The Wonders Of Winter.
You may travel the world in search of the most glamorous
locations, but sometimes there’s no place like home.
Its winter time again, and while some folks are ready to reside
indoors, its time for all landscape photographers to gather
their winter gear and start the quest for some great seasonal
images.
For many of us, the greatest joy in photography is to travel to
far-away lands, seeking idyllic locations, that we can only
dream about, and then do our very best to capture them. But do
we need to travel to capture perfect sights? All around us are
places of beauty waiting to be captured and we pass them every
day.
We don’t need to go to great expense or travel thousands of
miles; dramatic places are found in every corner of every land.
But then I do have one of the world’s best locations on my
doorstep: the west coast of Ireland.
While the wet weather can keep me indoors for weeks on end, the
winter months bring harsh, but inspiring light, where a rugged
Irish Landscape thrives.
No more so than a scenic National Park, five miles outside
Killarney town, on the west coast of Ireland. Killarney National
Park, filled with towering hills and romantic lakes, still
remains one of Irelands most unspoiled treasures.
It’s one of those places where my senses come alive; its varied
landscape and rugged, yet accessible, mountain range, is a
favourite spot with many and a place where I like to spend a lot
of time. Its shapely mountain peaks make it a perfect spot to
photograph, especially during the cold and icy winter months.
All we need in photography is a different approach. Each season
brings its own elements, and winter is no exception. Using our
photography skills at the correct time of day can vastly improve
our pictures. If you are serious about photography, dawn is the
time to be up and about. At this hour, the colours of the sky
cast a brilliant orange-red hue that will add mood and character
to any setting.
There are also other elements which make winter special. An
early morning ramble through the woods can be a perfect start to
any day. Our forests are full of great photo opportunities, and
an early stroll around deserted woodland can be a remarkable
experience.
Rivers and valleys are also prime locations for early morning
snaps. If a damp day is followed by a cold night there may be
some low-lying mist hanging around. Mist or no mist, an early
start works best.
Last light of the day is also an excellent time to be out and
about. The evening sun can explode a variety of colours across
the sky as it sets for the day. If the sun shines at the
beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be
much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.
So as winter looms, I gather my belongings and head west to
capture the mood of the harsh Irish winter, and start the quest
for new seasonal images. It certainly isn’t time to put away the
camera. Winter brings plenty of great photo opportunities,
tougher conditions to work in, but just as satisfactory as any
other season.
Each homeland can be a paradise in its own special way: Ireland
is, and I’m sure, winter brings special elements to your
homeland too.
About the author:
TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish Landscape Photographer. If you
are looking for more tips visit: Photo
tips. To view some of his images visit his on-line gallery:
Pictures of
Ireland