Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltach was in the Eddie Chandler Gallery at the Dublin Camera Club recently to launch a new book of photographs by John Hooton from Mallow, Co. Cork. The book, "Gathering Light on the Dingle Coast" is a collection of over 200 images by this award winning photographer. Minister Deenihan, in his speech said John's "work is very subtle, it is very atmospheric and very poetic and is of the very highest standard and an inspiration to all photographers". The Minister said that he thoroughly enjoyed the 200 images in the book, most of which were taken in the early hours of the morning when light on the Kerry coastline is at it's most sublime. 'Ireland is a wonderful country for photographers, but West Kerry has a different light and pattern that makes is especially extraordinary,' he said. ' John gets up early in the morning, sometimes at 4 and 5am to capture moments of light that nobody else sees. It takes enthusiasm and dedication to get up at unearthly hours like that but John did this to capture these 200 images we have here in this book and which are now available for everyone to enjoy.' The gallery was full to capacity for the event and also in attendance was the President of the Irish Photographic Federation, Dr. John Cuddihy. In conjunction with the book launch an exhibition of John's work was also on display and this will be in place until the 9th of March and open to the public for viewing. Following this, the exhibition will then be moved to Dingle where John's book will be formally launched in April.The book is available from Philips Bookshop, Mallow, and the Kanturk bookshop.