January 2012 – Glendalough

Its one of the colder mornings of winter, and as I set off down the M1 and across the M50, the radio, even at this early hour is filled with depressing economic news.

The plan this morning is to meet a photographic friend, take pictures in and around Glendalough, followed by a sumptuous breakfast somewhere in Avoca.

However an SMS shortly after 6.30a.m tells me my friend is still in bed and that I am on my own. To think he calls himself a landscape photographer!

Still, everything happens for a reason, and as I stand under a star filled sky with the moon reflecting in the silent waters of Upper lake, his absence is somewhat of a blessing. After all two guys, talking about pixel pitch and whose is bigger than whose (lenses that is) would spoil the peaceful magic of the moment.

Long before the sun is up, I have a tripod setup at the waters edge and with the aid of a cable release, I am tripping the shutter experimenting with long exposures. Darkness lifts quickly, and in no time, ten-minute exposures become 30-second exposures.

As the morning moves on, clouds drift up from the distant valley and disappear as quickly as they came. Mist slowly rolls past my ankles and drifts down the lake, enticing me to follow.

With the sun up, and exposures times becoming shorter, I fit a graduated neutral density filter to the lens. Doing so increases the exposure from 4 seconds to 30 seconds, enhancing the movement of mist on the water. Creating an image I am happy with.

A good start to 2012 !