Evening Sails at Kinsale
A grey evening in Kinsale, with a fleet of small boats out on the harbour for what looked like club racing. Most of them carried red sails, Squibs I think, a class Kinsale Yacht Club is well known for, with a few white ones mixed in. The water was almost flat, and the crews sat…
The Boats of Ballycotton
Ballycotton harbour late on a summer evening is one of those places that is rewarding to visit. The working boats had all come in, Atlantic Chief, Excelsior and Prolific were rafted tight against the wall, hulls bobbing in calm waters. The setting sun cast long, side-on shadows and clouds streaked across the sky.
Boardwalk to the Last Light
The boardwalk pulled me straight in. Those weathered planks running across the dark volcanic sand towards a sea gone smooth from a long exposure, like the Atlantic had decided to hold its breath for me. Playa de Ajabo at dusk is a different beast to the postcard Tenerife of packed loungers and factor-50. This was…
Where the Lizandro Meets the Sea
A surfer, fresh out of the water, with her body board while a couple nearby walk and photograph the beach. What you might notice from the waves and the way the dress of the woman on the far left is whipped about is the wind. No wonder surfers love this part of the world! This…
The Tide Pulls Away at Kilfarrasy
Getting a shot like this is half luck and half persistence. You have to wait until the incoming tide is about to retreat to take the photo. This one was at Kilfarrasy Beach in Co. Waterford in 2017. Blarney Photography Club was visiting the area and this was on the itinerary for the the evening…
The Log That Caught the Sunset
A single weather-beaten log, marooned on the foreshore. It was nudged back and forth by the waves coming in and out but in the moment this photo was taken, the sky was reflected in wet sand and the log was beached. Safe from the incoming waters.
Youghal’s Wooden Sentinels
Groynes in the sand as the water rushes away to do battle with another wave coming in. The ever-present push and pull of the tide, defeated for some time at least by these wooden posts.
Horse, Dog and a Quiet Hour on Silver Strand
We visited Sherkin Island more than ten years ago and walked the narrow road to the other side of the island, to Cow Strand and then on to Silver Strand. I’ve been back a few times since but I think this is the only time I saw a horse on the beach. It was a…
The Patient Hour at Santa Cruz
As I climbed up the rocks from the beach I spotted a lone fisherman in the distance. He hadn’t caught anything yet but in the bright sunshine I caught a nice silhouette. It was Santa Cruz in Portugal, and a lovely day to be beside the sea.
Three on the Sand at Foz do Lizandro
Foz do Lizandro is one of those beaches where the Atlantic doesn’t let you forget it’s the Atlantic. Even on a bright spring day, the surf comes in heavy and the water is properly cold. I caught this little scene from up the beach: mum framing the wave on her phone, dad watching, holding a…
Silk and Stone: A Long Exposure at Santa Cruz
I scrambled out onto the rocks at Santa Cruz in Portugal taking photos of various views and then climbed up to a rock platform where I was greeted with this view in front of me. I had an ND filter, but no proper tripod, only a small “plate tripod” that just about did its job…
First Light at Cappagh
Cappagh Beach at half-six in the morning is colder than I’d planned for. We’d driven down to Kerry the night before and I was up in the dark, heading out the door and shared the journey from Dingle with Freddie at the wheel. I forgot my wellies, but while I cursed my lack of preparation,…