May
04
2021IPF Distinction
While we were in lockdown during the first 100 days of 2021, I applied for the LIPF, the licentiateship of the Irish Photo Federation.
To be awarded, I had to setup a cohesive panel with 10 of my images. My panel and also the ten individual images were judged.
Normally this would be done with 10 prints during a live meeting, but because of restrictions, this was done via Zoom. One judge would check the prints and the other judges checked the electronic version.
The judges would vote anonymously and I’m delighted to say that I was awarded with the LIPF.
Thanks to Fergus Copper and Tommy Quilty, your support is much appreciated.
The panel I entered:
Read More»
Dec
30
2020Coumshingaun Loop
The year 2020 ends with a bang. I was invited by Colm Cheevers to join a group to walk the Coumshingaun Loop. A walk that I have done several times. A pretty tough climb up but you are rewarded with spectacular views. This time the summit was covered in clouds so we knew that the views were very limited. What made it a really tough climb was the strong prevailing wind which made it more challenging. When we started there was a beautiful break in the clouds where we could see the rays of the early sun. When we were up, the landscape transformed in a winterwonderland. It was a white world around us, just stunning. What a way to end this remarkable year !! Thanks to the group for a perfect day and Colm for inviting me.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment.
Nov
09
2020Crough Wood revisited
As I mentioned in my post of Crough Wood early October, I wanted to revisit Crough Wood again when the autumn colours are most vibrant. Last weekend I went back to this beautiful spot and it didn’t disappoint. Hope you like it too.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment.
Read More»
Nov
09
2020Kilfarrasy
One of my favourite beaches along the Copper Coast would be Kilfarrasy. Unfortunately I was not able to go to the coast during storm Aiden early November. When I went the day after, there was still some sting in the tail of the storm. The low sun of this season creates some nice light. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment.
Read More»
Oct
09
2020Under a million suns
There are only a view places in the Netherlands where it gets really dark. In the west there is a lot of light pollution because of the big cities and the green houses. You had to go north, to the islands, or east near the German border. In Ireland there is in general much less light pollution and that gives me the opportunity to do some astro photography. I was always amazed by the universe we live in, hard to imagine the concept of it. Black holes, supernovas, red dwarfs, pulsars, galaxies and all thousands and thousands of lightyears away.
Please find my first results in this series. All pictures where taken with a Nikon D750 with an Irix 15mm, exposure 15-20secs, ISO 3200/6400, f/2.4.
For each picture, a series of minimal 5 pictures where taken. These pictures where blended in Starry Landscape Stacker to reduce noise and than processed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you like the pictures.
Tankardstown
Oct
05
2020Crough Wood
Down Mahon valley, the river Mahon meanders through a beautiful forest: Crough Wood. The forest is lush and the river has all kinds of little waterfalls making it a very popular destination for photographers. Last Saturday, together with Fergus Cooper, we went to check it out and we were surely not the only ones. It is always great to meet like minded people. We will definitely come back when the leafs have turned.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you like the pictures.
Sep
15
2020Hook Head
Hook Head lighthouse is located at the end of the Hook peninsula in the county of Wexford Ireland. It is the oldest working lighthouse in the world. I was invited by Fergus Cooper to check the sunset there. Great circumstances, gale force winds created some nice surf. Maybe it was not the sunset we were hoping for, but I think we got a nice set of pictures. Went home in wet clothes, but it was all worth it.
Nice to meet Astro photographer Kristín de Grae there as well. Fergus thanks for the invitation.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you like the pictures.
Aug
24
2020Hiking to Knockmealdown
On Saturday the 22nd of August, I joined a guided tour organised by Muddyboots guided walking, to hike up to the highest point of county Waterford, mountain Knockmealdown. It was a spectacular and amazing day with gusty winds, horizontal rain and glorious sunshine. The hike started climbing up Sugarloaf Hill and following the ridge to the 794 meter top of Knockmealdown. A great view from there over different counties and the coastline The dramatic cloudscapes were a welcome bonus for me.
Thanks Mario for the great tour and your stories about this area. Colm Cheevers thank you for inviting me.
Thanks to the rest of the group for your individual stories and your kindness.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you like the pictures.
Jul
01
2020A trip to the Saltee Islands
The Saltee Islands, consisting of the Great and Little Saltee, are situated approximately 5 kilometers off the coast of Kilmore Quay Co.Wexford Ireland. The larger island Great Saltee is one of the world’s major bird sanctuaries. The Saltees are a real haven for sea birds, nurturing an impressive array of birds, from gannets and gulls to puffins.
For me this was a new challenge as I’m not a birdwatcher (twitcher) at all, but I loved every minute of it. Thanks Antoinette for organising this and Fergus for bringing me there, I certainly would like to this again.
A boat brings you from Kilmore Quay Harbour and before you reach the Great Saltee, you have to change to a rubber boat that will bring you to a small beach. Click on the link below to watch the video showing bits of the journey.
For this outing I decided to bring my Nikon D7100 crop instead of the D750 full frame, in combination with my Sigma 70-200 lens. With the D7100, the zoom is increased to 300mm. The rest of the zoom was achieved by moving in as close as possible. For some overview shots I used a Tokina 11 mm.
I concentrated on two types of birds, the lovely puffins and the majestic gannets. As you might expect, they were both on each side of the island, so there was some walking involved as well.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you like the pictures.
Read More»
May
17
2020Woodstown
After 9 weeks lockdown due to Covid-19, I was delighted that I could finally set my alarm to go to Woodstown, not too far from where I live. The tide and sunrise matched perfectly for some early morning pictures between the oyster beds on Woodstown beach. Great to be out again in the early morning, witness the sunrise and be home again before everyone wakes up. I really missed this and I can’t wait for the lockdown is completely lifted.
Click on the picture to enlarge and click ‘back’ to return to post.
Thanks for checking my site and feel free to leave a comment.
Read More»