This Blood Moon rising on April 15, 2014 is as a result of a partial lunar eclipse, which in other parts of the world was a total eclipse. It is a 30 second exposure which should give an indication on how dark the moon actually was as it rose. It was more like a setting sun that I have seen in the far east and despite the cold, was a very beautiful couple of hours spent up on the Healy Pass watching this and making some images.
This Blood Moon rising on April 15, 2014 is as a result of a partial lunar eclipse, which in other parts of the world was a total eclipse. It is a 30 second exposure which should give an indication on how dark the moon actually was as it rose. It was more like a setting sun that I have seen in the far east and despite the cold, was a very beautiful couple of hours spent up on the Healy Pass watching this and making some images.
One of my favourite trips in this area is to take the small road that runs from Kilgarvan, through the Borlin Valley towards Bantry. At the top of the pass, on remote and rugged bogland sits the ruins of this old cottage which I love to return to and wonder about those who lived here many years ago.
One of my favourite trips in this area is to take the small road that runs from Kilgarvan, through the Borlin Valley towards Bantry. At the top of the pass, on remote and rugged bogland sits the ruins of this old cottage which I love to return to and wonder about those who lived here many years ago.
Having spent all my childhood summers roaming around barefoot on the dunes of Castlegregory, this is always a very special and poignant place for me to return to. I came here the day after my mother’s funeral to connect to and reflect on happier times in a place we all loved. I had my camera and spent a wonderful day re-exploring, remembering and making new images. It was a glorious, crisp February day and as it drew to a close I walked along the ‘back beach’ and the light, clouds, tides and wind all combined to make a spectacular end to a very special day.
Having spent all my childhood summers roaming around barefoot on the dunes of Castlegregory, this is always a very special and poignant place for me to return to. I came here the day after my mother’s funeral to connect to and reflect on happier times in a place we all loved. I had my camera and spent a wonderful day re-exploring, remembering and making new images. It was a glorious, crisp February day and as it drew to a close I walked along the ‘back beach’ and the light, clouds, tides and wind all combined to make a spectacular end to a very special day.
A beautiful location but on an overcast day with very little light, you really only have one option and that is for a long exposure. This is a 3 minute exposure of this iconic little jetty giving a lovely sense of stillness and balance.
A beautiful location but on an overcast day with very little light, you really only have one option and that is for a long exposure. This is a 3 minute exposure of this iconic little jetty giving a lovely sense of stillness and balance.
Ireland’s highest mountain, and it’s most majestic mountain range. Carrauntoohill is nested in the McGillycuddys Reeks and is a hugely popular place for walkers, hikers, and climbers. Coming here mid week in winter, you are more than likely to have the entire place to yourself for most of your time. As always when photographing mountains, I aim to make an image putting the subject in the context of it’s surroundings.
Ireland’s highest mountain, and it’s most majestic mountain range. Carrauntoohill is nested in the McGillycuddys Reeks and is a hugely popular place for walkers, hikers, and climbers. Coming here mid week in winter, you are more than likely to have the entire place to yourself for most of your time. As always when photographing mountains, I aim to make an image putting the subject in the context of it’s surroundings.
I have a long held interest in photographing farmland gates and noting the vast range of styles and methods used both today and in years gone by to secure access points to lands. Some are ornate and hark back to days where great pride was taken in owning even a small holding.
I have a long held interest in photographing farmland gates and noting the vast range of styles and methods used both today and in years gone by to secure access points to lands. Some are ornate and hark back to days where great pride was taken in owning even a small holding.
The Cherry Drive
The iconic Cherry Drive with it's wonderful avenue of Cherry Blossom trees in bloom on a crisp April morning. My main challenge in making this image was to have the location without the throng of walkers that visit it every morning combined with some mist to soften the scene and diffuse that early morning light. Thankfully, I had such a morning for a wonderfully colourful and evocative scene.
The Cherry Drive
The iconic Cherry Drive with it's wonderful avenue of Cherry Blossom trees in bloom on a crisp April morning. My main challenge in making this image was to have the location without the throng of walkers that visit it every morning combined with some mist to soften the scene and diffuse that early morning light. Thankfully, I had such a morning for a wonderfully colourful and evocative scene.
An epic day spent on the Dingle Peninsula was only slightly marred by the amount of gorse and grass fires being lit on the hills, choking up the views. But as I made my way down to the wonderful beach at Coumeenoole, the smoke from a nearby fire was dropping down the mountainside on to the far end of the beach. It made for some very atmospheric light as the low winter sun helped diffuse everything behind the dark black rocks of the beach.
I spent almost four hours on the beach that afternoon until it was completely dark , it's a hard place to leave but I left contented that I had made some lovely images that I was chasing for some time.
An epic day spent on the Dingle Peninsula was only slightly marred by the amount of gorse and grass fires being lit on the hills, choking up the views. But as I made my way down to the wonderful beach at Coumeenoole, the smoke from a nearby fire was dropping down the mountainside on to the far end of the beach. It made for some very atmospheric light as the low winter sun helped diffuse everything behind the dark black rocks of the beach.
I spent almost four hours on the beach that afternoon until it was completely dark , it's a hard place to leave but I left contented that I had made some lovely images that I was chasing for some time.
After spending two years photographing in the Killarney National Park I began to shift focus from ' recording ' the dramatic landscape to capturing the very essence and nature of the place and the very special sights you can witness within it. Early morning is always my preference, any time of year and during a particularly long dry spell the water levels on the lake drop to the point where you can walk out to locations rarely accessible. Here I choose to focus on this wonderfully still scene instead of the coming drama ahead as first light hits the Reeks behind.
After spending two years photographing in the Killarney National Park I began to shift focus from ' recording ' the dramatic landscape to capturing the very essence and nature of the place and the very special sights you can witness within it. Early morning is always my preference, any time of year and during a particularly long dry spell the water levels on the lake drop to the point where you can walk out to locations rarely accessible. Here I choose to focus on this wonderfully still scene instead of the coming drama ahead as first light hits the Reeks behind.
Derrycunnihy as viewed from the famous Ladie's View in the Killarney National Park. The more famous view is a little off to the right, but I really loved the layers being revealed by the lingering mist and fog here and also the breaking light behind Mangerton mountain.
Derrycunnihy as viewed from the famous Ladie's View in the Killarney National Park. The more famous view is a little off to the right, but I really loved the layers being revealed by the lingering mist and fog here and also the breaking light behind Mangerton mountain.
After a weeks heavy rain and storms I returned to Killarney National Park's Ross Island to find the levels of the lake had risen so much that all the paths were submerged under water, completely altering the landscape. With careful driving and a pair of waders I enjoyed photographing this area and noticed this piece of driftwood placed perfectly in the reflections. The next day the water levels had dropped significantly and the entire scene looked completely different.
After a weeks heavy rain and storms I returned to Killarney National Park's Ross Island to find the levels of the lake had risen so much that all the paths were submerged under water, completely altering the landscape. With careful driving and a pair of waders I enjoyed photographing this area and noticed this piece of driftwood placed perfectly in the reflections. The next day the water levels had dropped significantly and the entire scene looked completely different.
An iconic tourist destination and a wonderful place to visit any time of the year. I photographed this scene in winter, during a break in a cycle of storms on a rare still morning which afforded me the perfect reflections in the water to make this composition work perfectly. In winter time the grasses die off and lighten in colour, giving a more interest contrast against the dark rock.
An iconic tourist destination and a wonderful place to visit any time of the year. I photographed this scene in winter, during a break in a cycle of storms on a rare still morning which afforded me the perfect reflections in the water to make this composition work perfectly. In winter time the grasses die off and lighten in colour, giving a more interest contrast against the dark rock.
A lone Hawthorn Tree is backlit by the rising sun on a very unique morning in June. I had been camping out on high ground the previous night and unexpectedly had a very cold night on the mountain as a bizarre front of cold air moved down across the country. Once it was light enough to come down I did and sat in my car warming up as the sun began to rise. I noticed that as a result of the cold air, the light was unusually crisp and clear for a summer morning. I lined up a composition with the tree shading the rising sun and marvelled as the light wrapped around it and made an otherwise difficult exposure work perfectly.
These trees are often left standing alone for superstitious reasons by farmers , especially near lying boulders, for fear of bringing a curse from the fairies on them !!
Lough Brin sits in a beautiful valley at foothills of the McGillycuddys Reeks mountains in Kerry.
A lone Hawthorn Tree is backlit by the rising sun on a very unique morning in June. I had been camping out on high ground the previous night and unexpectedly had a very cold night on the mountain as a bizarre front of cold air moved down across the country. Once it was light enough to come down I did and sat in my car warming up as the sun began to rise. I noticed that as a result of the cold air, the light was unusually crisp and clear for a summer morning. I lined up a composition with the tree shading the rising sun and marvelled as the light wrapped around it and made an otherwise difficult exposure work perfectly.
These trees are often left standing alone for superstitious reasons by farmers , especially near lying boulders, for fear of bringing a curse from the fairies on them !!
Lough Brin sits in a beautiful valley at foothills of the McGillycuddys Reeks mountains in Kerry.
Most definitely one of the best drives you can do anywhere in Ireland. You drive through the heart of the Beara Peninsula, with it's distinctive mountainous landscape all around you as the road winds it's way around crags and passes, emerging to a dramatic view from the top which ever direction you travel in.
Most definitely one of the best drives you can do anywhere in Ireland. You drive through the heart of the Beara Peninsula, with it's distinctive mountainous landscape all around you as the road winds it's way around crags and passes, emerging to a dramatic view from the top which ever direction you travel in.
Most definitely one of the best drives you can do anywhere in Ireland. You drive through the heart of the Beara Peninsula, with it's distinctive mountainous landscape all around you as the road winds it's way around crags and passes, emerging to a dramatic view from the top which ever direction you travel in.
Most definitely one of the best drives you can do anywhere in Ireland. You drive through the heart of the Beara Peninsula, with it's distinctive mountainous landscape all around you as the road winds it's way around crags and passes, emerging to a dramatic view from the top which ever direction you travel in.
One of the best valleys to explore on the Beara Peninsula is Gleninchiquin. With Cloonee lake at the opening of the valley, you continue on in towards Lough Inchiquin with its magnificent stone circle and the Gleninchaquin Park and waterfall at the end. Halfway in you'll come across this lovely boathouse with the little island of trees opposite. Somewhere I find myself coming back to , time and again .. this time in winter with a shroud of mist and fog giving the scene great atmosphere.
One of the best valleys to explore on the Beara Peninsula is Gleninchiquin. With Cloonee lake at the opening of the valley, you continue on in towards Lough Inchiquin with its magnificent stone circle and the Gleninchaquin Park and waterfall at the end. Halfway in you'll come across this lovely boathouse with the little island of trees opposite. Somewhere I find myself coming back to , time and again .. this time in winter with a shroud of mist and fog giving the scene great atmosphere.