Fighting darkness

The Sun bursting its way through a forest, fighting shade and filling darkness with its light and warmth. One can find so many analogies to life itself in such a dramatic display.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Slug life
Or just one of those miniwonderfull things that you discover while walking in a forest.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Be different!

Be different! It makes you much more interesting. In a forest essentially composed of very tall spruces and other evergreen species, a smaller deciduous tree stands out, gloriously reflecting sunlight from its autumn dressed leaves.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Tributary to a great river

Many great rivers start just like this, A small rain fed stream flowing down and jumping around a rough hill side. This is one of the many tributaries that build up to become River Lee still at its source, deep down in Gougane Barra glacier valley.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Blessed by the Sun

No wonder that, in the 6th century, a monk decided that this would be a great location for a monastery. St. Finbarr, however, that to expel a certain giant snake from the local grounds first... A closer perspective I took before the valley panorama I previously posted. At this moment sunrise had just emerged, yet the Irish winds were still asleep, leaving the lake undisturbed.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Light over darkness

I could see it, feel it, and experience it, moving in and across the landscape, downwards into the chilled, undisturbed lake. Slowly, determined, resolved to overwhelm shadows and fight off all its demons. Sunlight gradually creeped in, casting its blessing and warmth upon darkness and all those who inhabit the glaciar valley and the forest within. An astronomical blessing.

Gougane Barra, Ballingeary, County Cork, Ireland
2019, October

Looking back on The Burren

At the end of the trail, after going over and around this thing, I took a final look back at it. Apparently, the skies had decided to play along with the landscape and clouds aligned themselves with the rocky formations just to make the view more interesting.

Sometimes, it's good to look back and enjoy whatever you left behind you. Then, just keep going forward!

The Burren, Claire Co., Ireland
2019, September

The Goat

In the North face of the Mullaghmore, along the Burren, I found the most rocky, broken, desolate landscape I've ever seen in Ireland. Yet, it was alive with the local goats, sprinkled all along the landscape. More alive it was as this is breading season. Clashes of male goats sporadically echoed in the surrounding hills, with battles aggressively fought until one challenger backed up, typically injured, limping on broken limbs and with its fate shamefully sealed as Irish stew... The other victorious, until contested again.
Then, there was this guy, just there, coloring the landscape, enjoying the sunshine and the wind and peacefully admiring the local mayhem.

The Burren, Claire Co., Ireland
2019, September

The Burren

Millions of years ago, a gentle giant was swirling the Earth with its finger as if it was cake dough. Swipe left for the panorama.

The Burren, Claire Co., Ireland
2019, September

Bandon River

There are rare stretches of Bandon River that have remained untouched to human endeavor. This bend along the river path is one of such spots. In the Summer, at sunset, the Sun perfectly aligns with the valley and shines it´s light over the flowing waters.
This also seems to be the favorite spot of a very keen, yet elusive, fisher… a feathered one!

Dundaniel, Cork Co., Ireland
2019, July

I always stop here…

On my way back from the Beara Peninsula, and close to Glengariff, I always end up stopping at this spot. I can´t really understand why…
Damn you Beara Peninsula and all your light shows!

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2019, March
As viewed from Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), the Eastern side of Beara Peninsula landscape is marked by the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Adrigole Valley

Hidden in-between the shadows of Hungry Hill, lays a small piece of Heaven.

Adrigole (Eadargóil), Ireland
2019, March

Sunset

Sunset, the moment your day comes to an end ayou can take some time to reflect upon it. ...and your self. Well, if your day wasn´t that good, you still got the night left.

Rosscarbery (Ros Ó gCairbre), Ireland
2019, March

The light hunters

The light hunters. We are out there, momentously climbing out of our dark caves into a mad and somewhat obsessed pursuit of light. Quite literally!
A lone photographer appears at the location where I was and crosses the scenery. We did not know each other but, immediately, we recognized a common trait among us, we both had a slight glimpse of hope that, in that stormy day, the Sun, the Skies, the Wind, the Sea and all the landscape would align into something interesting that we could capture in the form of a photograph. ...and a memory. It did! And we both were there to witness it.

Rosscarbery (Ros Ó gCairbre), Ireland
2019, March

There´s a storm coming in

Off coast, a small fishing boat knows it and prepares to confront it.

Clonakilty (Cloich na Coillte), Ireland
2019, February

Torc Waterfall

Yes, the most photographed waterfall around here. I arrived at this location mid-afternoon. The place was as crowded as it could be. I ended up not even trying to photograph anything and took the forest trail around the Northern face of Torc Mountain. On the return path, with the Sun already set, I ended up returning to the waterfall. 
Depleted of leaves, tree branches framed the impressive waterfall perfectly, involving it dark shadows. In contrast, the water reflected the dim light, just barely enough for the exposure. I enjoyed the rare solitude of this place at dusk.

Killarney (Cill Airne), Co. Kerry, Ireland
2019, January

Heavy textures

Ireland is all grasslands… Maybe not. I love the golden tones of Winter contrasting with the dark purple grays of wet sandstone on this southern face of Shehy Mountains.

Keakill (An Chaolchoill), Co. Cork, Ireland
2019, January

Winter arrives at Kerry

The sudden moment when Winter decides that time has come to impose itself all over your landscape. Purple Mountain (An Sliabh Corcra) doesn´t seem so glorious now that the weather descends upon it.

Eirk (Adharc), Co. Kerry, Ireland
2019, January

Stop along your way...

Following the road along the Lee Valley, it becomes hard to actually get anywhere. I just had to stop and look over Lough Allua one more time. Here, right here and now, even just shortly after sunrise, I was already grateful for this day.

Lough Allua (Locha Lua), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, October

The Lee Valley at sunrise

The Lee Valley, with the sun rising above the hills in a cold but windless day. I actually ended up hiking up and finding Lee´s spring on this day. Unlike its beautiful valley, the spring is just a bog deep down a pit on a hill slope.

Lough Allua (Locha Lua), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, October