Daily Blog

This picture taken at Kilgalligan is the same location as last nights picture , only in the exact opposite direction. They are taken 15 minutes apart. While it was very cloudy in the hour or so before sunset, the sun kept finding little breaks in the cloud and would illuminate different areas. For this picture it managed to light two of the cliff faces, I was hoping it would catch the Staggs of Broadhaven ( the sea stacks you can see on the left of the image), but it just never reached them. So I spent my time taking a picture then looking over my shoulder to see what the light was doing behind me , then moving the tripod and starting all over again. Working as fast as I could , but all the camera settings had to be changed depending on which direction I was looking, and of course I had to use a tripod because it was actually quite dark.
Camera ; iso 100 f14 0.6sec

Another image from last week's trip to the North Coast of Mayo. One of the many islands and sea stacks along that coast. This was a very calm evening , but I could not think it must be pretty wild at times, it is hard to see where you might make landfall on this little Island, but clearly somebody does as there is a herd of sheep grazing!

One day last week I was on achill Island for the afternoon. I had visited my favourite beach, Keem Strand. I had not intended to stay as long as I did but as often happens the time passed quickly, and I suddenly realized if I did not leave immediately I would not make it back for the evening class I was teaching in Ballyglass.
So I packed up as quick as I could and started back, As I passed through Dooagh I looked to my right to see this lovely light on the beach, I just could not resist!!! so I slammed on the brakes and reversed back to turn into the car park, then grabbed the camera with the 80-200mm lens and ran down the beach to get into position. I shot off a few shots, ran back up the beach and recommenced my journey . I got to the class on time, just, and calmly walked in not pretending I was in any rush .The giveaway that I had not just come from home, was the wet boots and trouser legs, covered in sand!

Here is an image of the Minaun Cliffs on Achill Island. taken with a 200mm lens I am a very long way away from the cliffs (probably a mile or two). The photo details are iso 100 1/320shutter speed @f5. this is a good example of when a wide aperture works for landscape. We usually use a small aperture for landscape, but depth of field is affected by the distance from the camera to the subject. Close up, f5 would result in limited depth with lots out of focus, not so from such a long distance. Note Croagh Patrick in the far distance.

Yesterdays picture of water involved a slow shutter speed of one second which shows the movement by blurring the water. The other way to show the movement is to "freeze" the water by using a fast shutter speed. This image from Kilcummin Head was shot at a shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second, the fastest my camera can do. I shot this with a 200mm lens because I was afraid to go any closer, not because of the waves you can see in the picture, but because of the waves, out of shot, to my left, which every so often would come crashing over the rocks as if to dare me to come closer!

This image is from Belderrig harbour in North Mayo, as you can see it was a very cloudy day, but that helped me achieve a slow shutter speed of 1 second, it amazing how far a crashing wave travels in one second!!

I spent this morning in Westport, giving a half day camera skills day with Peter and Sue from ALASKA!!!!! Isn't the world a small place. I'd like to tell you they flew in especially to take my class, but I would be lying of course. But it is still amazing to get a booking because somebody saw your website in Alaska and put you on their itinerary for their trip to Ireland. We had a really busy morning, but I got no pictures taken myself today, so here is one from Rinroe Beach in North Mayo, taken last Friday evening.

I had a lovely day today, I had a camera skills day with a couple of the members of the Mayo Photographic Club. Rob and Aileen wanted to brush up on their camera skills , and in particular worked on off camera flash. We did pictures both indoors and out and while I did not take any pictures myself they certainly got a few good ones.

I am posting another image from last nights concert in Kiltimagh, of course I could not use flash, as I would have ruined the spectacle for everybody. This image shows Ronan Mcdonagh, conducting his own choir "Fuaimlaoi" singing one of his own compositions ! What a talented man!!!

For the photographers the picture details are; iso 2500, f2.8, 1/100 second at 200mm.

Really really late posting today, i have just uploaded the pictures from tonights concert in our local parich church, The Church of the Holy Family, Kiltimagh,. The concert was to celebrate the 125years since the church was built. It was an amazing evening. Photographically it was to say the least, challenging, because I really could not use flash and so was using iso settings of between 2500 and 5000!! Its amazing what digital cameras can do ! Here is a picture of the Mayo School of Music Youth Choir, I thought they looked well in their red tops!

Posting extra early today as I will be away for the rest of the day. Keem strand is my favourite beach in mayo, and this particular set of rocks always fascinate me . I know you have seen many images of these from me before, but this is a new one taken a couple of days ago.

I am a little late posting today, I spent the day in North Mayo and finished up at Killgaligan around sunset time . I feel so lucky to live in Mayo, there are just so many fantastic places to photograph!

I visited Keem Strand on Achill Island today. I had planned my arrival for low tide because the most interesting parts of the beach are only accessible at low tide. The weather on the drive up was just about OK, and did not look like it would be great for photography. While I was there though the sun did break through for short periods. As is always the case when I go to Keem, the time simply flew by, before I knew it I had been there two hours and suddenly realized that I had to pack up in a hurry to make it back to Ballyglass on time for the evening class I am running. It was at this point that a very kind couple, the only other people on the beach, approached me "Is that your Van in the car park"? "You have left your lights on"! They kindly offered to stay with me lest I needed help to start it, but fortunately it started first turn of the key. But just for a few minutes I wondered how I was going to get to the night class on time!

I am posting a little early this evening as I am on my way out to teach a beginners photography evening class.

Yesterday I posted a picture of the rugged coastline on Achill Island. That picture depended on strong sunlight to provide enough light to "freeze" the wave with a shutter speed 0f 1/500th of a second and also to bring out all the shapes and ruggedness of the rocky shore.
Todays picture is taken on a very dull day with no sunshine, but the slow shutter speed (2.5seconds) and muted colours results in a very different type, but equally interesting picture.

The rugged coastline on a windy day, Achill Island Co Mayo.

Stuck in the house again today. So here is a picture from earlier in the summer, of a salmon leaping over Aasleagh Falls, Co Mayo. I may try and get down there again this week just to see is there any autumn colour developing in the trees.

A lovely day today but I did not get out with the camera. So here is a picture from last week's visit to Downpatrick Head Co Mayo. You have heard of the saying "big fish in a small pond", well here we have a big rock in a small pool!

Here is another picture from Keem Strand. Taken at low tide the limpets hang on until the tide returns. I only "grabbed" this shot as I retreated from the rising tide myself. I keep promising myself to spend more time looking for these kind of details at low tide, but every time I go and plan a trip I end up being distracted by the waves and the scenery and run out of time. The area this is taken in is well below the low tide watermark and the exit gets cut off long before the water would reach you here.

I dont usually include people in my landscape shots, but these two ,strolling on Keem Strand really make the picture, I think.

Often when out and about for Landscape photographs there can be a lot of planning, getting to locations before time, keeping an eye on the weather etc. but this picture of Lough Cullen and Nephin was taken from the side of the road as I travelled between Ballina and Foxford !

I remember as a child when we would see vintage cars, my Mum would speak of the cars she could remember her Uncle Jerome driving, we thought she must have been very old to remember them. Yesterday I came across this old relic, I was delighted, and immediately remembered my Uncle Sean who would take my sisters and I for spins in one just like it, they usually resulted in a stop for chocolate or icecream! Of course I was on my own when I found this one so I had to reminisce to myself.
So I hope this picture conjures some happy memories for those of you of a certain age!!!