An early morning start brought me to the shoreline of Carlingford Lough in Count Louth where I attempted to photograph a beautiful pastel dawn . The vlog can be seen on the video below :
IN THE FIELD | BOYNE BEACONS
The latest edition of my In the Field vlog takes me to the banks of the River Boyne in County Meath to photograph the Beacons that guide the ships up the River Boyne to the port of Drogheda.
In The Field | Simply Stunning - Arranmore Island
The latest edition of my In the Field vlog series takes me out to the Island Arranmore. Located off the coast of Donegal, it is a location that is simply stunning for Landscape photography.
Check out the video below and you will see why.
In The Field | Glenveagh, Co Donegal
The latest edition of In the Field, takes my out to perhaps my favourite location in Ireland - Glenveagh National Park in North West Ireland. Here I go in search of compositions that capture the Donegal landscape as it takes on its Autumnal coat.
In the Field | Mullaghmeen, Co Meath
The latest edition of my “In the Field” vlog takes me out to Mullaghmeen forest in County Meath. A real hidden gem, it is one of the largest Beech Wood forests in Ireland, and was a real challenge to photograph. Check it out below.
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.
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:
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.
Blue Hour
Forty minutes before sunrise, and I am standing on a cold deserted beach near Mulranny County Mayo, at a time landscape photographers call "Blue Hour".
Blue hour, that time before sunrise and after sunset, when darkness has not quite departed or descended. A time for daylight white balance, tripods and lengthy exposures. Automatic white balance has a tendency to destroy the cool tones that are to be found at this time of day.
Blue Hour - Co Mayo, Ireland
Peering through the viewfinder, the sound of unseen waves fill the air as the moon sits low over a distant Croagh Patrick.
During moments like this, it is easy to forget that landscape photography is more than F-stops and shutter speeds. In reality it's about the experience. The experience of watching, feeling, seeing the world at a time that most people don't see.
Mayo adventures
It is after 10pm, my family sleep soundly, as I meander the corridors of the hotel and slip out into the cool Co Mayo air, to the warm inviting atmosphere of Matt Molloys pub in the heart of Westport.
From the back of the pub, stomping feet accompany the sound of singing Irish fiddles and whistles.
I have been here many times, but tonight with the cold wind and snow falling it somehow feels more special.
County Mayo on the West coast of Ireland, is amongst the most beautiful Irish counties. So despite this being a family holiday, I tell myself that I can be forgiven for sneaking in some photography, as I follow the meandering road from Westport to the beach at Mulranny.
Standing under a crescent moon, waiting for dawn, the cool February air tickles my skin. It is mornings like these that make me glad I was bitten by the photography bug.
Photo Masterclass
A quick post - bringing you a couple of links to the Photo masterclass series I did with Ireland's Outsider magazine. The series followed my trails around Ireland photographing the beautiful Irish landscape and coastline.
Links too these articles can be viewed at the following urls -
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/85b8da79#/85b8da79/72
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d477c8f9#/d477c8f9/72
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/4d2f2963#/4d2f2963/70