Irish Seascapes - About the Photographs


The ocean is forever and to watch it swell and crash onto the rocks is like being given a small insight into the power of the universe. Once you live next to an ocean you don't want to leave.


S1 Strandhill Sligo

The shoreline at Strandhill is a favourite with walkers and surfers. There are great boulders that act as sea defences and because they are so big they make a great spot for sitting to watch the setting sun and listen to the sea. When the sun sets in Ireland it is afternoon in New York.


S2 Ocean View - Mullaghmore - Sligo


The coastal road winds it's way around the rear of the rocky headland of Mullaghmore - the road is seen in picture S4 heading North West in the direction of the Donegal Hills. This shot was taken round the corner of the pointed hill and looks South West out to the ocean. There are rocky areas around Mullaghmore that are great for fishing and summers dips when the ocean is calm.


S3 Donegal Hills from Mullaghmore


This view is from the same spot as the previous picture but looking right about 45 degrees. The sky was reflected in the rocky pool and the top of the rock pool is pointing straight at Slieve League in County Donegal. Slieve League is the highest sea cliff in Europe at 601 metres tall.


S4 Evening Light - Mullaghmore


Evening light spreading over the fields at Mullaghmore with Slieve League and the Donegal Hills to the North West. The vehicle is a little red camper with foreign tourists seeing Ireland at it's best. To the left of the picture are dramatic cliffs on top of which sits the austere looking Classiebawn Castle, the former home of Lord Mountbatten. These cliff views can be seen in the next picture and in the album Black and White Seascapes


S5 South View - Mullaghmore


This sea view is looking south/h2 and Benbulben Mountain can be seen behind the castle. The picture focuses on the foreground because the grassy cliffs appeared gold from the late afternoon sun and the water was a lovely light blue colour. The most difficult part of taking the shot was staying balanced on the cliff edge as I waited for a big rolling wave to enter the scene from the right.


S6 The Rocks - Mullaghmore


Looking north over Donegal Bay towards Donegal Town, the late sun lights up the rocks to show deep shades of brown and red. The water appears slate grey in colour and there are dashes of pink and yellows in the sky.


S7 Sligo Bay from Galleyhouse Strand


This Evening was very calm and the bay was silent apart from a few calling gulls and the sound of a sea trout leaping for flies. The sky was soft with blues and yellows that added to the peaceful feeling of this particular evening.


S8 Knocknarea Mountain - Ballysadare Bay


The light on this evening was clean and pure. I composed a triangle of the foreground boat, the mountain and the fishing boats out in the bay. This was my first shot of the evening and was the best.


S9 Strandhill Sunset - Sligo


The ocean on this night was perfectly still and the shot was timed to just catch the sun dipping down from behind the far off low lying clouds. Such evenings are a blessing because fishermen can do a quiet bit of beach casting while the surfers are not at play.


S10 January Colour - Strandhill Sligo


Even in the depths of winter there is drama and colour. This was a very cold day and the break in the clouds lasted only about 5 minutes.


S11 Spring Tide - Strandhill Sligo


A big spring tide is good for photography and too dangerous for sea fishing. On this summers day the breakers were coming in frequently in long powerful swells and crashing onto the sea defences at Strandhill. There were no surfers around today and the power of the sea was fascinating.


S12 Sea Rocks - Mullaghmore


The rocks around Mullaghmore are treacherous and a drifting boat would be broken up in no time if it hit these rocks. There are a few very brave men who face this danger every day as they go to retrieve lobster pots. Lobster fishermen are a hardy few.