“Once In A Lifetime -The Opening Night Reborn”
An exhibition of work by Belfast Photographer John Harrison
The Phoenix Gallery at the Grand Opera House
Thursday 1 February – Thursday 1 March 2007

John Harrison was commissioned by the Grand Opera House to photograph the official Gala opening of the newly extended and refurbished theatre on 21 October last year.

He was given access to all areas of the building for rehearsals, during the Gala performance itself - which included performances from Westlife, Patrick Kielty, Brian Kennedy, Cara Dillon and Shane Ward – and later at the after-show party, all of which culminated in the exhibition “Once in A Lifetime - The Opening Night Reborn.”

His unique and beautiful black and white photographs, invite viewers of the exhibition to experience all aspects of the Gala evening, from audiences arriving and experiencing the new building for the first time and actual performers onstage, to comedian Patrick Kielty removing his make-up in the mirror and even Eamonn Holmes being hynpotised!

Theatre Director John Botteley said;
“When we saw the quality of the images which John took, we decided that they had to be seen by the public. John is a first class photographer and we are extremely proud to host an exhibition of his work. I would encourage anyone who was at the Gala evening to come and have a look, as well as those who watched the Gala concert on BBC Television – it adds a whole new dimension to the evening.”

John Harrison has been working as a professional Photographer for over 30 years.  He began his career as a Junior Photographer at the Ballymena Guardian and took up the post of Chief Photographer at the paper three years later.  He then worked as a staff photographer at Pacemaker Press for ten years covering events for Time Magazine, Newsweek, Associated Press Reuters and the European Press Agency, before setting up his own hugely successful company, Harrison Photography in 1993, where he specialises in Public Relations Photography employing four photographers and two office-based staff.

John is regarded as one of Northern Ireland’s most prolific press and PR photographers, having covered numerous high profile assignments such as Official Photographer for three visits by President Clinton, The Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit, Prime Minister Blair’s visits and President George W Bush’s summit at Hillsborough castle in 2003.  He has also covered many Ministerial trips to Boston, New York, Paris, Washington, Brussels and India.

John is the current Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association Chairman and has won many awards throughout his varied career including; three overall NI Press Photographer of the Year Awards, six NI Sports Photographer of the Year titles, Guinness Photographer of the Year (Picture story section) and Vodafone Photographer of the Year for Sport in 2003 and for Picture Story in 2005.

John is currently involved in the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Exhibition which opens at Ormeau Baths Gallery on 8 March, before transferring to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland Programme.  This exhibition includes work from 60 photographers over the past 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland.