Photo of the month - February 2025
February was a grey month. Day after day when we didn’t see the sun. It was perhaps as well for my sanity that I spent most of the month finishing the first draft of a new book. I will keep you in suspense…
Opportunities for landscape photography were therefore doubly scarce. But I managed a few.
Early in the month I took myself off to Donegal and the restored hill fort of Grianan of Aileach, with its spectacular views over Lough Swilly and the vast sweep of Donegal on all sides.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 5 shot pano at 37mm, f11, 1/125 sec ISO 200, handheld.
On a cold day it feels very exposed, even when there is little wind. With not another soul in sight I went into the hill fort and climbed a few crumbling stone steps to the top level, which gave me some added height to appreciate the view.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 47mm, f11, 1/100, ISO 200, handheld.
Beautiful dappled sunlight brought out the textures and colours of the Donegal landscape, with this view across the causeway to Inch Island, then the length of Lough Swilly right to the Atlantic Ocean.
The fort itself is impressive, and well worth a visit. The name Aileach means rocky place and the fort sits on top of Greenan mountain. The original fort dates from 8th/9th century and there is a well dedicated to St Patrick. After being plundered by the Vikings in 904 and 935 AD, the fort was destroyed by the King of Munster in 1101. Restoration took place in the 1870’s and many items of interest have been found in the course of archaeological digs.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Well away from the site itself I put the drone up to capture this aerial perspective, which is my favourite from this location. Not only does it showcase the fort in its heathery landscape, but also the Inch levels and the super nature reserve which was the ultimate goal of my visit.
Sony A7RVm 24-70, 37mm, f11, 1/250 sec, ISO 400, handheld
There are three car parks that serve the nature reserve, and an excellent walkway that connects them. This was the view close to one of the car parks, minus an ugly sign which I removed in post processing. (Health and safety signs have a habit of being placed right in the view.). This was my second visit and for anyone interested in birds, it is one of the best locations in the North, well serviced, with easy access for wheelchairs.
It was on my way home from another bird hunt that the second opportunity presented itself, with a view of Binevenagh in golden sunset light.
Sony AR7V, 24-70, 37mm, f10, 1/80 sec, ISO1000
And on that same journey home, I drove onto the strand at Downhill to capture Mussenden Temple in fading sunset light.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 70mm, 1/125,, ISO 1000, handheld.
On the last day of the month we travelled to Scotland, to visit family who live in the Scottish Borders. Unusually, the weather as we travelled was glorious, so we decided to follow the scenic route to Peebles via Moffat. We were just in time to catch the sunset light on the hills and the intriguingly entitled Devil’s Beef Tub.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 70mm, f11, 1/250, ISO 1600
It was a wonderful visit with family and it renewed my desire to return to Scotland.
But I have kept the best to the last. And once again it was in the shape of two opportunities, four days apart, to photograph Porstewart Strand. I had nothing planned on February 25th except for a rather stormy walk on the beach. That all changed when I saw the conditions. The plan to walk was quickly abandoned in favour of a dash with the camera and my 100-400 and head up the beach.
Sony A7RV, Sigma 100-400, 109mm, f11, 1/800, ISO2000, handheld
Sony A7RV, Sigma 100-400, 198mm, f11, 1/800, ISO 1600, handheld.
I loved the mood created by the foreboding clouds, the turbulent sea and the late afternoon sun. I also think the silver/blue/gold colour combination works well. In the second photo I sacrificed foreground sharpness in order to give greater prominence to Mussenden Temple and the dramatic sky above it.
Totally different conditions prevailed four days earlier.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 25mm, f13, 30 sec, ISO100, tripod.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 69mm, f9, 1/160, ISO 1000, handheld.
It had been years since I had attempted a long (30 second) exposure on the strand but it seemed that conditions for this were ideal in the winter sunset, with interesting clouds filling the sky and the sea reaching beyond the posts.
The clouds built and the second photo was taken during a sunlit downpour. This had the effect of turning the scene to bronze. It also resulted in a thorough soaking as my light coat proved no match for the elements. With much use of lens cloths trying to keep the front element free from rain drops I managed a few photos. Turning the other way towards Portstewart I noticed a rainbow beginning to form. This was easier to manage since I was no longer facing both the setting sun and the driving rain.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 35mm, f9, 1/60, ISO 1000, handheld.
It was unusual to have both sunshine and rain in the same photo, but the rain is clearly visible on the sand while the setting sun is just as clear on the posts.
My favourite photo was made before the soaking. Another long exposure, which expresses the calm I so often experience when I spend time on the strand. So this final photo is my photo of the month.
Sony A7RV, 24-70, 24mm, f11, 30sec, ISO100, six stop ND filter, tripod.