The finest lighthouse on the Irish coast, the Fastnet stands proud on an unusually calm fine Summer's evening.
A granite tower constructed of interlocking blocks, it's a virtual monolith which presents itself like the bow of a ship to the incoming Atlantic swells, dissipating their energy before they reach peak force.
So effective is the design and construction that it has survived the worst the Atlantic can throw at it for over a century with nary a scratch. In 1985, it was struck by a 48m rogue wave (the same height as the focal plane of the lantern). This stove in the glass of the lantern room and overturned the vat of mercury on which the lantern turns, but the structure took no other damage.

It's true that bad weather often makes for the best photographs. On this cold and blustery day a warm fire and a good book would seem preferable to being out, braving the elements with camera in hand.
However, it was most certainly worth it. These dramatic clouds appearing over Cnoc an Tarbh, Cnoc an Bhráca, Cruach Mhór and the Big Gun dwarf these lofty peaks. The western Reeks are engulfed completely, and Cruach Mhór only appeared sporadically.
Lough Leane is in the foreground.

The Partry Mountains are a range of hills in Joyce Country, Co. Mayo. While wandering in a nearby oak forest, I spotted this tree as an outlier in the bog with nothing behind it but the hills themselves.
A little scouting led me to this composition, and later to a wellington boot filled with bog when I went up to my hip in a hole. It was worth it though!

Photographing the lighthouse from the rock itself can be challenging, both artistically and physically. High winds complicated my efforts, but as we were waiting for the helicopter to pick us up, the sun popped out from the clouds and I was able to frame this image.

An infrared photograph, the approaching rainclouds set a wonderful mood as the stone wall beneath the tree leads you through the patchwork of fields towards Lough Corrib. Five minutes after making this image, I was soaking wet.

Another image from one of my favourite locations in Ireland - the Doo Lough valley. This view is looking south across the northern lake towards Ben Gorm, with the Sheefrey Mountains to the left and Mweelrea to the right. Another infrared image, the contrast in the mountains along with the fantastic clouds due to the just-clearing storm lend a real drama to the scene.

Dún Briste (Broken Fort) is an impressive sea stack at Downpatrick Head on the North Mayo coast. Standing 50 meters (164 feet) high, it was once part of the mainland, connected by a sea arch. It's not known for sure when the arch collapsed, but it seems likely to have been sometime in the 14th century.
Normally viewed from the adjacent cliffs, the most impressive views of the stack are from sea level. This image was made from the base of the cliffs near the entrance to one of the caves that undercut the headland. It should be noted that this an extremely dangerous spot to get to and should only be attempted while in the company of someone who has been there before, and with good knowledge of the local tides and sea conditions. It is possible to become trapped by the incoming tide and a rogue wave could easily sweep you out to sea.
This swirl in the foreground is a result of the long exposure revealing the flow pattern as the waves ebb off the platform. The pool here is about 8 feet deep, and has been carved out of the flat rock platform by countless years of such action. If it wasn't for the danger of being swept away, it would make an excellent jacuzzi!

One thing that's difficult for photographs to capture is the impression of height. I feel this image, made from the lower balcony of the Fastnet lighthouse, succeeds in conveying that sense of vertigo. Looking down 140 feet to the seething waters below gives a real sense of the accomplishment of the builders who finished this structure in 1904.

The Skerries are a series of small islands - little more than rocks - off the North Antrim coast near Portrush and White Rocks.

Made on my visit to the Bull Rock lighthouse, the largest of the three offshore islands the Bull, the Cow and the Calf.
In this image, looking back to the mainland you can see the Cow (the largish island in the center of the frame), the Calf (to the right with the broken-off lighthouse) and Dursey Island (the largest island in the center of the frame).
Made with a long exposure, the sea and the clouds have smoothed out completely. I very much like the quiet moodiness of this image.

The Ballaghbeama Gap (Bealach Béime) is a mountain pass in Kerry to the south-west of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks (Na Cruacha Dubha). It runs through the gap between Mullaghanattin (Mullach an Aitinn) to the south and Knockaunanattin (Cnocán an Aitinn) to the north. This view is looking east.
It's a fairly isolated place, forming the southern entrance to Glencar. Just around the corner from the Gap is the Bridia Valley.

The Bridia Valley lies to the south of the famed Macgillycuddy's Reeks, the tallest mountain range in Ireland.
The Reeks themselves are hidden by cloud to the left of the frame here, and the prominent mountain to the right of center is Broaghnabinnia (Bruach na Binne). The hill to the left of it is Curraghmore (An Curragh Mór). The popular Kerry Way walking route emerges over the saddle between these two mountains from the Black Valley beyond.
This is one of my favourite views in all of Ireland - a dramatic scene made more so here by the threatening cloud, the use of an infra-red camera and a high-contrast treatment.