About Aidan O'Rourke and this site
This site presents presents an online portfolio of images and articles, mostly by Aidan O'Rourke Manchester-based photographer, writer and website publisher.
Aidan O'Rourke has been documenting Manchester and other cities since 1996. His archive is spread across three large websites: aidan.co.uk, Eye On Manchester and Eyewitness in Manchester.
“As a tour guide and the editor of Manchester Confidential I find Aidan's work in the city of value and significance. Aidan brings his talent and skills to record a dynamic city in constant flux. His photographs are consistently excellent and a fabulous resource for anybody wishing to get a visual impression of Manchester. But Aidan's work has something else too. He has a profound knowledge and love of the city - although not an unconditional love - and thus he manages to not only capture images of the city but also something of its spirit in his works.”
Jonathan Schofield, tour guide, editor www.manchesterconfidential.com
The main focus is on Manchester with sections on other locations and topics reflecting Aidan's personal interests and experience. A major aspect of the work is the fact that images are carefully documented and described in words. That's one of the reasons why images by Aidan O'Rourke are at the top of Google and other search engines.
Aidans photography is one of Manchesters hidden treasures. His knowledge of Manchester, the culture and architecture is reflected in his superb photography. Invaluable.
Simon Wharton www.pushon.co.uk Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialists from Manchester
Photos from this site have been bought or licenced countless times for use in documents on websites or for display as high quality canvas or framed prints. The most requested images are presented in the premium galleries.
Aidan O'Rourke has been a practitioner of digital photography since 1994 and has pioneered the use of the internet to present photographic content.
The aidan.co.uk site was given a major revamp with a new design and focus in November 2008, five years after the previous relaunch as a database-driven site in Oct 2003. The site has been entirely designed and developed by Aidan O'Rourke. The aidan.co.uk domain has been online since 1997.
“Aidan shows an unusual side of Manchester you don't normally see, capturing the beauty and the drama of the city.”
Chris Long, broadcast journalist, BBC
The aidan.co.uk site is currently Google Page Rank 5 and receives around a quarter of a million page views per month. There are opportunities for advertising and paid links.
The Manchester Forum contains a wealth of information about Manchester mainly by local forum members. There is a VW camper van Forum which provides impartial information for prospective buyers of this classic vehicle.
“How often do you glance at a shiny new building in Manchester and realise you have no recollection of what stood there before? The city's amazing evolution has been meticulously recorded by Aidan, giving you a photographic record more powerful than any written account.”
Chris Simms, author of 'Outside the White Lines' www.chrissimms.net
The articles section has an eclectic mix of articles, illustrated with images from the archive.
The site is Manchester-centric, but there is a regional, national and international scope, reflecting Aidan's interests, and Manchester's status as an international city
“I first encountered Aidan's photographs on the internet when researching images for my Manchester paintings They are both easily accessible and comprehensive. His archives have been invaluable to me, both as visual references and as a source of information about the Manchester area.”
Caroline Johnson, Fine Artist
Photos by Aidan O'Rourke have appeared in exhibitions: Central Library (Manchester, 1998), Shrinking Cities (Berlin and other cities, from 2004), Mooch Art Gallery (2008).
The groundbreaking Manchester Mega-Photo was exhibited at Urbis Manchester from July 2008. More ultra high resolution cityscapes are in development. Click here to find out more..
Aidan O'Rourke is regularly interviewed on tv and radio, and has worked with many key individuals, companies and organisations in Manchester.
“Aidan O'Rourke is the best %@#©$#*ing photographer in Manchester”
Tony Wilson 2005
