52 Weeks on the Lough: March 2012

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Week 14... Wednesday 28 March...... Fire breaks out on Camlough Mountain!!

It always happens when we have a long dry spell... someone sets fire to the mountains - this fire is currently burning out of control... Disgraceful!!

Fire burning out of control on Camlough Mountain - Wednesday 28 March

Monday 26 March 2012

Week 13 on the Lough... Saturday 24 March...
Early morning mist on the Newry Canal...

After my attempts to capture the layers of hills, trees, hedges and field from Goragh Wood I decided to head down to the Newry Canal and capture the early morning mist along the banks of the canal... I parked at Steenson's Bridge which carries the Drumiller Road/Glen Road across the disused Newry Canal .... I had to remove a large telegraph pole from all the photos below - but apart from that they remain largely unedited other than levels etc in Lightroom....

Steenson's Bridge, Newry Canal

Early morning light catches Charlotte's place at Steenson's Bridge...

These next two shots are further down the canal closer to Gambles Bridge

Newry Canal near Gambles Bridge, Jerretspass

Fallen tree on the Newry Canal near Gambles Bridge, Jerretspass

More shots of the mist at Gambles Bridge...

Another web near Gables Bridge, Newry Canal

Lonesome tree in the mist....

I don't know if this little fellow is a finch or a nightingale.... help appreciate!!

Early morning dew....

More early morning dew

Week 13 on the Lough... Saturday 24 March...

Early morning fog near Goragh Wood.....

What a wonderful morning - it's so mild I'm walking around in a long sleeved tee shirt and a body warmer at 6:30am....spring is definitely in the air. The mild early morning brings with it the fog and mist that has been forecast and I for one am a happy camper - I've been watching the early morning fog lie in the Newry River Valley between Jerretspass and Newry all week from the train as I travel to work and have a fantastic idea for a foggy morning shoot.... which I hope I've managed to capture.

I set up along a field boundary on a small country lane not far from the entrance to the old Goragh Wood Train Station Entrance and shot a few frames mostly with the Pentax K10D and the SMC-DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED [IF] SDM. I love the warm hues of the early morning mist... I actually had to cool it down in Lightroom (tweaked temperature to 5100K) - the first photograph below was taken using an ultra wide lens all subsequent photographs focused on the layers of hills trees and fields behind the large beach tree right of centre in the picture.

Early morning mist near Goragh Wood

Early morning mist over Tinker's Hill

Early morning mist over Tinker's Hill from Goragh Wood

Monday 19 March 2012

Week 11 on the Lough (Part 3....

Foley's Bridge... Tollymore Forest Park

James Hamilton, the Second Earl of Clanbrassil built Foley’s Bridge in 1787 in honour of his wife Grace Foley... apparently the Earl liked to drive about his estate in his horse and carriage. So to ensure a Happy Earl nice drives were created through the Demesne (now Tollymore Forest Park) so that he could show off his estate to his visiting dignitaries and family.

The camera protective plastic cover the top plate of a Pentax K5 is currently missing in action if anyone finds it along the forest tracks of Tollymore let me know!!.... despite this the K5 cracks straight into action.....

Foley's Bridge, Tollymore Forest Park

Little Monster spotted at Foley's Bridge, Tollymore Forest Park

Week 12 on the Lough.... Monday 19th March 2012

Pierece's Castle, Co Down...

Up at 6am and off to the hills... I decide to stay on the Co Down side of the Lough and head for Kilbroney Forest Park... to find it closed...So I turn and drive to one of my favorite spots Leitrim Lodge on the road to Hilltown/Spelga Dam... I took two cameras today the Pentax K5 with the Pentax SMC DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED [IF] SDM and the Pentax K10 with the Sigma AF 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM... I also took with me both tripods... not a good idea!!

Any semblance of fitness I thought I had are now sadly a distant memory!! I'm pushing myself a wee bit as I'm behind schedule and the sun is starting to rise above the horizon... but my legs are hollow!!! and my lungs are filled with gunk!! As I start the ascent it's getting bright and I know I'm not going to make it to Pierce’s Castle, a tor which stands proud above the surrounding upland bog just below Eagles Rock Mountain.... so I content myself with grabbing a few frames of the mornings first rays.

Despite arriving around 30mins late (by the way when did arriving at the summit of a mountain at 07:45 constitute LATE) I set myself up on the rocks and shelves across the tor. The wind has really picked up and it's cutting through my fleece with a gusto!! This make me work faster and find shelter behind every rock and stone. Despite the wind and my late arrival I still manage to get some beautiful shots this morning....

Hen Mountain from Pierces Castle

Rocky Mountain and Tornamrock from the slopes of Pierces Castle

A loan boulder on the bog at Pierces Castle

The Rocky River Valley from Pierces Castle

Over all a very enjoyable morning.... On my way back down the hill I diverted along Batt's Wall as I wanted to capture the early morning light around the stands of Scots Pine trees along the slopes of Altnataggart Mountain and the Yellowwater River Valley... Beautiful

I head home around 10:00 feeling fantastically rewarded and craving a bacon soda... which my beautiful wife had ready... brown sauce and everything!!

Sunday 18 March 2012

Week 12 on the Lough... Sunday 18 March 2012...

Mothers Day in Warrenpiont

Warrenpoint.. and the arrival of the annual St Patrick's Day funfair means it's Mother's Day spent with the family... A weekend of fun with my girls....