Daily Blog

Stiil raining here in Mayo, it has rained solid now for 24hours, and judging from the forecast we could get at least another 24hours! todays picture of a sunset and Croagh patrick was taken in the month of September.

Well the Irish didn't make it, having lived in the Welsh valleys for many years I will now have to adopt Wales for the world cup ! Driving rain here this morning so I have not got out yet today, so here is another picture from Achill Island.

Posting early as I am getting ready to watch the Ireland Vs Wales match, if Ireland lose I might not be in the mood to post later on!! I took this picture on Friday morning as I drove between Knock and Kiltimagh. I recently bought some filters from" Hitech" . They sent me a sample set of "reverse graduated ND filters" I stopped as this looked like the perfect situation to try them out, I think it worked very well. I will do a proper test during the next week and post the results. COME ON IRELAND !!!

The wind seems to have dropped this morning, I was disappointed not to get out with the camera yesterday while there was a gale blowing, this picture of Cloughmore on Achill was taken on Monday evening. Cloughmore is a great place to visit if the wind is coming from the west.

Only a couple of days ago I was chatting with my daughter about how much technology has changed our lives, not just in my lifetime but even in hers! We were talking about our iphones and all the wonderful things that can be done with them. So it was with sadness that I heard this morning of the passing of Steve Jobs who has contributed so much to that progress, and I also think of the vulnerability of man , that even one as successful as Steve Jobs can be taken so young. Todays picture of a huge shower cloud was taken about ten minutes ago, uploaded onto my Apple computer edited and shared with people all over the world !

Wind and rain this morning in Mayo. I took this picture of Croagh Patrick from Carramore Beach near Louisburgh on Monday, its an unusual view of Croagh Patrick.

While traveling between Westport and Achill yesterday I passed through Mulranny, I was in a hurry but could not resist stoping to photograph Croagh Patrick from across the bay!

Late posting today ! But I've had a great day. I had a one to one training day with Paul who has come from Dublin for a few days break in Westport. We started early to try for a sunrise , but the sun did not appear, and just when it looked like the clouds might be down for the day we got a break in the clouds and Paul got some lovely pictures on Carramore Beach. More rain in the late morning and we had to abandon our plan to photograph Ashleagh falls. We then did some computer work and headed back out in the afternoon to Achill and photographed some really rough seas at Cloughmore.I have just arrived in so I am posting a picture taken earlier in the week.

Posting even earlier today! I will be watching Ireland against Italy at the rugby world cup in the morning, so am doing my "jobs" early ! This sunrise was taken near Mulranny two weeks ago.

Very late posting today. Yesterday we went to Co Clare for an overnight. We arrived to lovely weather and I got this picture on Fanore beach. I had planned to get a sunrise at Poulnabrone Dolman this morning, but I awoke to heavy rain and no sun whatsoever, and also no internet coverage , hence I could not post this until I got home this evening!

Another grey morning in Mayo. I am posting another picture from Downpatrick head taken on Tuesday evening. I had hoped to get a sunset but the sun dropped behind clouds so there wasn't one, but there was an interesting sky all the same.

Yesterday afternoon I took another trip to Downpatrick Head and Dunbriste. It was very different to last week because the wind was light and the sea was flat calm, as I got there I met an angler called Vincent who was going to try his luck fishing off the cliffs, I have included Vincent in this picture as he gives the whole thing scale! I met Vincent again later, he caught no fish, I suspect it was too calm even for fishing!!

I had great intentions of getting a sunrise this morning, I love this time of year because sunrise and sunset are at reasonable times of the day! However this morning it is raining, and misty rain with no sign of the sun. I took this picture yesterday morning on the road between Claremorris and Knock. I spotted this tree as I drove by, and then had to find a safe place to turn back and stop. I photographed with 200mm lens and the tree is approx 200m away. A step in either direction completely changes the composition.

I took this picture about 10 minutes before sunset on Achill Island recently, I was on my way to photograph the sunset which was actually very disapointing, however I loved the colours created by the low sun on this scene.

Another black and white today ! I am posting early, just watching the build up to the Ireland Vs Russia game lets hope Ireland continue where they left off against Australia.!!
This ruined church can be seen from the road as you approach Achill Sound, I am not sure what its called and have not actually visited it but it looks well silhouetted against the sea.

I sometimes have to remind myself that up until about five years ago I only made Black and White photographs and only occasional colour. These days it must be 99% colour. Every so often though you see a site that is just going to lend itself to the monochrome treatment, here is one such moment!

Today I am posting another picture from Wednesdays visit to Downpatrick Head in North Mayo. This picture may give an idea of how windy it was. For both todays and yesterday's picture I crawled to the cliff edge on my belly, as I was frightened I would get blown off!!

Despite the horrible morning we had yesterday the weather did improve in the afternoon so I decided to make a trip to Downpatrick Head as originally planned. It was fantastic because the wind was so strong and I arrived between showers , so it was lovely and bright . The sea was great! This sea stack just off Downpatrick Head is called Dun Briste ( Broken Fort)

A horrible morning in Mayo this morning, I have to go to Ballina this morning and thought I might have gone up to Downpatrick Head afterwards, but its just wind and heavy rain, so I think I'll change my plans.

I was out early this morning for a sunrise,but it was not great, so I am posting another picture taken on Achill last week.