Harmonies for Hope: Students put their photography skills into practice
What does work experience look like when you study Photography and Content Creation at City of Dublin FET College Ballyfermot?
For students Josue Pena and Eva Baretto, it meant stepping into The Helix at DCU with their cameras, photographing a live international concert and helping to capture an event that raised approximately €4,000 for cancer care.
On 21 August 2026, the European Medical Students Orchestra & Choir (EMSOC) brought its first ever Irish tour to a close with Harmonies for Hope, a charity concert at The Helix.
The event brought together young doctors, medical students and healthcare professionals from more than 20 European countries, creating a genuinely international evening of music, collaboration and fundraising.
For Josue and Eva, who completed City of Dublin FET College Ballyfermot’s Photography and Content Creation Level 5 course, it was also an opportunity to take the skills developed through their studies and put them to work in a professional live event environment.
Photographing a live performance
The concert was led by two prominent Irish conductors, Ciarán Crilly, who directed the orchestra, and Róisín Blunnie, who directed the choir.
The programme featured choral and orchestral works by composers including Stanford and Debussy, giving the students the challenge of photographing performers, instruments and audience atmosphere in a busy live setting.
The concert was held in aid of The Friends of St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network, with the funds raised supporting children and adults undergoing cancer treatment.
These photographs are taken by Photography and Content Creation student Josue.
Josue’s experience at the event, in his own words:
“We were welcomed by Eoin and Eileen very kind and warm people. I was nervous at the time because I didn’t know what the venue would be like, but I wanted to give it my all; I brought my cameras and lenses to do an amazing job. Once it started, the experience was both wonderful and stressful. Hearing the instruments fill the entire venue was fantastic seeing everyone putting in such great effort and showcasing their practice and talent. I enjoyed taking photos of them before, during, and after the event.”
Eva’s experience at the event, in her own words:
“Our experience with EMSOC was really special, especially because it was my first time experiencing a live orchestra. We were welcomed by everyone and had the chance to meet many new people who were incredibly talented and passionate about what they do. At first, I was a little nervous about photographing the event, as I wanted to make sure I captured the performance well. Once the concert started, hearing all the different instruments come together was amazing. I really enjoyed moving around and capturing the musicians, their instruments and the atmosphere of the evening. It was a wonderful opportunity to be part of such a talented group and capture their performance through our photography.”
Professional experience, professional feedback
Work experience gives students the opportunity not only to develop technical skills, but also to learn how to work with clients, respond to a brief and operate professionally in a live environment.
The feedback Josue received following the concert showed just how valuable that experience can be.
The event host’s review of Josue’s work:
“Josue’s photographs from the concert were truly excellent. He has a real eye for capturing the energy and emotion of an event, which is most certainly not easy at a live classical music concert. The images beautifully showcased both the performances and the spirit of the evening. Beyond the technical quality of the photography, what stood out most was his professionalism and the gentle, considerate manner in which he worked throughout the event. He was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with, and his kindness and politeness made a real difference to the day.
His photographs also helped to capture a night that raised approximately €4,000 for the Friends of St Luke’s, which is a fantastic result. Anyone who gives their time and talent to charity is doing something genuinely meaningful, and we are truly grateful. These photographs will go on to showcase the great work that EMSOC does and will help us promote future concerts to raise more funds for charities.”
— Eoin Fallon, Event Host
Build your skills by using them
Experiences like this give Photography and Content Creation students the chance to move beyond the classroom, work in real settings and begin building a portfolio of professional work while they study.
Josue and Eva completed City of Dublin FET College Ballyfermot’s Photography and Content Creation Level 5 course.
You can find out more about the course and apply here.
