Recent cold weather has brought clear conditions with bright blue skies and frosty mornings.

The hedgerows take on another form when frost covered and the mountains beckon, their ice-covered summits set against the bright blue sky can be almost blinding.

This is of course perfect for the landscape photographer in winter.

February 2017 saw me photographing a lot of studio images for my site darrenmcloughlin.com but I did venture out into the countryside both on my own and while leading tours in Dublin, Wicklow and Kilkenny.

Snow made a return during February 2017 and crocus flowers were in full bloom. The coast of course was a perfect destination with stormy weather and beautiful winter light.

Have a look at the YouTube video here for the show.

Dublin is a great city for street photography, the small size and relaxed attitude of its inhabitants coupled with small cobbled streets and alleyways makes for many opportunities to photograph people on the Irish capital's streets.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph the streets of Dublin on one of my photography workshops throughout the year.

See panoramicireland.com/dublin for more or use the contact form to enquire.

Yesterday's bright sunshine in Dublin did a lot to dispel the myth that Ireland is miserably cold and wet and dull in the winter.

Dublin Castle in winter sunshine, walking tour with camera

Many of our winter days are bright and sunny, often cold but don't let anyone put you off the idea of visiting and planning a visit to Dublin in winter, hotel rooms are cheaper, there are fewer tourists and we do have decent weather.

Ireland's famous waterfall the Reversey Falls, where water flows backwards up the fall is a natural phenomenon that still puzzles scientists.

Enjoy the view!

Panoramic Ireland's favourite images from January 2017

The year included some particularly beautiful scenes and January was no exception with colourful seascape sunsets, Dublin at night and ferns in golden sunshine.

Enclosed is the short YouTube video so watch, enjoy and like or even subscribe for more videos coming this way.

Ardmore Cathedral on a fine sunny winter's day, Ireland.

Ardmore Cathedral is one of Ireland's oldest Christian settlements having been founded in the 5th century by the pre-Patrician Saint Declan. In other words, this was a religious settlement before the arrival of Ireland's most famous Christian figure Saint Patrick.

Situated on a height overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in County Waterford in Ireland's southeast, Ardmore has an amazing collection of ancient monuments including the 12th century 30m high round tower and carvings in the cathedral wall as seen on this image from a bright winter's day in Ireland. The Romanesque carvings as seen here are quite unusual in Ireland.

Read more about Irish round towers here.

I moved on to photograph the coast, Ireland is perfect for landscape photography in the winter.

So if you are looking for something to do in Ireland in winter join Panoramic Ireland, that's me, on a photography tour in Ireland to learn how to photograph places like Saint Declan's monastery here at Ardmore.

Slievenamon, Sliabh na mBan or 'Mountain of the Women'

As I write this Storm Fionn is hitting Ireland and bringing with it snow, heavy winds and high seas.

It's rather fitting then that last week I climbed a mountain in County Tipperary called Slievenamon, whose Irish name means Mountain of the Women.

This 721m high mountain sits at the end of a long ridge stretching across the south east of Ireland.

It was an important mountain in Irish mythology having been the place chosen by an important mythological figure, often described as a giant, Finn or Fionn MacCumhaill as the site of a race - the winner would be the first woman to ascend Slievenamon who would win Fionn's hand in marriage.

Finn, as you might already know, is the hero/god/giant who created the Giant's Causeway, Lough Neagh and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea according to legend. 

So check out the video of my short ascent of Slievenamon from the green Suir Valley to the white, icy wonderland on top with stunning views of the Munster Vales and the counties of this part of Ireland situated along the driving route known as Ireland's Ancient East, like the present Storm Fionn it was blowing a gale at 721m above sea level.

The video is hosted on YouTube but you can watch it here on this page by playing it.

Slievenamon - above the snow line in winter

Braving the elements on a cold winter's day we climbed up Slievenamon, a 720m-high mountain in Ireland's Ancient East and part of the scenic Munster Vales region.

Starting along the scenic lanes we walked through green fields past pine forest with views along the Suir Valley towards the Knockmealdown, Comeragh and Galtee Mountains.

At the top it was a white and blue sky winter wonderland with iced snow coating everything, it was cold and the strong north easterly wind made it feel even colder.

Here is an image from the top of the sun and that wintry scene.

More to come on this adventure, why not join me on my next outing to learn how to photograph Irish landscapes.

For more on photography tours and workshops in Ireland contact me.

On a recent post here on panoramicireland.com I wrote about the necessity of patience in landscape photography.

I also mentioned that on most occasions here in Ireland, the weather does clear up and allow us to capture spectacular scenes under amazing light.

But sometimes the weather does set in and on those occasions there are alternative things to do and photograph on a photography tour.

Here is one such place, the famous Long Room Library in Dublin's Trinity College. I have photographed here on many occasions, including for Ritz-Carlton and produced this 360-degree panorama of the book repository that inspired the makers of Star Wars. Here is the link: Long Room Library Virtual Tour

So on those days that don't go to plan, we always keep options in mind. 

To join me on a photography tour in Dublin, the Long Room Library or anywhere else in Ireland - see here.