February 2009

Landscape photography for me is usually something I do on my own. The ability to switch off and be alone in the middle of nowhere is what attracts me and many others to photograph landscapes. That isolation at times can be priceless. However, now and then it is great to get out with a like-minded photographer and go off photographing together.
Just to preface that statement. When I say photographing together I mean travelling together to a location and looking for your own interpretation of a landscape. I don’t mean standing side by side with interlocking tripod legs shooting the same image 30cm apart. It does happen!
The east coast of Ireland had its coldest winter in 18 years, so when my good friend and fellow photographer Pat Burns arrived at 7a.m with his new set of wheels with an offer to photograph some winter landscapes it was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. We headed for the Cooley Mountains. On arrival, heavy snow was falling. The decision to ascend further into the hills quickly backfired when the new Toyota began to wheel spin and roll back on a steep climb!
The Cooley Mountains over looking Carlingford, are beautiful at the best of times. Add some snow and they become magical. On this particular morning I wanted to capture images that were simple & minimalistic in their approach. With that goal in mind, I set about photographing the many dry stonewalls that lined the hillside against a backdrop of snow filled fields and skies.

cooley
Their stony stark outline against the white winter landscape offered many creative opportunities. The image above is the result. Cropped to a panoramic format the image is simple & minimalistic. In the opinion of some it works. Others however disagree.
What about you?