A Stormy Atlantic Ocean, February 2014, Connemara, Ireland

Another day on the Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland's west coast, this time the day happens to be one of the stormiest in living memory in Ireland. With a tornado in Athleague, Co. Roscommon, almost 200,000 homes without power, 160km/h winds and trees falling on vehicles all over Ireland it was certainly an eventful day for some.

Wicklow Mountains Panorama

The Wicklow Mountains lie close to Dublin and for many of the millions who live in the Greater Dublin area these mountains are their piece of wilderness. And what a place to take a journey to, escaping the busy city streets and getting into the Wicklow Mountains can be done in less than an hour.

The weather wasn't going to cooperate on this day that I had set aside for some photography in Sligo.

 And yes, the white specks are sheep on the mountain side.

Photography in Stormy Weather

Stormy weather and photography often produce spectacular results, large waves, storm clouds and lightning in the sky are exciting subjects. Wind and rain means very wet conditions, despite how much you try to waterproof your camera water will always find its way in. Some SLR cameras have water resistant seals on the buttons, dials and on the lens mount but in heavy downpours your equipment is at risk.

Here I will try to give more of an insight into what a photo tour with Panoramic Ireland actually consists of.

So, what actually is a photo tour I hear you ask. A photo tour with Panoramic Ireland is what you want it to be, street photography, coastal sunrise, sunset in the mountains, long exposures and night time photography with a balance of exploration and learning new skills.

Every day is an adventure, and it's about time you got out there and enjoyed it. 

Each and every tour is designed to suit you, to take you to the best parts of Ireland without all that fuss of finding the right locations, to challenge your existing skills as a photographer and to explain those uncertain principles of photography that you have forgotten.

A beautiful morning on Dublin Bay today

Yesterday (Saturday) was nothing more than cold and damp, with rain from sunrise to sunset and beyond. One of those days when you have no motivation to leave home, thankfully those days are few and far between - even during the winter.

Aasleagh Falls in Co. Mayo

The best thing about spending time in the west of Ireland is being so close to some of the best landscapes in the world.  Either side of running a few photo tours in Northern Ireland and Dublin I took a few days to get back to one of my favourite parts of Ireland - Galway and Mayo. I ended up extending this with a trip to Sligo. These are three fine, scenic counties.

Have you been to the Aasleagh Falls or Leenane?

No snow this winter in Ireland

Ireland has been hit by storm after storm this autumn and winter with more to arrive, and although there has been some snow on sheltered east-facing slopes on the mountains that ring the country, there has been no widespread frozen precipitation over the country.

Another day in the mountains of the West of Ireland

A typical stormy winter's day in Ireland's West, the view of mountains and lakes with a celtic cross in the foreground. A bracing and worthwhile walk along steepening paths, past sheep, fences and field boundaries took me over the pass and to this view over the wild west of Ireland.

A journey to Galway with Sunset in Sailthill

A long day today saw me in Galway, known as the City of the Tribes it lays claim to being the festival city of Ireland. Almost every visitor to Ireland talks about Galway in such ways that it makes you wonder why all Irish people don’t move there.

Home to many a brilliant festival including the Galway Film Fleadh, the Oyster Festival and the Galway Arts Festival amongst others; with a thriving social scene with some of the best pubs in Ireland Galway has always had a reputation for being the liveliest city in Ireland.