Fire in The Windy Gap

Spontaneous Bog Fires in late Spring are not unusual in Ireland but with temperature so low these past few weeks, I was surprised to find this healthy and mobile blaze in The Windy Gap today. Low temperatures are accompanied by the absence of rainfall and new-growth, the ground is very dry on the mountains. I'm guessing this will become a familiar sight until the weather changes. I notified the Gardi in Ballina of the blaze and was informed that the fire brigade had visited the site and decided to 'let it burn itself out'! When I passed, there was at least 5-acres of bog on fire. Great country this.

Pine Marten

We were first visited by this pine marten about a month ago. Cheeky as you like, he scampered about on the front lawn for 10-minutes or so, then disappeared. Only that some friends were visiting at the time, no one would have believed me. That was the first time I ever saw a pine marten although I've been aware of the havoc they caused with my neighbours fowl! My neighbour Brendan visited today and as we sat catching up on the Cornameeltha news, it was he that first noticed the now familiar creature in the trees. This time the pine marten stayed among the branches but was not deterred by the sound of the tractor ticking-over outside the house. Conditions did not favour my taking this shot through the window with the sun shining directly into the camera lens. The captured image was bleached and colourless, contrast and saturation were boosed in this post-production edit. Although I feel privileged to have access to such an abundance of native wildlife, I'm a bit nervous about the fact that the new hens will be arriving at the weekend!!

Caves of Keash in Green

The Caves of Keash are lit-up in green as part of this year's St. Patrick's Weekend celebrations. Fair play to the Patrick Ward and The Foxes Den Bar and David Connolly, great idea. The last night tonight by-the-way (Monday 18th March).

Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo

 

I spent a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon with some friends from Boyle Camera Club taking long-exposure images along the Sligo coast. We were accompanied by long-exposure virtuoso, Rohan Reilly, who shared his expertise with us during a long, cold, exhausting but very enjoyable day. Fair play to the lads who were on the coast since 6.30am!

Photo: ISO 800. 254 seconds @ f/5.6. Last shot of the day for me. The light was fading fast so rather than lose it I pushed the ISO to 800 to facilitate a 4-minute exposure (any longer and I figured noise would kill the image). Also I opened the aperture to f/5.6, usually I'd be shooting at f/16 for this kind of shot but there is no obvious impact on the depth of field. As ever, a combination of very low light and long exposure time will certainly result in some noise. In this case, I had to do some minor spot-healing in PS but the result came out better than I'd expected.

A single exposure using a Lee filter system and combining a 3-stop Hard Gran ND and 10-stop ND filters.

Make Yourself at Home!

A week ago tonight (February 23rd), this little man came out of the woods to our door. We have no idea how he came to be wandering about Cornameeltha but he seems to be used to people and well looked after. Of course he was made feel welcome and his cheeky, playful, curious and mischievous nature has been a great source of entertainment for the children. He's a 6-month old mackerel tabby-kitten and if any of my neighbours recognise him, be assured that he is safe and well. We've decided to call him Max and if unclaimed, we are happy for him to adopt us.

Blue-Hour in Boyle

After the train departed yesterday evening, I popped the G1X on the hand-rail of the link-bridge to stabilise this 3-second 'Blue-Hour' exposure.

Rest in Peace, Ned Delahunty.

I posted the above image a couple of years ago after purchasing a Lumix compact camera. Snapped on Thomas St. Dublin, the gentleman on the right was known to me only by sight but everyone in the Liberties knew him. A few days ago I learned of his passing and was informed his name was Ned Delahunty, he was 83. Ned was one of many homeless men living on the streets of Dublin and he lived for many years in the doorway pictured below. When I took the photo of his doorway, this is what I said; "Every day I'm in Dublin, my drive down OB St. coincides with the waking of one of it's street residents. I've not spoke to him, don't know his name but from a distance, I've admired his dignity and resilience. This is his home. In this time of hardship, it's people like the man that sleeps in this doorway that make me appreciate my good fortune. If you sleep in a bed, have a roof over your head and a fridge to put your milk and cheese in ... then you are better-off than 75% of the people in the world."

Ned's doorway at the moment with flowers and cards left by locals and others.

Titanic Belfast

 

Absolutely! One of the most visually engaging pieces of architecture produced in Ireland recently ... and a benchmark for museum curation of the future.

Titanic Belfast

Garrow Road, Cornameeltha

On Friday, January 18th, it snowed for a while about Boyle. It was a modest fall to say the least but beautiful none the less. When we woke on Saturday it had disappeared without a trace ... the children were so disappointed ... and so was I.

... remembering

St. Augustine and St. John's Church, Dublin

I've been putting the Canon G1 X through it's paces these past few weeks and am starting to post some of the results. I've developed a love/hate relationship with it but am very impressed with it's low-light performance so far.
Compare it with this shot taken in the same church some time ago using a Lumix LX5.

Photo: Canon G1X. ISO 100. 0.5 seconds @ f/2.8

Laytown after Dawn, Co. Meath

This morning I happened to be in Laytown, Co. Meath and witnessed a beautiful sunrise on my way there. Not a typical scene for the east coast being so close to Drogheda and Dublin city. I sipped an americano as the sun burst the seams of the autumn dawn clouds.

Bravia

This image of a peacock was taken during a recent visit to Fota Wildlife Park in Cork. Consider it a playful experiment in colour distortion. The result here is much more interesting than the original image ... which is entirely the point of the exercise.

Cornameeltha

Lucky and Billy have been with us from the beginning of our life at Cornameeltha. Inseparable, they're getting on a bit now but are two of the sweetest, most loyal companions anyone could ask for. No matter what kind of a day I had, it lifts my spirits to see their welcoming, wagging tails as I come down the drive from work.

Prague

You know the place ... the café beside the sculpture of the horse hanging up-side-down from the ceiling!

Photo: ISO 4000. Hand-held 1/30 @ f/4. 10-20mm lens at 10mm.

October in Prague

 

I had very little opportunity to photograph this beautiful city during my recent visit to Prague and was limited to grabbing low-light evening photos. On my final day I was rushing to find locations to take advantage of the 'Blue Hour' light, this was a hand-held test shot taken in advance of setting up the tripod for longer, bracketed exposures. It's the only one I took to measure the light using a shutter speed of 1/100 which froze motion (subsequently all the other long exposures blurred the busy, moving crowds).

Although it worked very well as a colour shot, I could see the BW potential which gives a vintage feel to the scene. I'm sorry now I didn't take more of these. The food vendors were one of the attractions for me as they were like beacons on what are mostly dark, poorly lit streets. Same location as previous shot but 25 minutes earlier ... the clock tells the story. Goes to show how long I was hanging about this spot.

Photo: ISO 800. 1/100 @ f/2.8

Tribute

I remember many years ago seeing a documentary where the artist Francis Bacon, gave some insight into his work. I've long forgotten the content of the film but have remained a great admirer of his painting. At a talk I gave yesterday on the influence of photography on Bacon's work, which was at times 'heated' to say the least, I revisited some of the books I have at home to see if I could justify my defence of his artistic genius ... I am resolute. I took this photo as a tribute.

Achill Henge, Co. Mayo

"Ireland has plenty of ancient settlements and monuments. But on Achill Island, off the far west coast - up a mountain and in the middle of a bog - sits a different kind of monument that locals are calling Achill-henge."

I was there on Saturday with some good friends to check it out. I have a feeling it will not age as well (or last as long) as the henge on the Salisbury plain.

More.

Adam O'Connor at The Fleadh in Cavan

Flava Floors is Cork's first and only true Hip Hop Dance Studio. Started by renowned Cork Breakdancer Adam ‘Dusto’ of the Rhythm Rebelz Crew. The Flava Floors Crew have a combined total of over 20 years dance experience, performing with the likes of Akon, Cascada and Rahzel as well as representing Ireland in the World HipHop Dance Championships in Las Vegas, Euro Battles in Portugal, Welsh BBoy Champs.

Main Street, Boyle at Night

A very calm 'night before the storm' that dominated the Irish weather on Thursday 15th August. I used to do quite a lot of night photography some years ago but I've moved away from it recently. In taking this shot, I relived the challenges and pleasures of it all. 5-minutes after taking the shot the rain came and the pleasure quickly evaporated.

Toasting Marshmallow

Many evenings have been spent toasting marshmallows this summer. A simple pleasure that the children (and their parents) really enjoy!

Bonniconlon Agricultural Show 2012

I visited the Bonniconlon Show on Bank Holiday Monday which, after 63 years, continues to draw crowds from far and wide. A great day out for the Irish farmer and his family!

More photos from the day HERE.

Reek Sunday 2012

A Sunday stroll ... for all my sins!
Click on the photo above to see more.

TWELVE

The Caves of Keash, Co. Sligo

Keshcorran hill is the location of 13 small caves at the foot of a steep limestone cliff. As with the Bricklieve mountains, this hill is of pre-glacial origin. The caves are small, but the portals are high enough to stand under. There is a large hilltop cairn situated on the summit at a height of 362m above sea level, making it the highest cairn in County Sligo - around 30m higher than Maeve's Grave on Knocknarea.
Some of the caves were explored in 1901 and again in 1929. Bones of reindeer, boar, wolf and arctic lemming were found, along with a large variety of birds, including rare or extinct species. Brown bears also occupied the caves for long periods. Early man was not a frequent visitor, but from the 8th to the 11th centuries there were more signs of human presence in the caves, such as remains of fires, animal bones, shellfish debris, various implements and articles of personal adornment. The ridge top was the site of ritual gatherings at seasonal festivals such as Lughnasa, until the last century.
On a recent visit with my son and his friend. we took some time out to admire the fine view which stretches all the way to Croagh Patrick, just visible on the horizon on the right 'thirds' axis.


View the scene Large HERE

Shrimping about the shores of Clew Bay

A really pleasant way to spend your time productively in Clew Bay as the tide comes in on the Mayo coast is to get yourself a net and bucket and comb the shrimp from the seaweed covered rocks. It's a very relaxing hobby and I believe you'll not get tastier shrimp anywhere on the Irish coastline!

Photo: Lumix LX5

Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo

Ballintubber Abbey on a wet day in July. It's history goes back to pre-Christian times, people came from the east through Ballintubber on their way to the holy mountain on the west coast - now called Croagh Patrick.
When St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in c.441AD, he founded a church at Ballintubber. The present Abbey was founded in 1216 by King Cathal O'Conor.

It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish king.

Photo: Top - Lumix LX5 Bottom - Nikon D300s 

Doo Lough, Delphi Valley, Co. Mayo

A damp Summer day in Mayo when I took these at this beautiful part of the county. Seems it's always raining when I visit Delphi!

Happy Wedding Anniversary Mum & Dad!

Bonfire Night 2012. The tradition being kept very much alive this year by the cubs and scouts of Boyle at their campsite in Lough Keel, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
My Mum and Dad were 47 years married lastnight. Kisses to you both. XX

Summertime?

Coming towards the end of June, school will finish soon, it's holiday time in Ireland ... but you'd never think it if you were going by the weather!


Photo: Taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 in AF Macro mode.

Congratulations to this year's recent graduates from the Faculty of Education at NCAD. I wish you all, every success for the future!


View the Graduate Catalogue HERE.

The Border

Photo: Lumix LX5

Longford Railway Station

There has been some dramatic and changeable weather across the country lately, the sky has been in a constant state of turbulence and shifts between vivid blue and moody, smouldering grey making for interesting backdrops to any image. I've caught a few with a pocket camera on my travels, snapshots for fun mostly. I'm very relaxed about my photography these days but still always looking for the next picture.

Photo: Lumix LX5

Thich Nhat Hanh - “The Miracle of Mindfulness” in the Dublin Convention Centre (16 photos)

Click photo for more from this event.

Roscommon Ploughing Championships 2012 held in Boyle (20 photos)

Clontarf Dublin

I found myself on the East coast today near Clontarf to consider some long exposure locations for future visits when I have more time. These images are very much straight from the camera and accurately reflects the light there. Shot with a Lee 3-stop Hard Grad ND filter. This particular filter is fast becoming one of my favourites at the moment.

Lower image: Camera on tripod. ISO 100. 1/40 @ f/6.3. 10-20mm lens @ 10mm.

Aughris Head, Sligo

Sunday 4th March. Beautiful light at Aughris Head today but wasn't in a 'picture-taking' frame of mind. I thought this scene of seagulls tailing the surfer was worth having though.

Hotel

Photo: ISO 3200. 10-20mm lens @ 10mm. 1/50 @ f/4

A shed in the country.

I remember a while back when the 'Wonderbra' billboard ads decorated the Irish landscape and the uproar they caused. That was back in the early 90's. We've come a long way since then though, haven't we!?
Read the press clipping HERE.

Terminal 2. Dublin Airport

Absolutely coming back here for a Black & White shoot. 'Flying' visit to the airport today but stole a few minutes to take some photos of the new Terminal 2 building with my Lumix compact.


Photo: Lumix LX5 Exif Data

Door is Always Open

The Parlor

Photo: Hand-held. ISO 400. 10mm wide-angle lens. 1/80 @ f/4. SB 800 on-camera @1/2 bounced vertically (the ceiling was very dark so the light spill was very subtle).
In ACR, I adjusted the white balance only and opened it in PS. I subsequently adjusted the Curve slightly via the colour channels. A Warm Filter adjustment layer was added at 40% to bring back some warmth and atmosphere. Next I done a little canvas rotation using 'Transform' to straighten the verticals and cropped. I finished it by running a Guy Gowen sharpening action pulled back to 30%.