Christopher Rowden Hill
Encyclopedia
Chris Hill is a photographer from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
.
Although training to go into the family’s clothing business, he developed an early passion for photography at the age of 14, often taking photographs of bands at school dances and selling prints to his friends the next day.
He once photographed The Beatles
and sold the pictures around the local schools, making himself “a small fortune”
He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Prep school Inchmarlo and then RBAI itself.
Upon leaving school he became a member of the Old Boy association Instonians
and a regular player for their rugby team up until his mid-thirties.
Winning several awards boosted his career, including Sports Photograph of the Year 1977 & 1978, from the Sports Council of Northern Ireland
But it is in his landscape photography that Hill has really made a name for himself, regularly shooting assignments for the National Trust and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Over the years has shot many beautiful photographs of Ireland, with which he started one of Ireland's leading photographic libraries: Scenic Ireland.
The library, the largest independent photographic library in Ireland, now contains over 13,000 images of Irish landscapes and cityscapes
In December 2008 he launched the first in his series of books entitled "Scenic Ireland" covering the province of Ulster.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Early life
Born on Christmas Day 1946 he was the second child to parents Verner and Margaret Hill. He has 2 brothers, Eric and Charles and one sister, Elizabeth.Although training to go into the family’s clothing business, he developed an early passion for photography at the age of 14, often taking photographs of bands at school dances and selling prints to his friends the next day.
He once photographed The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and sold the pictures around the local schools, making himself “a small fortune”
He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
Prep school Inchmarlo and then RBAI itself.
Upon leaving school he became a member of the Old Boy association Instonians
Instonians
Instonians is the name of the umbrella organisation that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name....
and a regular player for their rugby team up until his mid-thirties.
Career
In 1978 he left the family firm to set up Christopher Hill Photographic, specialising in sports and theatre photography, and later all aspects of commercial photography including advertising, fashion, still life and architectural.Winning several awards boosted his career, including Sports Photograph of the Year 1977 & 1978, from the Sports Council of Northern Ireland
But it is in his landscape photography that Hill has really made a name for himself, regularly shooting assignments for the National Trust and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Over the years has shot many beautiful photographs of Ireland, with which he started one of Ireland's leading photographic libraries: Scenic Ireland.
The library, the largest independent photographic library in Ireland, now contains over 13,000 images of Irish landscapes and cityscapes
In December 2008 he launched the first in his series of books entitled "Scenic Ireland" covering the province of Ulster.