The Reeks

The last sunlight of the day manages to break through overcast skies and finds its way to MacGillycuddy's Reeks range. A last kiss before nightfall.

Co. Kerry, Ireland

June, 2021

To a day’s end

In a somewhat dynamic May skies, I took a end-of-day kind of chance at Mount Gabriel in Mizen Head. The prize was the Sun, shadowing the mountains and overflowing the landscape with its remaining warmth.

Mount Gabriel, Co. Cork, Ireland

May, 2021

And yet another light show...

 Same spot, same perspective, yet another light show from Caha Mountains...

September, 2020

Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland

Dingle Peninsula Northern face shortly after sunrise from Brandon Point.

Ireland, where you can have the four seasons in a single da… NOW! 

Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland

August, 2020

Sauce Creek

When you come out of a trail, climbing up a mountain without a thing as a background, no visibility whatsoever to your destination, just to suddenly unfold into a 400m drop over the Ocean, and the Irish winds throw rain in front of you, while the Sun shines through the clouds, and Nature offers you two rainbows dancing over one of the most dramatic and overwhelming beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. At 430m altitude, these cliffs go from where I was to sea level in a stone's throw (quite literally)

Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland

August, 2020

Brandon Mountain

The view from Brandon Mountain Eastern face and its heavily eroded valley, right before the final ascent. Sometimes, I enjoy the harsh beauty of these more intimate perspectives than the gran splendor views from the top. The journey is far more interesting than the goal, whatever high it may be.

Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland

August, 2020

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

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

A mountain summit lake

A curious place to find a small lake, in the summit of Killane Mountain! Along with many other bogs, I supposed this was a remaining testament to the previous and now melted snow. From this summit, and with the favouring weather, the landscape stretches beyond Beara´s Peninsula and deep into Kerry Co. Here, I could see Ireland´s highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks range (Na Cruacha Dubha), with its peaks still under a snow blanket. Certainly a vision for future trails.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, March

Layer upon layer - looking North of Caha Mountains

While hiking the trail along the border between Co. Cork and Co. Kerry, I witnessed the landscape North of Caha Mountains being formed, layer upon layer, of alternating sunny spells and shadow casts. Far away, Knockanaskill Hill (Cnoc na nEascal) in the Dunkerron Mountains, reflects sunshine with its snowy slopes. Yet, where I was standing, a magnificent Spring day dominated.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, March

Caha Mountains

While hiking a trail along the Caha Mountains, following the border among Co. Cork and Co. Kerry, and in an absolutely wonderfull Spring day, I was truly grateful for the all-around scenic landscapes I found myself into. Along the trail, I witnessed many unique landscapes, composed by hills and mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, soft patches of golden grassland, extensions of forests and bare dark rock walls. All merging together with different weather conditions, from sun filled valleys to storm clouds over mountain tops. All in the same day, all the same time, all around me, near and as far. Here, overlooking towards the Sheen Valley and Knocknamanagh mountain, a golden grassland turf spreads along the perspective and contrasts with the dark siltstone rocks.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, March
 

Lady Bantry’s Lookout

Following a trail that climbs from Glengarriff´s Nature Reserve, one emerges from the forest into a hill overlooking Bantry´s Bay. Here, in Lady Bantry´s Lookout, a bench is provided for any walker to rest upon a magnificent view over this bay. However, I was far more interested in the landscape that I left behind me. The valley, covered by a dark and dense forest, is guarded by the Caha Mountains. Winds, relentless where I was standing, didn´t seem to harass the tree line at lower altitude. Bursting with recent rains, several water falls ripped the cliffs and created their own mist. The typical green tones were now bright golden, with the vegetation burnt by previous days´ snow. Truly, a landscape of contrasts.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, January