Loher Beach, Waterville, County Kerry.

Skellig Lighthouse

Loher Beach is situated just about 2 miles from the Village Waterville on the Ring of Kerry. The long stretch gives you very good conditions for photos.
 At low tide the rocks making interesting compositions possible. Reflections, shapes and the soft light are just a heaven for any photographer.  Watch the tide and take a torch with you for the way back to the car.

Night over Ballinskelligs

The plough

Waterville lights

Ballinskelligs castle at night

Just before the camera club meeting tonight I´ve taken a few photos of the scenery and sky over Ballinskeligs. The half moon was brightening up the clouds and landscape and the stars were very well to see. I took the photos with iso200 and 400, f 1.8 to 2.2 with a shutterspeed of 25 seconds in manual settings. You need to focus manual to infinity and a sturdy tripod is great help, try it  in the next few nights, but stay away from the moon, its to bright.                                        South Kerry is a great location for night photography due to its minor light pollution.

More Fire and Smoke

Even now at the end of March fires are still burning on mountains, fields and forestries in Kerry, like this one in St.Finians Bay last night. The Fire Brigade is out all day trying to prevent the worst, the air is filled with smoke. Birds are nesting already and the newly born lambs are on the fields. Hard to understand the mindset of some people, hope I can provide better news soon.
All photos Canon 5d, 1.2 50mmm

Winter Solstice, Lunar Eclipse and Snow in Kerry

This morning on Bray Head, Valentia Island between 7 and 8.30 am...

This last photo was taken this afternoon, snow has eventually reached Cealla Cnoic - much to the surprise of our cat and dog.

A beautiful day ends in Kerry

This day finished the same way it started. A sky with wonderful colours and no wind or breeze. It was the first time in my life that I saw the moon sinking into the sea, what a moment. I could hear the sheep in the field near me walking and from time to time the light from Bull Rock Lighthouse appeared, nothing else.
I´ve started teaching in the O´Connell Centre Cahersiveen this morning, tomorrow my course in Tech Amergin resumes and on Wednesday I´m starting a class in Killorglin at the Community College. If you are interested taking part in one of the courses, please contact me soon.

Stars in the Sky

Last night we watched the cold and clear sky only for a few minutes and saw a number of "shooting stars" from this Decembers meteor shower highlight, the Geminid Meteor Shower. They are exceptionally impressive this year because it is near New Moon, so the moonlight does not distract from or diminish the visibility of the meteors´lights. It seemed last night they were everywhere in the sky but I read today they sort of radiate from a source within the Gemini or Twins, hence the name.
I added a link to an interactive astro viewer under the links in the left side column, you can change the location (it´s New York by default, you can also change the language for the stars between Latin and Englisch, for that you need to click on the full featured astro viewer, so if you don´t know where to find the Gemini, this is a help...)
Another tip for watching the sky at night is to be in a really dark place, so turn off all the lights around you or even better travel to a spot where there is as little light as possible.

October night sky on Bray Head, Valentia Island 

with view towards Portmagee