Blarney Photography Club – Page 10

Sun setting on the Youghal groynes

Waves roll in over the groynes in Youghal as the sun sets

The sun set on an absolutely clear sky on Thursday night in Youghal. I was there with Blarney Photography Club, and as you may have guessed from the photo, I was wearing wellies.

We had fun photographing the outgoing tide, and when the sun eventually slid towards the horizon the reflected colour in the sea got that bit more yellower and warmer. The groynes (or groins, depending on where you come from) make for a great subject.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	43mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/1250s

Streaks of Sunset Light

Streaks of colour in a sunset photo made by moving the camera left to right. The colours go from a dark smudgy grey and blue to vibrant orange.

You may have seen the stunning sunset photo from Crosshaven that I shared yesterday. Well, here’s another shot of it for you.

This one doesn’t look like a typical sunset, does it? Except for the warm orange glow. That’s because I used a technique called Intentional Camera Movement, or ICM for short. It involves zooming in on the boats in the water and moving the camera from side to side while taking the shot. The boats are the dark part of the photo, while the reflected sunlight in the water provided the rich orange streaks.

The result is a beautiful abstract image with streaks of colour and light. Next time I’m shooting a sunset over water, I’ll be trying this again!

Aperture	ƒ/16
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	240mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/3s

Sunset in Crosshaven

Boats on the water and in the background a forest with some houses and a lovely orange sunset too.

The sun sets over Curraghbinny Wood as I watched from the Crosshaven side. There was the most amazing glow in the sky that lasted several minutes, a nice end to a glorious day.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	69mm
ISO	500
Shutter speed	1/160s

A Collie in Gougane Barra

A collie walks across the narrow road next to the lake at Gougane Barra in Co Cork, Ireland. The chapel can be seen in the background.

When I went to Gougane Barra with Blarney Photography Club a few weeks ago, I met the cutest collie ever. He was so chill and friendly, and he had this gorgeous white and brown fur that matched the scenery perfectly. I think he works at the hotel nearby, but he didn’t charge me for his cuddles.

Aperture	ƒ/1.7
Camera	Galaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length	6.3mm
ISO	80
Shutter speed	1/180s

Dawstown Point to Point, 2023

A horse and jockey jump the fence, with others before and after him

A horse and jockey race to the finish, followed closely by others.

A horse and jockey jump the fence, closely followed by others

I had a great time today at the Dawstown Point-to-Point horse racing event! The races started at 2 pm and continued until 4.30 pm, and I went with some of my buddies from the Blarney Photography Club. We positioned ourselves near the second last jump, and it was a super fun day filled with lots of action and photography opportunities. I’m excited to share this selection of my favourite shots with you!

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	600mm
ISO	2500
Shutter speed	1/2000s

Reflections at Gougane Barra

The small chapel at Gougane Barra reflected in the lake there in early morning light. Trees are near it and fields and hills in the distance. It's a cloudy day.

So, a few weeks ago, I went with fellow members of Blarney Photography Club to Gougane Barra to catch the sunrise. Sadly, the clouds were pretty thick that day, but we still managed to get some cool photos. One shot I was particularly happy with was the reflection of the chapel on the island. Despite some showers here and there, we were lucky to catch some good light for our shots. Can’t wait to share more of these photos with you all in the coming months!

Aperture	ƒ/11
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/50s

Capturing Sunrise in Killarney

An vibrant yellow sunrise over the calm waters of the Lakes of Killarney, with misty mountains in the distance.

In the middle of February I joined members of Blarney Photography Club for a sunrise photoshoot over the Lakes of Killarney. The scenery was stunning, with early morning light casting a warm orange hue over the still waters of the lake and misty mountains in the distance.

We were over by Brickeen Bridge, a good 30 minute walk from the car park, but worth it for the glow of the sky on the water.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	50mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/640s

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WordPress 6.2 comes out at the end of the month, so make sure your plugins and themes are ready for it by running the latest release candidate (currently RC2) on a test server!

Tick, tock. Time’s running out! If you don’t test it, the Wapuu will be very disappointed!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	44mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/100s

The crow wants your dinner

A crow standing on a table. A half-eaten dinner and dessert are what it wants.

So, picture this: you’re sitting at a table, about to dive into your delicious dinner and dessert when suddenly, a crow appears out of nowhere and lands right on the table in front of you. And what does it want? Well, the half-eaten remnants of your scrumptious meal, of course!

A crow has no shame. It’s not content to settle for its own measly bird seed or whatever else it scavenged from the rubbish. No, it wants your food, and it wants it now.

And let me tell you, this crow is not messing around. It’s standing there on the table, staring you down with its beady little eyes, daring you to try to stop it from taking what it wants. You can practically hear it cawing, “This is my dinner now, human!”

So, what do you do? Do you give in to the demands of this brazen bird and hand over your hard-earned meal? Or do you stand your ground and protect your dinner and dessert at all costs? The choice is yours, my friends, but just remember: when it comes to crows, they always get the last caw.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	178mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/125s

Skeletal Trees by the Pond

Bare trees, almost like skeletons, frame a scene containing, yellowed grass. A small pond in the middle distance and a mountain in the background catches the rays of a low sun. The sky is heavy with clouds promising rain.

As I walked back from shooting the sunrise at the Lakes of Killarney with members of Blarney Photography Club, I caught sight of something that made me pause. Off to the side of the path, there was a small pond surrounded by a stark scene. The bare trees looked almost skeletal in the early morning light, framing the yellowed grass and adding to the eerie atmosphere. In the middle distance, the pond was a reminder to step carefully as the ground was marshy. Off in the distance, a mountain basked in the warm glow of the rising sun. But the sky was heavy with clouds, and it seemed like the rain was on its way.

It was a beautiful scene, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of nature. Almost everywhere you look, there’s a photo to be made. The quiet stillness of the morning was only interrupted by the occasional chirping of birds and rustling of leaves. It was as if time stood still for just a moment, and I was lucky enough to witness it.

As a photographer, moments like these are a reminder of the power of capturing a single moment in time. The way the light falls just right, the way the colours blend and complement each other, and the way nature creates a canvas that is beyond our wildest imagination. I’m grateful for this moment and the opportunity to share it with others.

Aperture	ƒ/4.5
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/250s

The Old Weir Bridge in Killarney

A bridge over a small river next to the Lakes of Killarney. Mostly bare trees to be seen on both sides of the river, and the sky is heavy with clouds.

The Old Weir Bridge is a picturesque bridge over a small river near the Lakes of Killarney in Ireland. The bridge is an old stone structure with arched openings, and it looks particularly beautiful against the natural backdrop of the river and trees.

The trees on both sides of the river are mostly bare, which creates an interesting contrast against the dark and heavy clouds in the sky. It’s a moody and atmospheric scene, and the bridge adds a touch of history and charm to the landscape.

It’s a popular spot for photographers and visitors who want to take in the beauty of the area. I highly recommend taking a stroll by the river and checking out the Old Weir Bridge.

Aperture	ƒ/13
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	65mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/20s

Lines in the crops

A tractors trail leads off to the end of the field near Kilcrea Friary in Co Cork.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	Canon EOS 6D
Focal length	17mm
ISO	100