Northern Ireland Derry Bogside Schoolgirls Mural Black And White Urban Street Photography Moody Documentary Wall Art

This photograph was created in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, where contemporary murals sit alongside layers of political and cultural history. The image centers on a large-scale mural depicting a group of schoolgirls rendered in black and white, their expressions ranging from defiant to uncertain, playful to guarded. Painted across the gable end of a modest building, the mural dominates the space, drawing attention not only to the figures themselves but to the environment they inhabit.

The composition places the mural within its surroundings rather than isolating it. Stone walls, curved railings, paving patterns, and nearby buildings remain visible, anchoring the artwork firmly in the city's everyday rhythm. The overcast light flattens shadows and removes any sense of spectacle, allowing texture, expression, and scale to take precedence. This restraint keeps the scene grounded and observational, rather than dramatic.

What gives this image weight is the contrast between innocence and history. The figures are young, familiar, and contemporary, yet they exist within a neighborhood long associated with political conflict and collective memory. Photographing the mural this way allows it to function as both portrait and place, showing how modern cultural identity has become part of the city's visual language.

I made this photograph on location while walking through Derry, shortly after revisiting the events surrounding Bloody Sunday. Being present mattered. The mural's physical scale, the space's quiet, and the way the artwork interacts with the street cannot be understood remotely. I personally sign each print and include a certificate of authenticity, confirming that this is a real photograph created from lived experience. 

If this balance of culture, place, and history speaks to you, you may also be interested in Wall Art in Derry, Northern Ireland.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2019