Late to bed, late to rise! 6th feb 10
05th February 2010
We had a beautiful morning this morning, I had planned to photograph the sunrise over Lough Kinlooey but I slept in. I was raging, especially as it was so nice. I was up before the sun but not early enough to get to the location on time. When shooting into the sun in the morning there really is a very small window of opportunity, it is just before the sun actually rises when it colours the sky and the clouds, once it comes over the horizon it quickly becomes too bright and all the colours disappear. Having missed the sunrise I thought I would photograph Lough Fiach, I knew the sun would be behind me, I was hoping for reflections but the lough was not as calm as I had hoped.
I really like the clouds breaking up the blue sky.
The finished picture is comprised of 13 individual photographs, stitched together in photoshop .
I had to rush back to Westport to open the Gallery and Studio, but when I saw the lovely reflection on the Newport River I just had to stop.
I did not go to Cork after all so hopefully I can get another Mayo picture tomorrow, the forecast is for a grey day.
Apart from a break to watch Ireland beat Italy at Rugby I spent the rest of the day in the Gallery.
I took delivery of a new Epson printer during the week, I have spent the evening printing Black and White and Colour photographs, experimenting with different types of paper, great fun!
Boheh 5 feb 10
It was great to get out this morning, I visited the Boheh stone just outside Westport. The stone looks fairly unimpressive especially as there is a house beside it and a stables built to within a couple of feet of the stone.
However it really is a special place and I am sure was at one time a sacred place. The rock has fine examples of Neolithic rock art , and is covered in carved circles.
If you stand on top of the rock you can get a great view of Croagh Patrick, though the view is restricted by a telegraph pole and a hedge that could be trimmed. I cant understand why a pole would be put so close to such a site especially given that it is very likely that Croagh Patrick played a significant part in the importance of the rock.
Anyway, back to the photography, the carvings can be difficult to see, but if you pour water over the rock they become much easier to see ! It is best to visit when the sun is low in the sky, this morning I wet the rock and photographed into the light , underexposing by one stop, this make the rock dark and the light highlight the circles.
============================================================================
Busy busy busy 4th feb 10
I’m really not complaining, its great to be busy in these difficult times, but with the short days its hard to get out to photograph the landscape.
They say if you do something repeatedly for 21 days it becomes a habit. When I set out on this blog on New years eve I did not know how many days I would last, I am thrilled to have lasted for over thirty days now , apart from a smug sense of achievement, I have got some great pictures that I would never have got only that I needed to feed the blog. But I have a question. How many days does it take for a habit to become an obsession?
It was raining again this morning in the half hour or so between sunrise and starting in the studio so I did not take any landscape pictures. I spent the day in the studio photographing work clothing for a catalogue, photographing garments sounds easy but in fact it can be very challenging, I photographed one garment today 26 times before it was right!( Imagine if I was using film!) So I took plenty of pictures and was photographically challenged but I did not get out in the landscape and I really missed it.
I sat down this evening to post a picture and I found two pictures from a trip to Achill I did with some people from one of my workshops. When I opened the Achill file and spotted the first picture ,of the photographer at cloughmore, I immediately felt jealous! I wish I was there.
See what I mean about obsession.!The second picture of the cow was taken on the same day, I think its cute and hope it brings a smile to your face.
The forecast for tomorrow looks good and I am travelling to Cork in the afternoon, but hopefully I may get some time in the morning to feed the obsession , I mean the blog!
=========================================================================================================================
Evening light 3rd Feb 10
Another busy day in the studio today. |I was awake before dawn, but it was lashing rain so I took the opportunity to take an extra half hour in bed. I started an evening class this evening and so had to rush from the studio session and immediately prepare the room for the class. There is no rest for the wicked!
The first of today’s picture was taken about four weeks ago. It is taken at the same place as the picture I posted Yesterday. If you look at Yesterdays picture you can see a wall behind the sheep, that same wall is in front of the two horses.
The second picture was taken three weeks ago Iwas travelling from Westport to Tourmakeady when I spotted this sheep lit by the setting sun. I hope you enjoy the pictures,
I am in the studio all day again tomorrow so I hope the morning is good.
===============================================================================================================================================================
Island Hoppers? 2nd Feb 10
I had a busy day today, product photography in the studio all day. I am photographing for a catalogue I am booked to work several days on the catalogue over the next few weeks. Product photography presents its own challenges quite different from landscape, and it is great to get the work especially at this time of year. I had no opportunity to get out to photograph landscape and I may well struggle in the next few days . The downside of winter is that the days are short so if working in the studio for and with a client like today I cant get out in daylight!
So today I am posting a photograph I took on Sunday
I came upon these sheep at low tide I am not sure were they going to or from the Island but I thought I might call the picture “the island hoppers”, any other suggestions?
===============================================================================
Killala Bay.1 02 10
Well I am delighted, I have managed to put up new pictures every day for a whole month!
This morning I went to Killala to take some pictures for friends Tony and Liz. Tony and Liz run “Killala Bay Holidays and have eight holiday cottages right on the seashore . It is a lovely location,
Tony and Liz have just completed a major upgrading of the cottages, they have done a great job.
For more info you can contact them. at
urlhttp://www.killalabayholidays.com
=======================================================================================
Today Plan what plan? 31st jan 10
Yesterday I expressed my frustration because I had not planned. Well today I planned! Dawn was a disaster, it was snowing and there was no sign of the sun whatsoever. I went home and made my second plan , an evening shoot instead. But at 10am the light was fantastic. I always get excited when the weather is described as showery with sunny intervals. This usually means that the light is constantly changing and it certainly was today. At 10.20am I made my third plan, a quick trip to Lough Fiach. As I headed out the Newport Road from Westport I could see some really nice light from the West and debated, should I stick to the plan, or chase the light. I decided to chase the light.
I have a favourite location that I often visit and always bring visitors to. I have photographed several times but have never been totally happy with the results. The Vista is so big and so impressive I never feel I have done it justice. As I turned off the Newport Road I had four kilometres to travel, I was now travelling towards the fantastic light and colourful sky that would form my picture. I was getting really excited about the light and frustrated because I had to give way on the narrow road several times, I was sure I would miss it . When I got to my viewpoint I could hardly believe what I could see, it was just stunning, I worked frantically to set up the camera before the light changed. I took metre readings from several spots before setting the camera and taking 13 photographs that I would turn into a Panorama later. It was almost a relief when I had finished, then I just enjoyed the view. Not for long though as it was very cold with a wind that would cut you in two!
I am delighted with the end result. The screen on this blog really does not do it justice, this picture is over a metre long and it is only when viewed big that the detail can really be seen.
Here is crop from the middle of the panorama
By the way the panorama was taken at 11.02am the picture below was taken at 11.16am, hard to believe, but now you know why I had to work fast!
So much for planning!!
I really like the clouds breaking up the blue sky.
The finished picture is comprised of 13 individual photographs, stitched together in photoshop .
I had to rush back to Westport to open the Gallery and Studio, but when I saw the lovely reflection on the Newport River I just had to stop.
I did not go to Cork after all so hopefully I can get another Mayo picture tomorrow, the forecast is for a grey day.
Apart from a break to watch Ireland beat Italy at Rugby I spent the rest of the day in the Gallery.
I took delivery of a new Epson printer during the week, I have spent the evening printing Black and White and Colour photographs, experimenting with different types of paper, great fun!
Boheh 5 feb 10
It was great to get out this morning, I visited the Boheh stone just outside Westport. The stone looks fairly unimpressive especially as there is a house beside it and a stables built to within a couple of feet of the stone.
However it really is a special place and I am sure was at one time a sacred place. The rock has fine examples of Neolithic rock art , and is covered in carved circles.
If you stand on top of the rock you can get a great view of Croagh Patrick, though the view is restricted by a telegraph pole and a hedge that could be trimmed. I cant understand why a pole would be put so close to such a site especially given that it is very likely that Croagh Patrick played a significant part in the importance of the rock.
Anyway, back to the photography, the carvings can be difficult to see, but if you pour water over the rock they become much easier to see ! It is best to visit when the sun is low in the sky, this morning I wet the rock and photographed into the light , underexposing by one stop, this make the rock dark and the light highlight the circles.
============================================================================
Busy busy busy 4th feb 10
I’m really not complaining, its great to be busy in these difficult times, but with the short days its hard to get out to photograph the landscape.
They say if you do something repeatedly for 21 days it becomes a habit. When I set out on this blog on New years eve I did not know how many days I would last, I am thrilled to have lasted for over thirty days now , apart from a smug sense of achievement, I have got some great pictures that I would never have got only that I needed to feed the blog. But I have a question. How many days does it take for a habit to become an obsession?
It was raining again this morning in the half hour or so between sunrise and starting in the studio so I did not take any landscape pictures. I spent the day in the studio photographing work clothing for a catalogue, photographing garments sounds easy but in fact it can be very challenging, I photographed one garment today 26 times before it was right!( Imagine if I was using film!) So I took plenty of pictures and was photographically challenged but I did not get out in the landscape and I really missed it.
I sat down this evening to post a picture and I found two pictures from a trip to Achill I did with some people from one of my workshops. When I opened the Achill file and spotted the first picture ,of the photographer at cloughmore, I immediately felt jealous! I wish I was there.
See what I mean about obsession.!The second picture of the cow was taken on the same day, I think its cute and hope it brings a smile to your face.
The forecast for tomorrow looks good and I am travelling to Cork in the afternoon, but hopefully I may get some time in the morning to feed the obsession , I mean the blog!
=========================================================================================================================
Evening light 3rd Feb 10
Another busy day in the studio today. |I was awake before dawn, but it was lashing rain so I took the opportunity to take an extra half hour in bed. I started an evening class this evening and so had to rush from the studio session and immediately prepare the room for the class. There is no rest for the wicked!
The first of today’s picture was taken about four weeks ago. It is taken at the same place as the picture I posted Yesterday. If you look at Yesterdays picture you can see a wall behind the sheep, that same wall is in front of the two horses.
The second picture was taken three weeks ago Iwas travelling from Westport to Tourmakeady when I spotted this sheep lit by the setting sun. I hope you enjoy the pictures,
I am in the studio all day again tomorrow so I hope the morning is good.
===============================================================================================================================================================
Island Hoppers? 2nd Feb 10
I had a busy day today, product photography in the studio all day. I am photographing for a catalogue I am booked to work several days on the catalogue over the next few weeks. Product photography presents its own challenges quite different from landscape, and it is great to get the work especially at this time of year. I had no opportunity to get out to photograph landscape and I may well struggle in the next few days . The downside of winter is that the days are short so if working in the studio for and with a client like today I cant get out in daylight!
So today I am posting a photograph I took on Sunday
I came upon these sheep at low tide I am not sure were they going to or from the Island but I thought I might call the picture “the island hoppers”, any other suggestions?
===============================================================================
Killala Bay.1 02 10
Well I am delighted, I have managed to put up new pictures every day for a whole month!
This morning I went to Killala to take some pictures for friends Tony and Liz. Tony and Liz run “Killala Bay Holidays and have eight holiday cottages right on the seashore . It is a lovely location,
Tony and Liz have just completed a major upgrading of the cottages, they have done a great job.
For more info you can contact them. at
urlhttp://www.killalabayholidays.com
=======================================================================================
Today Plan what plan? 31st jan 10
Yesterday I expressed my frustration because I had not planned. Well today I planned! Dawn was a disaster, it was snowing and there was no sign of the sun whatsoever. I went home and made my second plan , an evening shoot instead. But at 10am the light was fantastic. I always get excited when the weather is described as showery with sunny intervals. This usually means that the light is constantly changing and it certainly was today. At 10.20am I made my third plan, a quick trip to Lough Fiach. As I headed out the Newport Road from Westport I could see some really nice light from the West and debated, should I stick to the plan, or chase the light. I decided to chase the light.
I have a favourite location that I often visit and always bring visitors to. I have photographed several times but have never been totally happy with the results. The Vista is so big and so impressive I never feel I have done it justice. As I turned off the Newport Road I had four kilometres to travel, I was now travelling towards the fantastic light and colourful sky that would form my picture. I was getting really excited about the light and frustrated because I had to give way on the narrow road several times, I was sure I would miss it . When I got to my viewpoint I could hardly believe what I could see, it was just stunning, I worked frantically to set up the camera before the light changed. I took metre readings from several spots before setting the camera and taking 13 photographs that I would turn into a Panorama later. It was almost a relief when I had finished, then I just enjoyed the view. Not for long though as it was very cold with a wind that would cut you in two!
I am delighted with the end result. The screen on this blog really does not do it justice, this picture is over a metre long and it is only when viewed big that the detail can really be seen.
Here is crop from the middle of the panorama
By the way the panorama was taken at 11.02am the picture below was taken at 11.16am, hard to believe, but now you know why I had to work fast!
So much for planning!!