Sketches from my photographic life

Not every experiment works

Colin O'Brien
Back to front cornflowers

My 75mm lens never even made it into my bag for Connemara, even though last year it had been one of my most used lenses. I wanted to take my 90mm and I didn’t think I had room for both. It was OK. And although my 90mm is what »

I knew I should have taken this lens with me

Colin O'Brien

My long, 180mm, lens was actually in my bag getting ready for Connemara, and I took it out (looking for ways to save a little weight). I knew at the time I would regret it. I did regret it. So as soon as I was back, I took it out in the backyard and gave it some exercise.

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Back home from Connemara

Colin O'Brien
status:

It was late by the time I got home, so this wasn’t the first thing I saw, and this is the back garden anyway, so obviously not the very first thing to see. Next morning, thinking of breakfast, there is no escape.

But then I waited a few weeks to actually take this photo as »

From the Cliffs of Moher to the Burren

Colin O'Brien
The Cliffs of Moher are really tall

Yes, we were on a workshop in Connemara, but that’s no reason not to take in some of the biggest sights in western Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher were quite a trek from our base west of Galway, on the north side of Galway Bay. The famous cliffs themselves »

I need to remember my camera (and my phone) can do video

Colin O'Brien

Connemara has a lot of coastline, even a fjord, and David Ward worked hard to help us see as much as possible in the time available. We were at Gorteen Bay (Port na Feadóige) and I became fascinated watching the water swirling around this group of rocks. One moment the water would be completely still, and then the motion would start and pick up pace until it finished its intricate dance and sat down to rest again; before repeating the whole process. Eventually I set up the camera and »

It’s not like there are no trees in Connemara

Colin O'Brien
They don't call it Pine Island

On the way back from another hard day out photographing with David Ward in Connemara, we were intrigued by the sight of an island in Derryclare Lough. At first we weren’t sure we could get out to it, but there was a walkway that made it possible. I think »

Look what (where) we had (for) lunch

Colin O'Brien
Clouds running across mountains above Lough Nafooey

Another day in the Connemara workshop with David Ward and we stopped for lunch on the road from Leeann to Lough Nafooey. The box lunches, provided by David’s partner Saskia, were always fabulous. As each person finished eating, the cameras started coming out while we were waiting, and soon »

Sure do what we do, but maybe leave the drone at home

Colin O'Brien
Red-roofed hut by Lough Ahalia

Continuing on the workshop in Connemara with David Ward, we were heading N and stopped by Lough Ahalia; not surprising as there was an attractive little hut just begging to be photographed (even when (especially?) there was a steady drizzle).

It turned out this was a regular stop for »

Gunning for Giant Rhubarb

Colin O'Brien
Gunnera up close

On the first day of the workshop in Connemara with David Ward we went up the Renvyle Peninsular and at one point stopped in at a beach that on first look didn’t have as much to offer as our previous stop, but on the way down from the main »

Call me in Galway City

Colin O'Brien
Meeting the throngs on the High Street

I was fortunate to be able to sign up for a workshop (photo tour really) in Connemara, Ireland with David Ward. Fortunate, because this is the third or fourth time I’ve tried for one of his workshops, but previously was always too late and it was already fully booked.

Because »