Photographs from "The Irish Light"

Since my first visit to Cork as a photographer some years ago, I've had it in mind to photograph Toe Head, an imposing headland to the west of Galley Head on the south coast of Cork.
I hadn't found a vantage point I was happy with on the few occasions I'd been around when good light was threatening. However, serendipity paid a visit when I was out with Roger Overall, a commercial photographer and friend of mine.
We met up, I stabbed my finger at a spot on the OS map that looked promising and we arrived at the location in this photograph.
Made looking to the west as the sun was getting low in the sky, it shows the headland's most imposing aspect with the rocks in the foreground leading the viewer up to it.
Made using a filter which forces a long exposure, the water and waves take on a misty character which adds to the character of the scene.

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.

Made from almost the same spot as Midnight, Lough Tay, but several months previously, this image has a completely different character. I was drawn to the trees clinging to the walls of the gully. As I searched for a composition that worked, the sun rising over Djouce mountain (out of frame to the left) began to illuminate the crags of Luggala. The framing fell into place at that point, and the result is what you see here.

Dunluce Castle is one of Ireland's most picturesque. Photographed here from the boulder beach just to the east, it forms an imposing sight.

An Searrach (The Foal) is a sea stack just outside Dingle Harbour. Visible from the Conor Pass, I'd been meaning to find a good vantage point for it since I first saw it some years ago. Just recently while returning from business in Dingle town shortly after sunset, and in miserable weather I found this spot. Made with a long lens over 30 seconds, I believe it captures the mood of the scene very well.

A night view of the Gap of Dunloe, illuminated by moonlight. Snow sits on the mountains as the winter weather of 2010 retreats at last

This is Illauncreeveen island in Glengarriff harbour. I'd been here on several other occasions and never really got an image I was 100% happy with. However, on this particular evening I was rewarded with some fantastic high-level cloud which caught the wonderful colours of the setting sun.
The Sugar Loaf mountain on the Beara peninsula is visible in the distance.

Fanad Head is one of the more dramatic and photogenic lighthouses around the coast. Made around midnight, I picked my way carefully along the adjacent headland by torchlight and found a good spot.
The photograph was exposed for four minutes, giving plenty of movement in the clouds and some significant star trails which are visible in the clear patch above the light itself.

The Fastnet Lighthouse is one of Ireland's engineering marvels. There are several other images on this site which capture it from the air, the sea and from the rock itself, but this is one of the more unique. Made from inside the rotating lantern assembly itself, the strong graphic forms of the fresnel lenses combine with the diagonals of the ladder and other structures to show off the magnificent beauty of this early 20th century industrial masterpiece.
As I was composing the image, I noticed that every now and then a rainbow was projected on the pole to my left by the lenses. I made several exposures attempting to capture this split-second occurrence, and this one was successful.

Valentia is a large island just off the north coast of the Iveragh peninsula. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, it's a lovely place to visit and has some stunning scenery. This image was made while returning from the abortive attempt to land on Inishteareaght and shows the north coast of the island being battered by a storm.
It's a rare privilege to see this kind of weather in action from the air, so I'm pleased to be able to share it with you.

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.

A section of the Kerry Way leading up to the Lack Road near Lough Acoose.

The Fastnet is a place of extremes. One of those is the ocean - during the Winter months it's not unusual for green water to clear the top of the lighthouse almost 180 feet above sea level. One of the reasons for this is a steep shelf off the south-western side of the rock that throws up huge waves. This was photographed on a relatively calm day!

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.