Ireland

Bray Head looms at the viewer on a beautiful spring evening. The cloudless sky contrasts with the surf pounding against the base of the cliffs.

The moon sets behind the Skelligs on a calm spring morning

Rarely seen, the hermitage clings to the narrow South Peak of Skellig Michael with a 700 foot drop on either side. The main monastery can be seen on the North Peak in the middle distance, and the Small Skellig and the Kerry coast lie beyond.

Being mainly famous for its 6th century monastery, the dramatic island of Skellig Michael also boasts two lighthouses built in 1830. This image was made of the lower lighthouse from the road to the upper (which was discontinued and abandoned in 1870).
Made shortly after moonrise, the image shows the light in its new guise. Just a couple of weeks before this image was made, the old fresnel lantern was decommissioned and a modern LED lantern mounted on the balcony. In a large print, this new light can be seen illuminated. It has great advantages in cost of operation, but unfortunately means that the rest of the lighthouse complex is surplus to requirements and will be closed up. The end of an era, but on this trip I was fortunate enough to enjoy the hospitality of the lighthouse for possibly the last time ever.
This is one of my favourite images of recent times. I love the line of the road leading down to the light, and even more the evidence of nature's relentless assault in the cracked and damaged walls, and the overgrown road itself.

The Gap of Dunloe is perhaps the most iconic of the landscapes around Killarney. A dramatic, steep-sided valley with a narrow road winding torturously through it, it's endlessly scenic.
This photograph was made at sunset on a particularly beautiful November evening.

Muckross House is one of the jewels of the Killarney area. A stately home that is now open to the public, I wanted to capture it a little differently.
This was a beautiful clear Autumn night and the stars were shining brightly. I had the place to myself. The constellation of Aquarius can be seen just above the house.

Slea Head is by far the most iconic of Dingle locations. On the very fringes of our island, it's an incredibly rugged and wild place. Even the roads have difficulty here - a section of the nearby Slea Head drive slipped into the sea some years ago. The new section is a little further inland now!
This image was made shortly after sunset on a stormy December day. The clouds, which had been stubbornly persistent on the horizon, cleared for a few seconds to give a glimpse of the glorious colours behind them, before closing again just as quickly.
From left to right, the islands visible are, Inishvickallaun, Inishnabro and the Great Blasket.

A sheep greets the sunset at Ireland's most westerly point with the Blasket Islands in the distance.

The sun rises over the Loop Head peninsula in the distance with the Maharees in the middle distance.

This image is an example of needing to work quickly in landscape photography. While photographing the lake with a workshop group, I noticed that the fog on the far bank was highlighting a lone tree. Without the fog behind it, the tree is virtually invisible as it blends seamlessly with the trees behind it.
It was a mesmerizing scene, particularly with the wisps of cloud on the hillside beyond.

Cromwell Point is the location of the lighthouse on Valentia Island. it guards the channel between Valentia and Beginish Island. It was built on the site of a 16th century fortification, the outline of which is still apparent.

The Upper Lake, one of the famous Lakes of Killarney, is probably the most scenic. This is a classic view, looking out over the Macgillycuddy's Reeks from a location used by the lake's boatmen to tie up at the end of the day. Snow rests on the mountains on a fresh winter's day.

The Black Valley is not a million miles from the bustling town of Killarney. However, due to the geography of the area, it's one of the more remote parts of Ireland, surrounded by craggy mountains on all sides.
This house is located at the very heart of the valley and couldn't present a more Irish scene if it tried. A classic view of the valley, it epitomises wild Ireland for me.

The Small Skellig is not often photographed other than from Skellig Michael. However, it's a worthy subject in its own right. Home to thousands of pairs of gannets, it looks dusted in snow as the sun sets behind it.