• ABOUT JOHN FRANCIS McCARTHY
Behind the lens with John Francis McCarthy : Celebrating More Than 50 Years of Photography
John Francis McCarthy has been a professional photographer since the 1970’s. John has been catching the essence of the Finger Lakes and Ireland in his photography which has spanned across five decades. John has caught ‘lightning in a jar’ time and time again. The Finger Lakes Photography collection of John’s is incomparable in quality and beauty-image count as his film from the early years has been scanned and digitized, while the more recent years have been direct to digital via an 80MP Phase One Camera System.
His work is inspired by the rich vein of life witnessed on Syracuse’s Tipperary Hill; an enclave first settled by Irish canal builders, and his travels throughout he Finger Lakes region of New York State and Ireland. John’s work has been exhibited and collected widely and continues to be a source of inspiration and joy for many patrons. Oxford University Press, Toronto, published McCarthy’s first book, The Finger Lakes, in 1984. His latest, The Finger Lakes—Glimpses of Paradise, is currently available. McCarthy’s mural work is notable for its exceptionably high resolution. His murals greet visitors passing through Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport. McCarthy’s murals can also be viewed throughout the new Regional Cancer Center (ROC) at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.
His work is inspired by the rich vein of life witnessed on Syracuse’s Tipperary Hill; an enclave first settled by Irish canal builders, and his travels throughout he Finger Lakes region of New York State and Ireland. John’s work has been exhibited and collected widely and continues to be a source of inspiration and joy for many patrons. Oxford University Press, Toronto, published McCarthy’s first book, The Finger Lakes, in 1984. His latest, The Finger Lakes—Glimpses of Paradise, is currently available. McCarthy’s mural work is notable for its exceptionably high resolution. His murals greet visitors passing through Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport. McCarthy’s murals can also be viewed throughout the new Regional Cancer Center (ROC) at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.
McCarthy’s philosophy is inspired by Irish playwright Sean O’Casey. In his writing, O’Casey refers to color and form; the essence of photography. In a volume of autobiography, Pictures In The Hallway, O’Casey might have been writing about a photographer: “He was standing too long in the hallway looking at the pictures. All done by others. Very beautiful and strong, but all done by others. He’ll have to start now doing things for himself. Create things out of his own life. He’d begin to make pictures of himself; ay, pictures too, that would be worth hanging in the hallway for other people to see.” With a pen, O’Casey accomplished what John Francis McCarthy strives to do with a camera: record sharp, colorful, evocative images. McCarthy’s common ground with O’Casey is the eye, which O’Casey called “the jewel of the body.”
In 2015, Finger Lakes Photography celebrated the 25th Anniversary of McCarthy’s classic photo entitled, “Five Lakes Sunset” or “Sunset on Five Finger Lakes.” The opportunity lasted only minutes before clouds gathered and the sky went dark—leading McCarthy to believe that this view of five of the region’s eleven Finger Lakes was truly a gift from God!
Biography
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Landscape Photography
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Artist’s Statement
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John’s Workflow
The images showcased by Finger Lakes Photography were made using a medium format Phase One P45+ Camera system, newer images created by an 80MP Phase One system. The high resolution files are processed through Phase One’s proprietary software to provide stunningly appealing imagery. By stitching two or more of files together, mural prints of the highest resolution are possible for medical and other industrial applications.
John Francis McCarthy’s early film captures were scanned with an Imacon FlexTight II Precision scanner.
: 35MM 40MP 80MP
There’s been a good number of different cameras over the years.
These three types were used for most of my photography.
Testimonials
Feedback on 96”x60” Five Lakes printed at Syracuse University’s Lightwork by lab manager Trevor Clement.
From Designer Kate Wilson:
“Hi John!
I wanted to share this email I just received from my client! Talk to you soon. Hope all is well! Kate Wilson, Designer”
Subject: Breathtaking!
Words are simply inadequate to describe the photograph, framed and hung with the special lighting…I have tried to take a photo to send you, but they do not begin to capture the beauty and feeling of the actual photo. When you descend the stairs it is like you are in the plane overlooking the lakes yourself. Geoff and his team at Providence Picture Frame did a magnificent job–the floating frame in golds with a black background makes it pop out and seem 3-dimensional instead of a 2-dimensional image.
I know that you will be speechless when you see it…I hope that John will also be able to see it at some point in the near future!
Words are simply inadequate to describe the photograph, framed and hung with the special lighting…I have tried to take a photo to send you, but they do not begin to capture the beauty and feeling of the actual photo. When you descend the stairs it is like you are in the plane overlooking the lakes yourself. Geoff and his team at Providence Picture Frame did a magnificent job–the floating frame in golds with a black background makes it pop out and seem 3-dimensional instead of a 2-dimensional image.
I know that you will be speechless when you see it…I hope that John will also be able to see it at some point in the near future!
Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
Lawrence Mason — professor of photography at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Nick Lisi — who was director of photography at The Post-Standard for a decade — agreed on this: McCarthy’s shot is the best-known scenic image ever taken in this region.
“It’s beautiful,” said Lisi, who owns a framed copy.
A beam of sun, a brilliant spine, connecting five iconic lakes ….And only two men, at 2,500 feet, as witnesses. [Syracuse.com]