Daily Blog

What a waste of time.
If I could give any budding (or experienced) photographer some advice it would be “get organised”.
I am by nature a very untidy person (ask Patricia). I don’t know is there such a thing as naturally untidy or is it just naturally lazy? Anyway for all the time I spend taking photographs and then editing them I must spend at least the same amount of time trying to retrieve them again from the depths of my computer. Today I had three things to do re photographs, I had a set of photographs that I had to edit. I became very agitated convinced that I must have deleted them from the computer as I could find them nowhere. I spent at least 40 minutes looking for them before finally finding them. I also had a single photograph that I had promised to print for somebody and again even though it is only on the computer a couple of days I was unable to find it. The problem was that I had given the file a name that I was then unable to recall. Fortunately as I knew the exact date I had put the file on the computer I was able to “search by date” and the computer found it for me. Thirdly I had to do the blog for today, It rained most of the day today and I did not get our with the camera however I knew I had a couple of photographs from yesterday that would fit the bill, when I went to do the blog tonight I could not find the pictures and I must admit to being very frustrated!!! I have left them, I assume, on a hard drive in the Gallery. As it happens while I was searching I came upon a photograph of the beach at Bertra that I thought would share with you.






But I concluded tonight that I probably spend more time looking for my images on my computer and several hard drives then I actually spend capturing them in the first place...... Something will have to change!!

I came to Mayo 12 years ago. I recall on one of my first visits to the camera club (Mayo Photographic Club) I was ranting on about the wonderful landscape and great skies in Mayo when Dick Herety a member said to me “ Eamonn take all the pictures you can in the next six months because after that you wont see it anymore” I often think about what Dick said and to some degree its true, I live in one of the most scenic places in the world but I often drive around looking for pictures and I cant see them, familiarity often takes away that scense of wonder you have when you visit a new place.
Today I thought of Dick quite alot. I went out at about 8.30 this morning, the sun was already very high and I really really struggled to see pictures !! Anyway after a little application I came up with these two, The first is of a pony with Croagh Patrick behind. The positioning of the pony was just right in relation to Croagh Patrick, accept of course that the pony is facing down hill. I recently was given a row by a man at a horse show when I attempted to photograph his champion mare and “ she facing down the hill”




Anyway I drove on after the pony shot and noticed this mound of topsoil in the garden of a newly built house, the soil has been completely enveloped in rape seed, and its position in relation to Croagh Patrick made the mound look very impressive .

I have just returned from Maynooth after a fantastic musical evening. A new cd called “Ancient Promise” was launched this evening by composer Ronan McDonagh and the group Fuamlaoi. The cd was launched in the chapel of Maynooth College, a fantastic setting. My connection to the event came about when Ronan asked if he could use one of my pictures for the front cover of both the cd and the book of music. The picture is of a silver birch in Treenagleragh bog Kiltimagh. Ronan is originally from Kiltimagh.
I attempted to take a picture at the event, but I did not want to use flash, so I brought a monopod with me and set the camera to iso12500 , even with the lens wide open at 2.8 it was still difficult to hold the camera steady.










www.maynoothcollege.ie/news/IrishChurchMusiclauncofCD.shtml

Once again no landscape pictures today, I was in the gallery and the stiudio and did several portraits. This evening I had the chance to photograph Myles O Brien of the Tavern bar and Restaurant in Murrisk.



Myles is famous for his seafood. As I entered the kitchen all I could see was all those reflective surfaces, a photographers nightmare ! I had to work quickly as Myles has a busy restaurant to run, so I set up a couple of speed lights shooting through umbrellas to take away the flare. I think I got away with it. It was great to watch an artist at work! Miles cooked up a quick meal of scallops,







I hardly had time to get the pictures and it was on the plate and ready to go. I am glad to say it did not go far.... it was delicious!

I just checked the timing of the pictures, there is 4minutes thirty seconds between the first photograph and the last!!

http://www.tavernmurrisk.com/

I was in the gallery again today and in the studio in the afternoon when I photographed a couple of girls who were acting as make up models for Laura who needed a portfolio for her make up artist exams. We had great fun and I was delighted and more importantly Laura was delighted with the pictures.
In the evening Patricia and I took our youngest daughter out for a meal to celebrate her graduation from high school. All thats left now is the exams.! I will confess to you , but please don’t tell Grainne that all the way through the meal I had one eye on the sunset ! Anyway I held it together and was not rude, but I did not get a sunset! Grainne is our youngest of four children and so will be the last to fly the nest it has been lovely having her as an only “child” for the last year, we are going to miss her when she heads off to college in September. Apart from everything else, she is a great photographers assistant , and is a great set of extra eyes when I am photographing groups, she will often just quietly point out little changes I should make to the group, and she is usually right.
So tonight I am posting a sunset taken last September

I was in the gallery all day today and had great intentions to try some more flower pictures this evening. But the rain arrived and it was very dark. I have had a picture in my mind for some time. John Spillane sings a song called “ The dance of the cherry trees” there are plenty of cherry trees in bloom at the moment, most are now beginning to shed their petals . My idea was to photograph the trees with a very slow shutter speed with a little wind, this should result in the blossoms moving in the shot but the tree trunks remaining still. There is a particular line of cherry trees here in Westport that I thought would be ideal. So between showers I set up the camera, but I just could not make it work, I could find no composition that included the tree trunk that did not also include a sign or other distraction. In the end I settled for a Zoom Burst. This is a slow exposure of about 5 seconds during which I zoomed out the lens.




Well it was worth a try!!


I have included a “normal” picture taken a few days ago on Bertra Beach just so you don’t think I am losing it altogether!

I spent today photographing workwear in the studio, this evening I was teaching a nightclass so I got todays pictures at lunchtime.

About 12 months ago I saw some photographs and an article by photographer Niall Benvie. Niall does fantastic wildlife photographs. I particularly like the wild flowers that look like they have been photographed in a studio. So today I had a go.





The flowers are isolated from the background by a sheet of perspex and the lighting is provided by two flashguns one behind and one in front. I think it is very effective.
I was very lucky today, I firstly photographed a small group of bluebells, I then chose another bluebell to photograph on its own it was only after I set up that I spotted the spider, it was tiny.





Spider absailing !



Eencey wincey spider!

Just a word of caution to all landscape photographers. We often have to walk long distances to get to the best locations. This often means crossing fields. On this occasion I was just setting up the camera to photograph some standing stones at Turlough , Castlebar when I was approached at speed by some cows.



Now cows are always very curious and want to see what is going on. So I was not too concerned and let them approach so as I could take a few photographs of them. I was about to stand up to shoo them away when I noticed the cow in the middle was like no udder!!



So I hastily put my gear away and without looking at the bull made as hasty (but dignified) a retreat as I was able. Fortunately the fence was just behind me and I got over it unscathed.



This is a crop from the picture above, he doesn't look too pleased to see me does he?

I had a busy day today, I did some portraiture in the early afternoon, and had a night class this evening. During the night class we were creating photo montages in photoshop elements. I had hoped to get out to photograph the sunset after the night class, but we went on a bit longer then planned so I did not get out. Therefore I had to raid the archives again.! I found these photographs of Carromore strand near Louisburgh , these pictures were taken in May 2008 !







Iam posting this picture of a little piglets, just so as I am not relying totally on the archives! This was taken yesterday evening near Castlebar, "free range pigs are a rare enough sight!.

I had a very busy day today, In the morning I was photographing Holy Communions in Bekan Parish, as always it was a lovely ceremony in which the children played leading roles. In the afternoon I was in Kiltimagh at a Communion party. Of course I took lots of photographs, I forgot at the time to seek permission to put any of the photos on the internet so I have had to raid the “archives” for todays picture.





This picture was taken last June, at the time I loved the whispy clouds over Crough Patrick.

I had a busy day today, spent some of the day in the gallery and in the afternoon was talking photographs for a friend who is studying to be a make up artist, so she brought two “ up made” models to the studio.

This evening I rushed out to get the sunset but just missed it, still the afterglow was great.


I just missed the sunset.


Is this an ash cloud?



My favourite picture this evening

Two “grabbed “pictures today. As I drove into Westport this morning I thought the Mall looked particularly well.




This evening there was a very interesting sky, with the sun constantly disappearing and reappearing from behind the clouds. In our camera club we would describe these rays of light as “Godbeams”.

I went out this morning and revisited the riverside I had visited yesterday. I travelled by bike so travelled light bringing the camera with 24mm lens tripod and a couple of filters.
Located only twenty minutes cycle from my home this is a very pretty stretch of river. I was delighted with the cycle and thought my fitness levels were improving as I made great haste on my way to the river, it was only as I cycled home that I realized how strong the tailwind had been!

I had an interesting day today. I was both behind and in front of the camera this morning. I had arranged to meet a group of cyclists for a photography class. A friend of mine has begun a business involving tours on bikes with stops along the way to experience local “attractions” . So this morning I was to meet up with the group for a photography lesson, there were two complications, one was that the class was to be filmed for possible use in a TV programme to feature Paul and the bike tour, and secondly it was raining, a misty rain.
We had agreed to meet near Murrisk close to some standing stones which, with Croagh Patrick directly behind would make for some good pictures. Unfortunatly with the rain and low cloud Croagh Patrick was invisible ! The group all had compact cameras and were very enthusiastic. And despite everything the lesson went really well. Whether it makes it into the TV programme ,I don’t know, we will just have to wait and see.
Following that I stopped at a river with small waterfalls on the way home. I was fascinated by one spot were bubbles on the water surface were turning very slowly in a circle, so I thought it would be nice to show the movement. I tried a number of different shutter speeds. It took 15 seconds to show the effect fully.

The day started very grey this morning, so with a lack of light I decided I would photograph at Carramore Beach and concentrate on moving water. On my way there I spotted these horses sparring with each other and so stopped and took a number of pictures.







While watching the horses this little wagtail hopped onto the wall in front of me.




I never made it to Carramore !

Got out for a few minutes late this evening and could see exciting light out on Clew Bay so went to a high point to try to capture the light. The sun was frequently disappearing behind clouds. It was when the sun was hidden that the most exciting light occurred as this caused very directional light as the sun broke through gaps in the cloud. I only had a few minutes to take this photograph which consists of three photographs stitched together, but it took a long time to process the image. Each image had to be processed twice so as to keep detail in the foreground while not blowing out the sky. Without doing this I would have had either a silhouette with no detail in the foreground, or alternatively detail in the foreground but no sky.



I hope you enjoy the picture.

I am posting two pictures today the first is a panoramic picture of Croagh Patrick taken this evening at about 7.45 pm. My son Darragh and his lovely girlfriend Irina were visiting for the weekend and had just agreed to have their portrait taken, so on the way to the portrait location I took a quick detour to get this shot.








We then went on to do the portrait but the light was fading fast and I only got a few pictures taken before being treated to dinner out.!!

I had a great day today In the early afternoon I spent an hour or so with my friemd, photographer Terrisina Fitzpatrick. Terrisina wanted to perfect some photo techniques . We had great fun with the two models using only natural light . I have included a photograph I took during our session.



Check out Terrisina's "Girls night out" page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Girls-Night-Out/169387359298


This evening I meet with my friend David Browne, onother photographer and fisherman. David wanted to practice the techniques for photographing waterfalls. David took me to a lovely waterfall on the Clyddagh River near Castlebar that I had never seen before.



The waterfall was placed in a very sheltered position with no direct sunlight.
By the time we left the sun was setting and we came upon these three horses on the top of the hill.

I am delighted to declare that as today is 30th April, I have completed four months of the blog. The constant pressure I have put myself under to find new pictures has been really good for me and given me a real sence of purpose.This evening I decided to do some portraiture for a change from landscape.
My daughter Grainne agreed to pose and was very patient with me !
Here are three of the photographs taken.










I know I am a little biased but I think she is beautiful !!

I had a lovely day today. For most of the day I was photographing pre school children, at the pre school in kiltimagh. The children were all so sweet. Some were real performers and we had to try and hold back the smiles, and others were so shy that coaxing a smile took everything this photographer and the playschool teacher could think of in terms of jokes, face pulling and outrageous noises. I have photographed this playschool every year for close to ten years now. Today I was left wondering how I ever succeeded when using film, for one child today I took 22 photogaphs before I captured a smile!! In the good old days thats a whole roll of film!
One little girl must have seen my stress levels rising and kept bringing me cups of tea and cake from the sandpit!!

For obivious reasons I can’t post pictures of the children , so I am posting a sunrise from oldhead taken two weeks ago.