Belfast has had a long and varied history and its development through the centuries is immediately apparent in the hugely varied architecture and landscapes that you discover on a visit to the city. Ancient monuments from the Bronze Age can be found on the outskirts of Belfast and are in stark contrast to the intricate eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture that marks Belfast’s standing as one of the major urban centres.

These contrast with the heavy industries that made Belfast famous – the linen mills and world famous Harland & Wolff Shipyard where the Titanic was built, being only two of many worth noting. Today the period of social unrest in the city has been consigned to history as it enjoys a twenty-first century renaissance. The development of the Laganside area with new concert halls, entertainment complexes and hotels sees the raising of many new architectural landmarks that stand alongside the beautiful old Belfast architecture to provide one of the most interesting visual backdrops of any urban centre in the UK or Ireland today. All this and more is captured in this superb collection of stunning images evoking the character, heritage and contemporary excitement of Northern Ireland’s capital city.

Rachael Craven has lived in Northern Ireland for twenty years since her family moved there in 1989. A keen interest in art was channelled towards photography shortly after this move, with the famous rugged North Coast of Ireland providing a wide and varied canvas on which to tune her skills.. Her work has been featured in a variety of national and international publications to date and her product photography has been featured in many brochures and web sites.

Rachael has always had a particular passion for landscape photography and Portrait of Belfast provides an opportunity to show the multi-dimensional nature of one of the most vibrant cities in the British Isles today.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 842 7, hardback, 214x230mm, 144 pages. Published October 2009.