Rohingya.

This exhibition was created to give people an up-close look at the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Photographing tragedy has an effect one everybody. And it took me a wee while longer than it should to realise that.

It manifests itself in different ways. Some people develop relationship or drinking problems.

You don’t just become depressed, there are reasons for getting it. Talking about it is the most important thing. 

My winning the Pulitzer for my photography of the Rohingya was a double edged sword. On the one hand you are very honoured to win, yet it’s not very nice to think you are winning something for documenting somebody’s grief. You don’t apply but are nominated to receive a Pulitzer.

On a professional level it’s amazing, but knowing the stories behind the images you won the Pulitzer for is very bitter-sweet.

When I was young and living at home in Cushendall, County Antrim, a friend of the family, Brendan Murphy, was the picture editor of the Irish News newspaper. He got me into photography.

I would accompany Brendan on photoshoots when he was shooting in the neighbourhood where I lived. I would go along and watch him work.

When I was young I didn’t know that I wanted to be a photographer. I went in to this thing I had never done before, gave it shot, and I have done nothing else since.

I admire any of the good photographers around today that are covering the news, including Don McCullin and Sebastiao Salgado.

I don’t like to be pigeonholed into being a photographer of one specific type. I enjoy fashion photography and fine art photography also.
I like to take aspects of all of that and try and incorporate it to my work. When I started out in photography, Larry Burrows was an idol.

A warm fire, walking my dog and a pint of Guinness make me happy.
Not having pint of Guinness makes me sad.