Northern Ireland

• Dunluce is one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans.

Another from the Giant's Causeway (see two images back)... this is such a special place for me for various reasons that you can see on other recent posts. There's much lore that's steeped in this place... when you're here, you can sense a magical quality to it. I’m going back to the text I wrote on a photo from our first visit here, as it expresses that very thing… if you take the time to read it, I’m sure you’ll love it:

Verdant cliffs cascading down to the sea, crashing waves of turquoise water, brilliant blue skies with a hint of rain clouds, and a black sand beach... this must be Punaluu Beach in Hawaii. Wait a second... that’s not sand... and this isn’t Hawaii. This is Clochán na bhFomhórach, also known as the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

This was a strange beach, indeed. It reminded me of the irresistible force paradox, a classic paradox formulated as "What happens when an unstoppable force (the sea) meets an immovable object (the rocks)?" We would soon find out. It was our second stop along the Irish coast with our friend Mari. Though crowded with a throng of humanity, we still managed some shots sans people. This would be an excellent place for sunrise and sunset photography, especially among the wet rocks... though, as we found out by proxy, the wet rocks can be perilous. Thank you so much to the young and foolish for pointing this out to us (read the text from here to understand: www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/10962143944/).

Gravity’s weird here... and so are these rock columns of dense basalt that have a very crystalline appearance. We watched as young men and women seemed to be out to prove something by venturing out toward where the waves crashed the rocks. Needless to say the waves weren’t the only things to crash... that hard basalt just reached out and smacked a few of them... and they didn’t bounce. I told you gravity’s weird here. It’s actually nice to know that regardless of culture around this world, some things are just the same... it’s evident that so often youth is wasted on the young. Will they ever learn? Did I?

It’s estimated that approximately 60 million years, 11 months ago, on a Tuesday at precisely 1:56 AM, volcanic basalt pushed through the strata that is now the chalk cliffs and cooled in such a way to end up as these (mostly) hexagonal pillars. One thing of note here: someone counted each and every one of the columns... wish I had been there when they did that... Them: " ...2,165. 2,166. 2,167..." Me: "32!" Them: "32... For crying out loud!" Similar structures also exist across the ocean in Scotland in a place called Fingal’s Cave... now this is where the story gets interesting. According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant... sounds good to me.

The Irish giant, Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), of Gaelic mythology, was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Their conversation could have been “Oh, so lovely to meet you! Would you care for a cup of tea?” But, no, it was more like “Oh yeah?” “Yeah!”... and it was on like Donkey Kong. The earlier myth has Fionn build the causeway and promptly put a whoopin’ on Benandonner... The End. But, just as in Hollywood, that doesn’t make for a good story... so it evolved into this: Fionn hides when he realizes that Benandonner is much bigger than he thought. Fionn's wife, Oonagh, fearful of becoming a widow, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a huge cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the “baby”, he supposes that its father, Fionn, must truly be HUMONGOUS! He hightails it back to Scotland in terror, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow. How funny is that? And no one was hurt in the spinning of this yarn, so it's doubly good.

It’s apparent with such a creative way that the Irish explain Clochán na bhFomhórach (which means "stepping stones of the Fomhóraigh", a race of supernatural beings in Irish mythology), nothing in this land escapes the scrutiny of the artist’s eye. Check out Ireland from the perspective of five such artists: Mari Ward-Foster www.flickr.com/photos/22784225@N07/ , Evelyn McCullough www.flickr.com/photos/herringpond/ , Rodney Harrison www.flickr.com/photos/rodneyharrison1966/ , Sean Mulligan www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie, and Jane Mclaughlin www.flickr.com/photos/jeanniemac/. Aloha!

This was my second visit to Ballintoy Harbor in Northern Ireland. I'm happy to see that Faded Rose and Irish Rover are still there. The first time was in the company of friend Evelyn McCullough… this time was with a new friend, Gary Loughran , who’s also doing his best to show Ireland in its best light... take a look at his stream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/144405441@N07/ and give him a good word.

I posted a tighter view from here a little over two years ago when Evelyn brought me here the first time… this image and the following dialog are a small tribute to her… she died this August 20 after an astounding battle with cancer, setting an example of how life can be well lived, regardless of our problems. "Can you be up by 4:30 in the morning?" What she actually meant was could I be out by 4:30, as she was waiting outside the door of the inn, right on the dot... ol' Sol's parabola puts it quite high in the summer mornings of Northern Ireland, and Evelyn McCullough's no slouch at beating him to put such scenes as this in front of her camera.

She took me for a quick (Top Gear kind of quick... she's a lot of fun!... and yes Rodney, I'd ride with her anytime) jaunt down the B15 Coastal Highway for one favorite scenes after another in the golden hour of this fine morning... she's the consummate photo tour guide, so much so that the BBC (Ireland) feature many of her photographs in their news broadcasts. The name of the white boat in this image is "Irish Rover", which is somewhat descriptive of Evelyn as well.

After breakfast, we also caught up with friends Mari www.flickr.com/photos/22784225@N07/ and Rodney www.flickr.com/photos/rodneyharrison1966/ for second breakfast (just like Hobbits!) of pastry and coffee... a good thing too, as we needed the energy for our last full day before returning to North Carolina. Evelyn made sure it was a day full of wonderful memories, including meeting Laurena and George... and discovering what flapjacks are in Ireland! It is a beautiful country made more so by beautiful people.

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This scene in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is likely not far removed as it has been for centuries. Dunluce Castle, over on the next cliff ledge, has a history dating back to the 13th Century. As you may be able to tell, it’s undergoing some restoration.

The ruins of Dunluce have taken on the very character of the basalt and chalk cliffs where it abides… and its history lives on in this image.

In many ways, it reminds me of Evelyn McCullough, as she had taken on the charm and beauty around her that was her beloved Ireland. I saw that for myself one glorious morning over two years ago along this coast, a time I will never forget. She passed from this life on Saturday after a valiant bout with incurable cancer… even in the face of fear and certain death in her last two years, hers was still a life of fullness and selflessness… and beauty that surpasses the land that she loved. She will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew her... as always. God bless her family and friends.

Click here to see Ireland from Evelyn's eyes: www.flickr.com/photos/herringpond/

• Belfast Castle is a castle on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in a prominent position 400 feet (120 m) above sea level. Its location provides unobstructed views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. The current castle is a Victorian structure, built between 1867 and 1870.

The main entrance into the Belfast Castle Demesne is now where Innisfayle Park meets Downview Park West, just off the Antrim Road (part of the A6).

Maybe the best sunset I have ever seen. A spectacular evening at giants causeway in northern ireland. Who could wish for a better location to witness such light. It was just awesome, the colors in the sky going crazy and me stumbling over the rocks trying to get as many shots of the scene as possible. Well, I got a few :-)

This was the last photo I took that evening. The light lastet maybe 20 minutes longer, slowly waning into night. What you don't see in this photo are all the people around on the rocks. It was not easy getting a clean photo without a group of people running through the scene. But I managed to direct a few to wait :-)

cheers

Press "L" followed by F11 to view as intended ........sDSC08702-ed1

Sunrise comes pretty early in Northern Ireland this time of year… I was up just past 4 am to catch it on this side of the Magheracross Viewpoint, only about 15 minutes from our hotel in Portrush (pronounced as though two words, port rush). A little over two years ago, my friend Evelyn McCullough brought me here as a first stop among many along the coastal highway, which is replete with stunning scenery. I dedicated this particular morning by retracing that time in tribute to Evelyn, though by myself this time. Dear Evelyn is in hospice at the MacMillan Unit in Antrim, where she is in palliative care due to incurable cancer. We were proud and appreciative to meet with her a last time during this trip… she has been a great inspiration to all who have known her, for even in the face of death, she lived life in a selfless fullness that so few others do even without such troubles. This image would not have been possible without her. I’ll never forget her. Please pray for her and her family and friends.

If you look closely (click the image for detail), you can see the remains of Dunluce Castle just beyond that first cliff.

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E' una strada alberata (nei pressi di Bregagh Road, sulla strada secondaria per Armoy) voluta dalla famiglia Stuart che nel 1750 fece piantare gli alberi con l'intento di creare uno spettacolare viale alberato all'ingresso della loro tenuta. Gli alberi di faggio si sono naturalmente incurvati verso l'interno creando uno straordinario tunnel di alberi e rami quasi a non vederne la fine...non sorprende il fatto che sia stato teatro di alcune scene di alcuni famosi film, non per ultimo Games of Thrones. Durante il giorno e al tramonto è impossibile scattare una qualche foto senza passanti o turisti (periodo estivo almeno) per cui l'unica possibilità era sfruttare l'alba....che offre spettacolari giochi di luci e ombre e colori.

Pentax Medium Format, digital. 35mm lens

Press "L" followed by F11 to view as intended....sDSC08777-ed2

E' una strada alberata (nei pressi di Bregagh Road, sulla strada secondaria per Armoy) voluta dalla famiglia Stuart che nel 1750 fece piantare gli alberi con l'intento di creare uno spettacolare viale alberato all'ingresso della loro tenuta. Gli alberi di faggio si sono naturalmente incurvati verso l'interno creando uno straordinario tunnel di alberi e rami quasi a non vederne la fine...non sorprende il fatto che sia stato teatro di alcune scene di alcuni famosi film, non per ultimo Games of Thrones. Durante il giorno e al tramonto è impossibile scattare una qualche foto senza passanti o turisti (periodo estivo almeno) per cui l'unica possibilità era sfruttare l'alba....che offre spettacolari giochi di luci e ombre e colori.

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Press "L" followed by F11 to view as intended....sDSC08855-ed2

Il Selciato del gigante (in inglese Giant's Causeway, talvolta non tradotto in italiano) è un affioramento roccioso naturale situato sulla costa nord est irlandese a circa 3 km a nord della cittadina di Bushmills, nella contea di Antrim in Irlanda del Nord.

È composto da circa 40.000 colonne basaltiche, formatesi da una eruzione vulcanica circa 60 milioni di anni fa, generalmente a base esagonale, ma non ne mancano anche a quattro, cinque, sette o otto lati. Le più alte raggiungono i 12 metri d'altezza, ma alcune, essendo situate su delle scogliere, si innalzano anche per 28 metri. Le formazioni visibili a occhio nudo sulla costa sono solo una parte del complesso, che prosegue anche nel fondale marino adiacente.

Il Selciato del gigante è stato inserito nella lista dei Patrimoni dell'umanità dell'UNESCO nel 1986 ed è una riserva naturale nazionale dal 1987; attualmente è di proprietà del National Trust, che lo gestisce.

link: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selciato_del_gigante

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The good old British 'Summer' Weather never fails to dissapoint does it, another few weeks off work and pretty much rain every single day, unbelievable, a week in Scotland turned into a 2 day trip, totally abandoned due to horrendous weather, I seem to have little to no luck at all with weather lately.

I'd planned a trip to Northern Ireland in the second week and again checking the weather it was exactly the same, to say I was fed up was an understatement, I decided that I was going to go anyway and just try to work with whatever I got, this day was no different and it had been raining on and off all day, the one thing about shooting along the coast on these days though if the weather does give you a break you are pretty much garuanteed to have a great sky to use and interesting light, this was taken on a walk from Bushmills and the weather had just thankfully broken upon arrival at Bushfoot Strand beach, I haven't taken much moody poor weather landscape for a while so it was actually good to change it up a little, this is looking out towards Runskerry House on the Antrim Coast.

I managed quite a few images from Ireland in this type of weather but many locations were a wash out with some really crazy sea storms, especially on Rathlin Island, another trip here is definitely on the cards with the car it's a stunning place and nowhere near as busy as Scottish locations, no doubt it will be pouring down again when I go....

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The whole Murlough Bay is very picturesque, but what really draws my attention is this lone tree, slightly above the bay. I arrived quite some time after sunrise (spent in the nearby Darh Hedges), but the Sun was still rather low and the light was very pleasant for this composition.

Press "L" followed by F11 to view as intended.......sDSC08844-ed2

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This is a fantastic place. It felt so unreal driving along that lane with those huge trees lining the street on both sides. It also wasn't easy to get a photo without cars in it. Not that there are many cars on that road. But the few who drive along, usually park on the lane for a couple of minutes to enjoy the scenery. So it wasn't often we had the dark hedges for ourselfes.

Some focus stacking was needed to get a god dof. I left the nearest part out of focus though to get some framing. In postprocessing I first focused on bw conversion, then on contrast and in the end I took out some details by controlled blurring of highlights and some orton effect.

hope you like it!

cheers

my start2finish postprocessing tutorial can be found here: mibreit-photo.com/blog/?p=963

It's always a pleasure to process a photo of that evening at the causeway, bringing the raw files back to live in photoshop to resemble what I experienced that evening. I guess I told you before, but this was maybe the best sunset I have ever seen. Below are some more photos of that evening in chronological order as I moved along the coastline from composition to composition.

Here you can see the waves crashing at the other shore where some people are standing. Some where getting even closer in between the waves (stupid on those slippery rocks) just to run back as the waves were crashing.

I processed this one using the same techniques as I show in my Start2Finish Post Processing Tutorial, but without focus stacking. Here the close foreground wasn't so near.

cheers

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Pentax 645D, 35mm lens

Una delle pochie costruzioni moderne che ho trovato a Belfast offre comunque particolari e singolari geometrie da sfruttare con il cielo tipicamente Irlandese. La presenza del gabbiano dona poi alla geometria un tocco unico.

Una delle pochie costruzioni moderne che ho trovato a Belfast offre comunque particolari e singolari geometrie da sfruttare con il cielo tipicamente Irlandese.

• The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (5 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places.

According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. The story goes that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), from the Fenian Cycle of Gaelic mythology, was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet.