irish photographer Shane Hynan has announced his own solo exhibition for Dublin next month after his success at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards . The acclaimed snapper will exhibit a portfolio of work that includes his submission to the prestigious Sony competition , which was called Beneath | Beofhód, ‘life beneath the sod’ in Irish.
Shane’s excellent submission evoked the primal significance of bogs in Celtic tradition, and the interplay of cultural and environmental imperatives and it is already on display as part of the SWPA 2026 exhibition at Somerset House until May 4 . READ MORE: Sony World Photography Awards 2026 winners list unveiled in full at gala ceremony in London
Shane said: “The project looks at all aspects of bogs including community, industry, tradition and the landscape itself and how recent changes are affecting all of these.” Shane added: “My exhibition will premier at Photo Museum Ireland in late May before doing a regional tour of Ireland, at Galway Arts Festival, Arts Centre Thurles, Roscommon Arts Centre and the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. I also hope to exhibit and tour the work internationally afterwards which means the Sony award nomination will be hugely beneficial in building my profile internationally.”
The Co Kildare native has been working on the project for many years. He explained: “Beneath | Beofhód has taken up a lot of my time in the last decade but I also have a number of other projects in development that I hope to expand once this project is complete. My interests range from rural Ireland, land use and the built environment. Previous to my career as a photographer I was a structural engineer for a long time and did a career change in 2018.”
Shane added: “I’m hoping to make new work exploring the overlap of my photographic practice and my engineering background. I’m also involved in a collaborative and community engaged project entitled ‘Tóch | Dig’ which is entering its third year and it looks deeper into our peatland communities in north Kildare. I’m working with other artists Sheena Malone and Pamela de Brí on this project.”
Shane was present at this month’s Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony in London , where the prestigious and coveted Photographer of the Year 2026 award was won by Citlali Fabián, a visual artist from the Yalalteca Indigenous community in Mexico who is currently based in London. She was chosen from 10 Professional Category Award winners and won a $25,000 cash prize, a range of high-tech Sony Digital Imaging equipment and the opportunity to present a solo showcase of her work at the SWPA 2027 exhibition.
Also honoured was this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient, Joel Meyerowitz, a ground-breaking street photographer and the only snapper granted official access to Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks in New York. Citlali Fabián’s winning project Bilha, Stories of my Sisters blends carefully crafted photographic portraits with digital illustrations. The series tells the stories of iconic women from Indigenous communities across Oaxaca, Mexico, whose advocacy work generates meaningful impact across a range of spheres: in law, linguistics, the arts and ecology, among others.
Monica Allende, Chair of the 2026 Professional jury, said: “Through her work, Citlali Fabián reflects on urgent questions of visibility and representation. In many Indigenous cultures, stories are told collectively, shaped by conversation and lived experience rather than by a single voice.”
Shane Hynan offered some advice for aspiring photographers looking to follow their dream and he recommends entering competitions like the Sony World Photography Awards . He said: “I’d recommend that any aspiring artists or photographers lean into what they know and their own unique way of seeing and carve out a distinct brand or time to their work. It’s important to be curious and allow yourself to notice and reflect on what we see and experience and translate that into the work we make. We are in a way a medium to explore and make sense of the world, where we are right now and the difficulties and issues we face.”
Shane added: “Time and space to make and develop work is critical but so is visibility and competitions like the Sony awards are very important in terms of visibility and exposure for upcoming and established artists. I’d also recommend that artists not expect too much too soon and to learn from rejection, uncertainty and failure. Failure and getting it wrong is an intrinsic part to success and building a sustainable and rewarding art or photographic practice .”
Now in its 19th year, the SWPA competition saw more than 430,000 images submitted this year from snappers in more than 200 countries. The SWPA 2026 exhibition runs at Somerset House until May 4. Tickets here . Shane’s exhibition will open at Photo Museum Ireland in late May. Keep an eye on Irish Mirror for further updates. Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here .
Shane Hynan Photography Exhibition Sony World Photography Awards Bogs Celtic Tradition
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