Swimming with Desmond

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Swimming with Desmond, Dublin's Forty Foot and the Irish Sea Swimming with Desmond, Dublin's Forty Foot and the Irish Sea ©Darren McLoughlin

In the aftermath of Storm Desmond who swept across Ireland in the first week of December 2015 and despite warnings from infamous TV reporter Teresa Mannion these Irish men and women kept alive the brave daily tradition of swimming in the country's coastal waters year round.

Despite strong winds and heavy sea swells, the morning was bright and cheery. No sign of a clear sunrise for the photographer but plenty of soft sunlight that helped me to instruct my student during the early morning photography workshop close to Dublin on the Irish Sea.

Our morning's start was late as sunrise in Dublin in December is approx. 08:20, compared to an unsociable 04:55 in June.

Would-be swimmers arrived and left, daunted by the swell. We photographed the empty scene in front us, devoid of people but full of action brought straight to our feet by nature. And it was exciting. As the tide began to recede, with intermittent surges forcing wave energy onto the shore, stronger and more confident swimmers arrived and took to the water, often diving as seen in this image.

We stayed for almost two hours here, the light subtly changed as it slowly gained height in the sky, clouds of many varied types arrived to make it brighter and duller to give the photographic process more interest. After taking down our tripods and packing away our camera equipment we headed off for a coffee and warmed our feet - cold from surging seawater ingress and a stationary, but not sedentary, position collecting light on our sensors during the morning workshop.

And yes I have gone swimming here, see my video on YouTube from Christmas Day at Dublin's Forty Foot 2014 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJU1vwlZPA

Panoramic Ireland create photography experiences in Ireland from Dublin's coastline to the Shannon. Learn how to make better images and truly see Ireland on our one-to-one photography workshops and tours.

Last modified on Wednesday, 05 February 2020 11:08
Darren McLoughlin

Irishman and International travel photographer in search of the best bits of Ireland. Leading photography tours and experiences in Ireland.

Contributor to New York Times / Sunday Times / Irish Times / Echtra Echtra and Eonmusic

Cancer survivor.

Ask me about travel in Ireland or about photography in Ireland.

https://darrenmcloughlin.com

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