Sunrise on Laugh Leane

Carol Freshley October 10, 2015

What better way to start your day than hanging out at Laugh Leane. Cold, cloudy and absolutely spectacular. Our goal was to learn how to work with filters while waiting for some good light. Color would have been nice, but that was not going to happen.

This was taken with a 9 stop ND.  Shutter speed 10 seconds. — This was taken with a 9 stop ND. Shutter speed 10 seconds.

Shutter speed 121 seconds.  Water is smoother.  Clouds are less interesting (to me).  Ah, but I learned a lot by playing around. — Shutter speed 121 seconds. Water is smoother. Clouds are less interesting (to me). Ah, but I learned a lot by playing around.

Different time, lower shutter speed and taken with a fisheye lens.  Big stopper filters are tough to mount on a fisheye! — Different time, lower shutter speed and taken with a fisheye lens. Big stopper filters are tough to mount on a fisheye!

Warmer white balance.  Different look of the same scene. — Warmer white balance. Different look of the same scene.

Ha!  Look to your left. — Ha! Look to your left.

Or, look to  your right. — Or, look to your right.

When he saw mine, he said, "I did not know the boat was blue!" — When he saw mine, he said, "I did not know the boat was blue!"

All for the moment. After our sunrise shot we headed back to a full Irish breakfast! Life is tough (NOT)!

One Lake of Killarney

Carol Freshley October 9, 2015

Ah, the lakes of Killarney. Great place to spend a late afternoon and then watch the sun go down. Well, sort of! The clouds moved in and cut off a spectacular colored sunset. However, the colors were barely missed by those of us high up on a ridge overlooking the lake below.

As we left our first site, Daragh (our photo leader), quickly pulled over.  Just a small lake off a bigger lake begged to be photographed.  There are so many of these opportunities around Killarney. — As we left our first site, Daragh (our photo leader), quickly pulled over. Just a small lake off a bigger lake begged to be photographed. There are so many of these opportunities around Killarney.

Yet another interpretation.  Sharing this many to give you an idea of how many opportunities we are given to frame our shot. — Yet another interpretation. Sharing this many to give you an idea of how many opportunities we are given to frame our shot.

Haha!  This is where I discovered just how slippery all that wet green can be.  This tree was up on a ledge.  I was climbing up the slippery rocks and grass.  Down I came, tripod, camera and my dignity.  I was not hurt and n… — Haha! This is where I discovered just how slippery all that wet green can be. This tree was up on a ledge. I was climbing up the slippery rocks and grass. Down I came, tripod, camera and my dignity. I was not hurt and neither was the camera. It was not going to be the last fall, however! I just got back up, scotched up more carefully, rested on my belly and took this one. Is that not just a most interesting tree? Many more like that around here.

Another interpretation.  Tom did not fall and even managed to get in the church in the background. — Another interpretation. Tom did not fall and even managed to get in the church in the background.

We kept hoping for color.  The clouds moved in more thickly and we were left with this stunning view!  We did not feel sorry for ourselves. — We kept hoping for color. The clouds moved in more thickly and we were left with this stunning view! We did not feel sorry for ourselves.

After our shoot we returned to our hotel for a three course meal. We were treated to sharing the excitement in the pub of Ireland's win in a soccer match. WOW! These folks are boisterous when supporting their team. Up next we will have photos from our sunrise shoot after a very brief night of sleep.

Trinity College

Carol Freshley October 8, 2015

The first thing on my 'to see' list in Dublin was Trinity College. This place is so incredible and no small, or even long paragraphs can do it justice on this blog. We arrived on the campus in the last part of 'blue light'. We stayed for about five hours. Photographers are not allowed to use a tripod on any part of the campus and in some places no photography at all is allowed. We made it work. Enjoy.

Looking through the arch to the main entrance.

Playing with high key without losing details.  Shutter speed 1.5 seconds! — Playing with high key without losing details. Shutter speed 1.5 seconds!

Common path/road.  The chain fence you see has a special purpose . . . protect the lawn and it is the primary method of chaining the thousands of bikes all over campus. — Common path/road. The chain fence you see has a special purpose . . . protect the lawn and it is the primary method of chaining the thousands of bikes all over campus.

Intimate gardens are well tended.  It had rained over night so the grass and benches were wet. — Intimate gardens are well tended. It had rained over night so the grass and benches were wet.

Well, this sculpture not only captivated us but it seems to attract photographers, as we saw dozens while we were there.  Framed against some fall color.  The spire of St. Patrick's Cathedral is seen in the background.  We could not f… — Well, this sculpture not only captivated us but it seems to attract photographers, as we saw dozens while we were there. Framed against some fall color. The spire of St. Patrick's Cathedral is seen in the background. We could not figure out what it was. There was no inscription or sign to be found.

This is a hard ball to describe!  I tried hard to show the detail, which I thought was awesome.  Keeping me out of the photo by strategically placing myself in the upward center column . . . — This is a hard ball to describe! I tried hard to show the detail, which I thought was awesome. Keeping me out of the photo by strategically placing myself in the upward center column . . .

Oh heck! Just use my flash.  Totally different look!  Now you can see the detail. — Oh heck! Just use my flash. Totally different look! Now you can see the detail.

Oh my gosh!  The trees were just beautiful. — Oh my gosh! The trees were just beautiful.

This is the highlight of any visit to Trinity College.  The Library and the Book of Kells.  No photos are allowed on the lower floor where the exhibits are placed.  The upper floor or Long Room allows photographs but no flash or tripo… — This is the highlight of any visit to Trinity College. The Library and the Book of Kells. No photos are allowed on the lower floor where the exhibits are placed. The upper floor or Long Room allows photographs but no flash or tripods. It is quite dark. We arrived shortly after the Library opened. Big mistake not to be first in line and head right up to the Long Room. Save the exhibits for later. By the time we got started the room was already crowded. I really encourage you to do some research on this rare library.

Dublin is full of double-decker busses.  And they have a double-decker library.  Thousand upon thousands of old, one in print books are kept here. — Dublin is full of double-decker busses. And they have a double-decker library. Thousand upon thousands of old, one in print books are kept here.

I am pleased to introduce you to Ken Kerrigan. Ken's mission is to make each visitor's visit a bit more special. He is a wealth of information and readily shares with anyone who asks. He and Tom struck of a conversation and realized they have two common interests . . . old cars and photography. Ken showed Tom several photos he has taken with his phone and then agreed to send them to us so we could share with the rest of you. Thanks Ken, so very much.

Trinity College reminds me that the desire to learn, to share, to make the world a better place is not a new endeavor. The diversity found on the campus was refreshing. Please take some time and read up on its mission and history.