Photographic Distinctions: Preparing a panel (IPF)

Photographic Distinctions: Preparing a panel (IPF) The Irish Photographic Federation (IPF) is the umbrella organisation for photography clubs in Ireland. The IPF conducts distinction sittings where photographers submit panels of mounted prints for critique. Successful panels are awarded the relevant distinction. There are 3 levels of distinction to be undertaken in the following order; Licentiateship…

Read more

Autumn Woodland in 2022

Autumn Woodland in 2022 An amateur nature photographer is afforded limited time in the field. Rather than visit many well photographed locations throughout the country to effectively “bag” an image or alternatively bounce from landscape to wildlife to macro, I’ve found it more fulfilling of late to undertake a project, select a genre and set…

Read more

Impressions of the Outer Hebrides

Impressions of the Outer Hebrides Torridon, Glencoe and the Isle of Skye have drawn landscape photographers and artists over the centuries. The highlands of Scotland are extensive and uninterruptedly breathtaking – a Big Country indeed. This is the internationally perceived face of Scotland – a meticulously sculpted land of peaks, glens, lakes and shoreline. And…

Read more

Wildlife Photography: Photographing Red Squirrels

Wildlife Photography: Photographing Red Squirrels Eurasian Red Squirrels are diminutive, skulking mammals with an extensive range from Ireland through Siberia to Japan. They are very photogenic and have that cute gene that really shouldn’t be a winner when it comes to evolution. Over many years I have collected many poor images of Red Squirrels clambering…

Read more
Autumn Birches

Autumn Landscape Photographers Diary (Part 1)

An Autumn Landscape Photographer’s Diary Each September, I set out to capture autumn colour in photographs and each September I’m surprised to find no autumn colour – only a worn out post mid-summer green. And each subsequent weekend reveals a slow burn to autumn gold. So next autumn, I’ll set my alarm clock for Halloween.…

Read more

Donegal: Melmore, Fanad and Horn Head

Donegal: Melmore, Fanad and Horn Head With a dearth of Irish portfolio landscape images, I promised myself earlier this year to spend more time exploring Ireland. Birdwatching, holidaying and scuba diving have brought me to many beautiful locations in Ireland and unsurprisingly these locations double as prime landscape photographic sites. Each pursuit reveals the same…

Read more

Shorebird Photography

Shorebirds and specifically species belonging to the Heron, Oystercatcher, Plover and Sandpiper bird families are fascinating subjects for close up “portrait” photography. This field of photography appeals to me and is championed by photographers such as Melissa Groo(US) and Simon Theberge (Canada) amongst others. The evocative piping calls of shorebirds epitomise coastal shores. Probing bills…

Read more

Exploring Macro Nature: Dreamscapes

Greatly inspired by macro photographers such as Naska Photographie(Flickr) and the charismatic Thomas Shahan(You Tube), I decided to explore macro in more depth this year. I sought a style of imagery that conveys the beauty of marshland meadows – a beauty largely hidden from view. It is not until you sit, be silent and observe…

Read more

Puglia: Photography in Gargano and Matera

Puglia: Photography in Gargano and Matera Puglia, the heel of the boot of Italy is a fascinating travel photography destination. We chose to tour the northern Gargano peninsula for the first 6 nights of our trip discovering the hilltops towns of Mont Sant Angelo and Vico De Gargano ,the seaside town of Vieste and Forest…

Read more

Woodland Photography in Early Summer

Woodland Photography in Early Summer Photographic opportunities in early summer woodlands are often overlooked. A window exists in the last week of April into the first weeks of May just before the “forty shades of green” summer lushness overwhelms all other colour. Beech trees are the first to leaf just as they are the last…

Read more

Northern Spain 2017: Mountains and Seascapes

Northern Spain: Seascapes and Mountains   It was winter 2017 and whilst browsing the web for Icelandic landscape images, a seascape from Northern Spain was returned with a note that it reminded the photographer of Iceland. My interest was piqued. Further searches revealed other worldly sea stacks, spectacularly empty beaches, the jagged peaks of the…

Read more