Ulster Landscapes

The Copelands

Just happened to be driving past this one and managed to stop without causing to many accidents  :-$

Lough McNean

Shot on the way home from a wedding, this is a location I've been dying to shoot for years but have never managed to get it in the right light. I still don't think I have with this shot but it will suffice until I get the one I'm after :-)

Ketch off the coast

I've been out playing with my new 400mm lens and was lucky enough to come across this tidy picture when walking round Blackhead, County Antrim.  I could have lightened the clouds a little but after a bit of messing around, thought better of it and left it as it was.

Yellow seaweed on the Antrim coast

I thought the contrast of the two elements was quite striking and also really like the colour palette. It makes a change from the usual brightly coloured photographs I'm producing.

Rathlin view

The distant Scottish hills of Islay as viewed from Rathlin Island.

I must admit I was amazed at just how close Scotland appears to be when viewed from Rathlin Island. There were a number of small sailing boats scooting up and down between the two countries on this beautiful summers day although there aren't any in the picture. With temperatures in the late twenties and a gentle breeze it was truly a day to remember for Northern Ireland.

Rathlin Sound

Rathlin Sound viewed from the Island

You can see Rue Light on the southern tip of Rathlin Island and Fair Head on the right of the picture. I guess this is an unusually calm day on Rathlin Sound.

Loughareema - The Vanishing Lake

One of my favourite places. Loughareema is an area of special scientific interest. It sits on chalk and has a leaky bed. The 'plughole' is bunged with peat and so the water can only percolate slowly down into the passage below. After heavy rain the streams draining off the adjacent hills fill the lake. During dry weather the lake empties. This was taken on the way home from a scorching day on Rathlin Island. If there was ever an image that deserved the sepia treatment it's this one. I think the dark sepia helps bring out the deep brown peat colour of the lake bed.

Orange Lichen (Thanks Carsten!)

I love it when I come across simple, clean photographs like this. I have turned it on its side for some reason, don't ask me why :-)

Making tracks for Rathlin

Quite a simple yet powerful composition with no more than a little saturation added to enhance the colours. This is one of the only images that I'm happy with after spending a quick six hours on Rathlin Island and walking for five miles in blistering heat with a heavy backpack. I think perhaps an extended stay is required to fully explore the rest of the island. There is so much to see in such a small place.