Iceland - Landscapes

Icelandic horses on the plains to the east of Reykjavik

I'm not going to say much about this series of landscape images from my recent visit to Iceland, only I hope you enjoy them and maybe it will whet your appetite to visit this land of stunning contrasts too. Several of these shots were taken on the move in an attempt to capture the images I would have so loved to have spent a little more time setting up. This is part of the frustrations of being a photographer with someone else in charge of the driving - be it in a jeep or a 56 seater coach. So I guess this visit I have treated as the 'city bus tour' to get the taster of where I would like to return to, and next time I will ensure that I am more in control of the wheels that are getting me around.
I weep at all the stunning missed shots during the 4 days but I'm delighted I was able to capture some images to remind me of this amazing place.

Rainbow over the snowfields on the way to the Langjokull glacier

View from Þingvellir across Þingvallavatn

The Sólheimajökull glacier

The church at Þingvellir

The church at Vik

The stack rocks as seen from Vik

The sea stack and black basalt sand at Reynisfjara

And of course, everyone was asking "Did you see the aurora?"
Well, yes we did but...

On our third evening, following a period of snowfall, we went way out of Reykjavic up into the National Park. However, it wasn't far enough to be able to exclude the lights of the city, being reflected in the low cloud. Coupled with the fact we only had a 10-15 minute 'light show' it was a challenge to commit anything to the memory card. In fact, I only managed to capture three images that night which were worth giving a second look. Considering I had hired a lens specifically suitable for photographing the aurora, it made the (not so spectacular) image below rather a valuable shot!

We found out later, that the aurora kicked off a couple of hours after we had returned to the city, and was also spectacular the following evening when we opted for an early night in readiness for our flight back to the UK next morning.

Being a wildlife photographer too, I understand more than most that you can't just 'turn up and see' any natural happening such as this. It is all down to a series of conditions all aligning and then being in the right place at that time. So despite being a little disappointed with my first ever sighting of the aurora, I remain philosophical that this won't be the first and last, and as always, strive to improve image on image...but I do have a record shot. That will suffice for now, until I return to Iceland for a complete photography indulgence.

Anyone up for a visit to Iceland?!!

Glendalough - Now and Then

Glenalough Upper Lake. January 2015

Every now and then we all do things that appear a bit harebrained and as a photographer, it seems to happen with slightly more regularity. It sounded like a good idea at the time but seeing as the previous visit to Glendalough in the Wicklow mountains, back in September had been so magical, the suggestion by my photographer friend of making a return visit for another shoot as I passed through on my way to West Cork yesterday morning, was not unwelcome. So I said yes without a second thought. Actually, the second thought was that there was an excellent establishment there providing good hearty breakfasts - so why not?! Not only that, a couple of days previous, another photographer friend had mailed me the link to a fascinating set of archive photographs taken in 1913, of places in Ireland. Unusually, these pictures were in colour and had been taken by two French women, Marguerite Mespoulet and Madeleine Mignon-Alba, and included two views of Glendalough. An ideal opportunity for a 'now and then' shot if ever there was one.

As before, I had sailed into Dublin on the 'graveyard' crossing, due to arrive into port at 6am. However,  despite the unusually mild temperature of 13 degrees, indicated on my night-time drive to the ferry it was the high winds that were of more concern. With force 9-10 forecast, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride, and with stabilisers duly deployed, the boat made a safe but slightly slower crossing of the Irish Sea. Disembarking at 6.30 am, it was still dark as I set off, the location programmed into my sat nav - yes I am finally beginning to trust these gadgets but I don't know why. Knowing that it would want to take me on an exit route from the port which has a toll, I thought I would take a slightly different route to avoid this unnecessary inconvenience, trusting that the sat-nav would recalculate the route to take me out on the east side of the city. Instead, and to my surprise, it took me out west, ultimately taking me right over the winding Wicklow mountains in the dark. Now I know why I never trusted these gadgets - give me a real map any day!

By now, the 13 degrees of the night before was reading 3 degrees with the wind still buffeting the car as I negotiated my way around the debris fallen from the trees. I was pleased when finally I emerged from the wooded area onto the open mountain road but this brought new hazards. Potential ice, maybe the odd animal and the unpredictable humps and bumps in the road surface, sending the contents of the car, up into the air. I quickly questioned the wisdom of the sat nav - Why this way? With the openness of the landscape, it was possible to see way ahead, and in the distance I could see the red glow of some tail lights - I wondered which other mad soul might be up there at this dark hour in the morning? Bit by bit, I gained on the other vehicle, until, a few miles from my final destination I had caught up, realising it was my friend - the other equally harebrained photographer. With both of us relieved to have made it to Glendalough safely, we opted to go for an early breakfast to wait for the dawn - which, unlike our previous visit, this time arrived unspectacularly without any sunshine. We made our pot of tea last, glad to be out of the biting wind but all of sudden, the sun burst though. Cue cameras!

We wrapped up against the elements, slung our kit over our shoulders and set off on a walk to the Upper Lake, where we had experienced the magical conditions back in September.

Remember this?...

Glendalough Upper Lake. September 2014

Despite our frozen fingers, we had gone to take photographs and although our results yesterday showed the winter colours, they bore no resemblance to the beauty of the colours from that still morning - but this is the joy of being a photographer, recording the 'now and then'.
On the subject of now and then, I wasn't to forget the other reason for my visit - to find the location that those two French ladies had used, back 100 years ago.

Then - Glendalough Round Tower 1913

Now - Glendalough Round Tower 2015

Finding the first spot wasn't too difficult (I was doing this from memory as I hadn't printed off a reference copy of the old photograph) Not much changed apart from a few gravestones missing and the sculpture of the greenery being slightly transformed.

The second spot, I knew was going to be a different story. I remembered there were many more trees now than there were then. I did my best but the trees obscured much of the cathedral and, due to more trees, we couldn't move any further back or up on the far bank of the river which ran between the location and the subject, and which would have provided us with the open view of this early Medieval monastic settlement.

Now - Glendalough Round Tower and Cathedral - 2015

Then - Glendalough Round Tower and Cathedral - 1913

Mission accomplished, and with the prospect of four hour drive to West Cork ahead of me, we set off on our separate ways, vowing that we would choose a nice warm summer day for the next now and then visit to Glendalough.



Thanks to my friend Neil for the link to the photographs, An t-Oileán the blogger who posted the images, and Ray, my equally harebrained photographer friend.

Photography Weekends

Well, it has been a quiet week in terms of my blog following the daily postings during my August Challenge. (Thank you for all your support there) However, I haven't posted anything here as I have been busy with not only the usual shoots for clients but preparing for and launching a show in Design Essentials for the month of September. (More on that in another post) But there is one more thing I have been busy with - preparing to open my West Cork doors for Photography Weekends.

As many of you know, I am fortunate to be able to divide my time between life in East Anglia and escaping to West Cork. I have also had many of you comment on how lovely it looks and how much you too would love to visit. Well now I'm offering you the opportunity to do just that!

For three weekends during October, I will be hosting exclusive three night photographic breaks for beginners and improvers in a home from home environment. Group sizes are limited to four and will be fully escorted and inclusive. There will be opportunities to try many different aspects of photography whilst enjoying a holiday in this beautiful part of Ireland. The highlight of the weekend will be a trip out whale watching (weather permitting) with Cork Whale Watch, just as the season for cetacean activity is approaching its peak.

The long weekends run from Saturday to Tuesday on the following dates:

SB01 Saturday 11th — Tuesday 14th October 2014

SB02 Saturday 18th — Tuesday 21st October 2014

SB03 Saturday 25th — Tuesday 28th October 2014

NOTE: weekend two is now sold out, there is availability on weekend three and limited availability on weekend one.

For more details, go to my website and look for West Cork Photography Weekends in the Photo Courses section. If you would like to book, I recommend you don't hang about as interest has been keen since I first mentioned I would be offering these breaks and there are limited places. If however you won't be able to make it at short notice, then don't worry - I'm planning to expand the selection of breaks in the Spring and run similar breaks next Autumn (although they won't be at the same special introductory price next year!)

Only £475.00 per person*

Don't delay! Book today, or share this post with anyone you think would love this special opportunity.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Summer Evening

A balmy evening at the end of a hot summer day.
Yes, finally!
Today has been one of those summer days we have all been waiting for. Enjoying a chilled drink in the shade; dinner al-fresco; doors and windows flung wide; a restless mutt who can't decide whether to lie in the sunshine or flop in the shade... one of those sort of summer days.

And so, in the relative cool of the evening, we were finally able to take mutt for her walk. Just a mile or so from home, as we are lucky enough to be in wonderful gently rolling countryside. Perfect to escape from the the buzz of daily life, and easy to find peace and tranquility. Yet we are only a few miles from a motorway; a mainline railway; a busy airport.

However, right around us there is still a busy world of nature. Crane flies browsing on the umbelliferous flower heads, frog hoppers discarding their cuckoo-spit as glistening droplets...

No hot pavements to super-heat weary shop-trudging feet here.
No city crowds to jostle with.
No fume regurgitating vehicles to dodge.
Just the buzzy-ness of nature.

It is the busy world I prefer.

Daily Views

Day 1. The Fairy Tree, Hill of Tara, Co Meath

Here is the round up of the daily views which I posted online, during our recent trip to Ireland. The weather was far kinder in West Cork than we ever could have hoped for. In fact, the weather we left behind in the UK was by all accounts, pretty awful, but then that's the way it should be for holidays, isn't it?

First we took a quick detour into Co Meath before making the long trip down to Co Cork.

(Note, by clicking on the first image, all 12 images will appear as a slideshow and are of a better image quality)

Day 2. West Cork

Day 3

Day 4. Long Strand, West Cork

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7. Lough Hyne, West Cork

Day 8

Day 9. Sundown over the Fastnet at the far South-West corner of Ireland

Day 10, Toe Head, West Cork

Day 11. Rineen Woods, West Cork

Day 12. Glandore, West Cork

And what a last day it was!

...Until the next time

Havergate Day of Discovery

Sunday 21st April
A glorious 6am start from Orford Quay

Eight photographers joined the RSPB events officer and four* photography tutors for the first
Havergate Day of Discovery

Passing by Orford Ness bunkers...

...on a mirror calm River Ore...

...we left Orford behind...

...in the still of the morning.

Arriving at Havergate Island jetty and time to get started...

...during Golden Hour - the photographer's dream.

Starting with a spot of macro photography...

...the early frost was turning to dewdrops...

...the macro photographer's friend.

After a last close look at low-down macro subjects...

 ...attention was turned to the birds and of course, the famous hares.

1,2...

3...

4...

 5...

...masses!

In the heat of a beautiful April day, Orford disappeared into the haze...

...whilst visiting birds left a trail of evidence.

An afternoon in the hide amassed an impressive list of birds
including this little Egret and not forgetting no 1 Havergate bird, the Avocet

Meanwhile, the hares had been taking things easy...

...until our last half-hour on Havergate when the boxing kicked off, and just before...

...a breeze-stirred homebound journey.

Would you like a chance to experience this unique island and its wildlife?

Places are still available on the April 28th Photographic Day of Discovery.
To book contact minsmere@rspb.org.uk
01728 648281

There is also an opportunity for photographs taken by visitors to Havergate, to be included in an exhibition
at the Pond Gallery, Snape Maltings from 5th - 11th September

*Tutors
Jon Evans www.jonevansbirding.blogspot.co.uk
(The man with the big lens)

Tony Pick www.tonypickphotography.co.uk
(The landscape man)

http://www.tonypickphotography.co.uk/2013/04/havergate-island-photography-day-of-discovery/

Danny Porter www.dannysdigiscoping.com
(The man who can fit almost any camera on a scope)
http://www.dannysdigiscoping.com/rspbdaysofdiscovery.htm

and me, Celia Bartlett here at Ailec Photography
(who gets you looking really close-up)

RSPB Events Officer
Monika Koch
and here is what some of the visitors had to say