Daily Blog

The stormy weather continues. I was in Westport this afternoon and decided to try and capture some of the stormy seas. So I travelled to Roonagh pier, where on a calmer day you get the ferry to Clare island. I was late getting there so it was quite dark, so to get a shutter speed high enough to capture the spray I had to put the iso up to 1250. I did not have to wait long for the breakers to hit!

iso1250 shutter 250 f4.5

I did not get out with the camera today, hopefully I might get to the coast tomorrow if the rain is not too bad. This sunrise image was taken some time ago on the greenway cycle path between Mulranny and Achill Island.

Just a reminder , There are still a few places left on the next beginners nightclass which starts next Friday 1st feb in "The Studio" Foxford( Artist Harry Feeney,s, Studio) The course runs for six weeks 6.30 to 8.30pm, message me if you want more info or if you would like to book a place.

There's a storm brewing!! the forecast for the next few days is for stormy weather with lots and lots of rain. For Mayo that means LOTS ! Because we seem to get rain even when the forecast is for dry, and whenever the met office forecast scattered showers I always think they are all scattered on Mayo!
This evening I was going through some old pictures that I had not processed before and I found this picture of Clare Island, not sure why I had not used it before . But I do think it as a feeling of a battle between the sun and a storm!

I normally avoid people in my landscape shots, but occasionally they can give a picture scale or help to convey a mood. I am always struck by the beauty of our beaches in Mayo, even on a winters day. it always amazes me that they are used so little, but this young lad seems to be taking great delight in his environment, despite the bitterly cold wind that was blowing.

Yesterday I posted an image that was made about fifteen minutes before sunrise, this image was made half an hour later, fifteen minutes after the sun came up.

I got my picture early today so I might as well post it early! This picture was taken about one and a half hours ago before sunrise from the side of the N17 between Claremorris and Knock. Very frosty this morning!

The snow still did not arrive! Looks like it may have missed us, shame!
A lovely sunny morning in Kiltimagh, this cottage is just outside Kiltimagh.

Tried to snow here in Kiltimagh, but nothing is settling,did not get out with the camera so here is a picture of Croagh PatrickI took on Sunday evening .

We have avoided the snow so far in Mayo. it would be good to get some , just for the photography you understand. This morning I was in Mulranny and took a few minutes to photograph the waves that were breaking on the beach, it was freezing cold , but that did not stop about five people from going out surfing .
This evening I was teaching a beginners class in the camera club in castlebar.
My next beginners class starts on Feb 1st in The Foxford Studios [Foxford Studios] there are still places available

Another fairly dark day in Mayo, snow threatened but did not arrive. But an uninspiring day for photography. This picture from Downpatrick head was taken about ten days ago. I don't think I've seen the sun since!

Really horrible weather today, so here is another night time picture, this one done indoors. Like last nights picture the light in this is provided by a torch.
30seconds f 8 iso200.

Another dark and grey day in Mayo and during daylight I did not feel inspired to make any photographs. I had planned to photograph Ballylahan castle at nighttime and made an attempt yesterday evening. I had decided not to bring a camera bag because I would surely lose something in the dark. So I set up the camera on its tripod only to discover I had no memory card in the camera!!!! This evening I had to go to Knockmore and had to pass Ballylahan Castle again so I decided to go a little earlier and here is the resultant image. It is lit with a torch 30 seconds f4.5 iso400.

I was up early this morning , hoping to photograph the sunrise, but it was pouring rain, and there is still no sign of the sun today, so here is a sunrise picture taken a few days ago.

Here is another image from Ross Strand in Kilalla. I am fascinated by the very imposing building built above the beach. I have since learnt that it was a coastguard station.


I will be starting a 6 week beginners class in Foxford on Friday 1st February, 6.30 to 8.30. €65 let me know if you would like to attend, also please let others know!!

Here is a picture, fresh out of the camera! It was taken about fifteen minutes ago just a few miles outside Kiltimagh. The area is called Woods, though there are very few trees. The light on the bog grasses was really lovely this morning.

As I left the house last evening for the twenty minute drive to Lough Nanannagh in Claremorris it looked like there was going to be a spectacular sunset. However I was only five minutes down the Knock road when the sun dropped behind cloud and it was clear that there would be no colour. I stopped the car to turn and go home but then decided I would travel anyway, "sure I might get a picture". It was lovely at the Lough but there was no sunset, still I waited around a little bit and then decided to do a long exposure photograph. So I put a 10 stop ND filter on the camera and took this picture. iso200 f13 and 3minutes 20seconds. I think it worked.

The weather forecast for Friday was not good, lots of rain in the west. So I was not very hopeful when I set out in the morning , but the few minutes before sunrise were simply amazing, the rain clouds turned red as the sun came over the horizon. The "show" was short lived though, about ten minutes after this was taken I was driving home , in the rain and the sun could not be seen!

I took full advantage of the sunny morning we had on Tuesday of this week and after leaving Kilalla I made a quick trip to Lacken Strand, low tide revealed miles of beautifully patterned sand.

its raining this morning so I am posting another picture from yesterday mornings trip to Castle Bourke. I was delighted when I got there to find there were still a few boats around that had not yet been taken in for the winter. Most of the locations I visit the boats are gone. But there are still a few at Castle Bourke. I am not sure if they will be left out all winter, you can see one of then has almost sunk, there was another one sunk out of the picture, I would imagine that a sudden frost, as is forecast for the weekend could do them some damage.

A cold foggy morning in Mayo. Fog can be interesting to photograph because it changes things completely and really simplifies composition!