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Off the horse

A rider rolls on the ground after coming off his horse at the Dingle Races last year. Another horse and rider and the fallen rider's horse continue running

A young rider came off his horse during a race at the Dingle Races last August. His horse continued on, but the unlucky rider had to get out of the way of other horses.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length39mm
ISO800
Shutter speed1/1000s

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The winds blows softly

Clouds blur with movement, and grass bends against the wind in a long exposure photo at a beach in Kerry. Rocks in the foreground, Grass on a hill, with a broken fence on top, and the cloudy sky above.

On a lovely evening in August last year I was walking along a beach with my wife. The sun was getting low in the sky casting a faintly yellow glow over the world.

This long exposure shot captures the movement of cloud, and the wind blown grass. Even though there wasn’t much wind, it’s all relative when the photo is 13 seconds long.

Psst. Don’t tell anyone, but there’s a really nice beach around the corner from Wine Strand!


Apertureƒ/13
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length37mm
ISO100
Shutter speed13s

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The Horse in the box

A horse in a horsebox looks out at me from across the road.

On the day before the Dingle Races I saw a horse looking out of a horse box. His owner had gone into the nearby petrol station and came back a few minutes later.


Apertureƒ/7.1
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length46mm
ISO640
Shutter speed1/500s

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A day at the races

A man sitting down on a box, checking the horses at a race meet.

A man sitting on a box at the Dingle races in 2022. The weather was lovely, it was a great day to be out!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length73mm
ISO1000
Shutter speed1/1000s

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Rushing to buy fuel

A long exposure shot of the Texaco petrol station in Dingle. I zoomed in (or out, I don't recall) while taking the photo so the lights of the signs appear to jump out.
Visible are the prices, €2.05 for a litre of petrol or diesel.

August 2022 when fuel prices in Ireland were sky high, and they’re likely to go in that direction again. In that month, a litre of petrol or diesel was €2.059.

The price per litre has since dropped to €1.618, or at least it was at the end of April when I purchased petrol last.

Anyway, this is the Texaco petrol station in Dingle, Co Kerry, late one evening, early in the month. I’d just been for a walk around the town to take photos and this was one of the last of the night I took. I’m quite happy with how it worked out too. 🙂


Apertureƒ/5.6
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length72mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2s

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The Valentia River Viaduct

A viaduct crossing the River Valentia in Co. Kerry. Flowers are seen blurred in the foreground

The now unused viaduct over the Valentia River in Co Kerry caught my eye away back in 2019.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO125
Shutter speed1/250s

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Capturing Sunrise in Killarney

A 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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length50mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

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The Tree in Muckross Abbey

A very tall tree grows in the middle of the abandoned, but restored Muckross Abbey.

When you visit Muckross Abbey in Killarney, one thing that immediately catches your eye is the magnificent tree that grows right in the middle of the building. The tree is so large that it almost looks like it’s part of the abbey, as if the building had grown around it over time.

Taking a photo of this tree is an absolute must if you’re a photography enthusiast. As you stand there, camera in hand, you can’t help but marvel at the sheer size of this tree, as its branches extend high into the sky. It’s truly a sight to behold. And if you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day, the way the light filters through the leaves is simply magical.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

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Invisible Motion on the Lake

A long exposure photo of a lake. The water is smooth, the reeds obscured by their motion while the trees are bare on this February evening

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Lakes of Killarney with Blarney Photography Club and snapped this long exposure photo near Ross Castle. The scene was magical, with the reeds gently swaying in the breeze and the bare trees looking like skeletons on guard. It was an otherworldly experience, and I couldn’t wait to capture it on camera.

It was also freezing that February evening, so this is one of the last shots of the day for me. Totally blown out and over exposed, but I love it.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length38mm
ISO100
Shutter speed30s

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Abstract Forest in Motion

The slim trunks of trees in the forest near Torc Waterfall are blurred by intentional vertical camera movement.

While out with Blarney Photography Club in Killarney National Park recently, we came across a small forest of slender tree trunks stretching up towards the sky like spindly fingers. The light was just perfect for some intentional camera movement, so we decided to experiment with a vertical ICM technique.

I set my camera to a slow shutter speed, and then began moving it in a vertical motion as I pressed the shutter button. The result? A beautiful and abstract image that captures the essence of the forest in a unique and captivating way!

The slim tree trunks blend together in a mesmerizing blur of lines, creating a sense of movement and energy that’s almost hypnotic. It’s as though the trees themselves are swaying in a gentle breeze, their branches reaching out to dance with the sunlight.

ICM photography is all about embracing the beauty of imperfection, of letting go of the need for a perfectly sharp image and instead capturing the essence of a moment in a creative and artistic way. And in this forest, with its delicate and slender trees, I found the perfect canvas for my ICM experiment.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2.5s

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Horse and Cart in Motion

A horse and cart drives past in Killarney National Park.

As I was strolling through the serene beauty of Killarney National Park, a horse and cart leisurely passed by. I couldn’t resist capturing this moment, and so I snapped a photo of the horse and cart using a slightly longer shutter time.

I love the resulting image. The soft light filtering through the leaves and branches of the trees creates an ethereal effect, with wavy lines adding an almost mystical quality to the scene. Most of the picture is a blur, of course, but the horse’s legs are a blur of motion, capturing the essence of its steady trot through the park.


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2.5s

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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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length178mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/125s