The beautiful coastline around Bloody Foreland, and the beautiful boulders on this street of coastline are the setting for this edition of my "In the Field" vlog. Check it out on You Tube at the link below:
In the Field | Bloody Foreland, Donegal
The latest edition of my "In the Field" video journals is now live on youtube. Shot the night before I ran one of my 1-2-1 workshops, the location, up along Bloody Foreland in North West Donegal is spectacular.
In the Field - An Port, Donegal Ireland
I was lucky enough to return to "An Port" in County Donegal recently. It is a wildly remote and beautiful location, miles from the nearest village, it is a place that haunted me photographically speaking since I first visited it 12-15years ago.
The story of my recent trip can be viewed on my youtube channel at the link below.
In the Field - Achill Island, Co Mayo
Back in late September I made a visit to Achill Island, County Mayo Ireland to photograph its dramatic coastline. On arrival I was greeted with howling wind, dramatic light and a landscape that did not disappoint. The vlog below is the story of that trip.
In the Field - Sheephaven Bay, Donegal
The latest edition of "In the Field" my photography vlog is now up on YouTube. This edition comes from the shoreline in and around Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal Ireland.
In the Field - Creeslough, Donegal
The latest edition of my "In the Field" photography vlog is now up on YouTube. This edition sees me get off the beaten track and explore the remote Co Donegal landscape near Creeslough.
In te Field - Connemara
The latest In the Field vLog comes to you from the wildly beautiful Connemara region of Ireland. Long a favourite location of mine to explore, it was good to return and catch up with old friends, and of course the magnificent Connemara landscape.
In the Field - Boyne Beacons
The latest edition of the In the Field vLog is now on line. This edition has me located at the mouth of Ireland's River Boyne photographing the navigation beacons that can be found at the mouth of the river against the most colourful dawn sky I have ever seen.
Early morning at the mouth of Irelands River Boyne, photographing the most amazing dawn colours I have seen in years. A lee little stopper was used for some images, to blur the water and sky.
In the Field - Carlingford Lough, Ireland
The latest edition of my "In the Field" series is now live on youtube. This episode takes me to the shoreline of Carlingford Lough in County Louth Ireland. The location, overlooked by the Mourne mountains is beautiful, and one I will return to frequently in the coming months.
In the Field - Slea Head, Co Kerry Ireland
I recently spent two days exploring the backroads and headlands around Irelands Dingle Peninsula. With its dramatic coastline and wonderful views out towards the Blaskett Islands the location is a landscape photographers dream.
The results can be viewed on my latest In the Field vLog below.
In the Field - Trá Mór County Donegal
I have been back in County Donegal Ireland, perhaps my favourite Irish County to get lost with a camera in.
On one evening I spent a wonderful two hours photographing the beautiful Trá Mór beach near the village Carrigart. That adventure has been captured in the blog below.
In the Field - Clogherhead, Co Louth
Continuing my close to home theme, I paid a visit to the coastal village of Clogherhead, purely to get out and get the creative juices flowing. Conditions, weren't ideal, everything was to calm!! The sea thrift I hoped to capture amongst the rocky shoreline were about two weeks away from blooming. Still I made the most of it, the vblog and some of the images I captured can be viewed below.
"InThe Field" Clifden Connemara
Last week I spent a few hours in and around Clifden capturing some images for a client. In an effort to expand my knowledge of youtube & self produced video content I thought I'd use that visit to document my short visit. The results can be seen below. I have so much to learn!!
Extraordinary Vision Outdoor Photography
Issue 26 of Extraordinary Vision Outdoor Photography magazine, The number 1 photography magazine for tablets and smartphones - features an article by myself entitled "Ireland's Wild West", along with a selection of my own Irish landscape photographs.
The magazine is available on iOS and Android from the following urls:
Landscape photography magazine
The January 15 edition on the online photography mag - Landscape Photography magazine published an article Behind the scene" and features images from County Mayo and Connemara County Galway. The magazine is subscription based, but its well worth checking out.
Image discovery
One of the problems with supplying image for stock is that you never really know where the image ends up getting used. So its always a suprise when you come across your images when flicking through books or magazines.
The seascape to the right (no 1) was taken in Clogherhead Co Louth and was used in the 2014 Lonely Planet Ireland guide.
Tramore, Co Donegal
Donegal Photography Workshop
Early October 2014 saw me back in my home from home "Donegal" leading the second of my photo landscape photography workshops. Mother nature put on a spectacular display of beauty, some of the images from the tour can be viewed on Storehouse.co at the following URL Donegal Autumnal Photo Tour. Well worth checking out.
In the Field - Loughcrew
Loughcrew Cairns - Co Meath
There are some locations I associate with sunrise more than sunset, and this evenings location, The Cairns at Loughcrew, or Sliabh na Cailli (Hills of the Witch) in Gaelic, in Co Meath is definitely one of them.
On top of Loughcrew, the wind is warm but strong enough to cause camera shake, especially with a 70-200mm lens in place. To overcome those concerns, the shutter speed is increased by bumping up the ISO, and as ever the camera is tripod mounted.
Below, evening light rakes the landscape, and as I peer through the viewfinder the challenge is a composition that excludes the foreground clutter and the dwelling of to the right.
Waiting to trip the shutter, part of me is torn. Shouldn't I really be photographing the 3500yr old passage tomb that aligns with the Spring and Autumnal equinox that this location is famous for?
County Meath, Ireland
With the sun sinking, and the shadows creeping across the landscape, the shutter is tripped. A quick check of the histogram and everything looks good. No blocked shadows, no blown highlights, and no foreground clutter.
Now back to the Cairn, to see if I can get a picture of what I really came here for!!.
Doo Lough, Ireland
In the Field - County Mayo
As ever, I’m standing by a tripod watching the first light of day creep down the steep sides of Mweeelrea. Through the viewfinder four rocks peek out from the frigid waters of Doo Lough mirroring the distant hills.
Tripping the shutter I can't help think of a well-known photographer who recently proclaimed that Doo Lough in County Mayo is not a morning location. As the drama unfolds I can't help but disagree. The location and light are simply stunning. Controlling the exposure is a pain in the butt. To ensure, I have no blown highlights or blocked up shadows, I am bracketing my exposures. A quick glance at the histogram tells me I’m fine, and before the clock strikes 7.30am, I’m back home, dreaming of an Irish fry.
Later that evening, I am running late, chasing the light, a situation not helped by the posse of sheep being shepherded down the country road I am travelling on. Still, I’d trade this any day for the traffic chaos of Dublin.
A little later I'm peering down a Canon 70-200mm lens at backlit waves breaking on against a backdrop of a silhouetted Inishturk and Cahir Island. The location? Carrowninsky strand, a beautiful beach in County Mayo.
The shot I am chasing is one which sees waves breaking in the centre of the frame, with the Islands forming a distant backdrop. With waves breaking everywhere but centre that was easier said than done. Many frames and a soaking later, one wave finally hangs in the centre of the frame. Getting low to juxtapose the wave and the Islands and with an exposure of F8 @ 100th of a second set the shutter is tripped, and I get get my shot. The deep blue tone of the wave contrasts nicely with the pink hues of the sky. The light just clipping the spray at the top of the wave is then the icing on the cake.
Carrowniskey Strand Co.Mayo
Later that evening, and perhaps somewhat unbelievably I meet an elderly local out to watch the sunset. After a bout of small talk, and as the Irish often do, a game of “Do you know this person” breaks out. Minutes later I am talking on a strangers phone to a man 200miles away and who I last met 20 years ago. A nice ending to a memorable evening.
In the Field - Lough Greenan, Donegal
Lough Greenan - Donegal
It is 10 mins before 4am, and for the second morning in a row I am slipping out of a cottage, into the mist. A short while later, high above Lough Greenan I’m walking back and forth up across the mountain bog, chasing compositions that so far remain unseen.
A little after 4.30am, as the Donegal landscape wakens below, the first frames are exposed. In my heart of hearts I know the image doesn't work. My initial reaction is to shoot a panoramic, but grand vistas can be difficult to pull off, in this instance there is too much going on, as is so often the case in landscape photography, less is more. So instead of chasing pictures I compose and wait.
Shortly before 5a.m, a ghostly mist, eerily floats in beneath a distant Crockmore, weaving its fingers across the landscape. Eight seconds @ F11 later, and with the midges tasting breakfast, an abstract moment of reality appears on the LCD. I'm happy; it is great to exposing pixels at this time of the morning again!!
Donegal, a photographer’s paradise! - Keep an eye out for details of my 2014 Donegal workshop which will appear online soon. Or sign up for my mailing list to receive details direct to your inbox.