Sometimes, as here in this image the journey is as scenic as the destination.

On our way to a photography workshop in the west of Ireland, heavy rain arrived - contrary to the forecast for the day, so we stopped to photograph what was only one of many scenic roads on our Wild Atlantic Way drive.

This section of narrow, twisty road was perfect as it was lined with trees and radiated fresh green colour on the overcast day.

This brings into focus, excuse the pun, what to do when the weather forecast doesn't go to plan - be ready to adapt.

The West of Ireland is a perfect location for landscape photography, thankfully it's a place that I know very well.

Rugged mountains, wide open landscapes and plenty of interesting sky as well as the culture and heritage of the western seaboard make this area worthy of a visit but specifically for the photographer it has everything to offer.

I'm a photographer, I'm also a tour leader, geographer and explorer.

I was thinking today about exploration and how, sometimes, a day's exploration can bring unexpected results.

Here, a short walk along a riverbank turned into more of an adventure than I had planned on, traversing the river and climbing over rocks brought me to this picturesque section of the watercourse, lined with autumnal leaves and this fallen tree that made for a good place to stop and set up my tripod.

Long Exposure Photography in Ireland

Ireland's countryside is perfect for landscape photography, here from a photography workshop covering use of filters and long exposures is an early evening cloudy sky with clear golden sunshine.

We set up our tripods and made use of the 10-stop ND filters before sunset, and here the long exposure after sunset: http://panoramicireland.com/photo-tours-blog/cloudy-skies-reflections-sunset-west-ireland-photography-course

Finishing up on a recent photography workshop in the Irish countryside we spotted some interesting clouds heading towards the obscured sun.

Waiting for a few moments brought scenes like this, with sun rays bursting out in all directions as if search beams scanning the countryside.

The Antrim Coast needs little introduction here, search on panoramicireland.com and you will find dozens of articles and images on one of my favourite parts of Ireland.

Here is one of the more interesting locations that is not on the regular tourist trail but is well known to photographers - Elephant Rock.

Morning Reflections from the River Liffey, Dublin

I usually photograph the River Liffey at night with the city's iconic buildings reflected in its calm waters.

Sometimes for the traveller and photographer it is easy to be swayed by the charms of the more famous locations in a country or region.

That attraction is easy, the famous locations are what people ask about when you travel - "Did you visit the Giant's Causeway / Cliffs of Moher / Guinness Storehouse etc.?" is what they enquire when you return from a trip away.

The famous locations have plenty of good images to emulate and are easy to find with plenty of facilities, but Ireland, along with most countries has a wealth of landscapes, sites and sights that are not on the tourist trail.

Like this hidden green laneway, an old route through the countryside and lined with majestic trees, this route was never paved and has remained true to the character of Ireland's old scenic paths.

Join Panoramic Ireland (that's me) to find hidden places like these on one of my photography workshops and tours all over Ireland. See Ireland with a creative eye.

Contact me here.

Photography in the West of Ireland from a Panoramic Ireland Photo Tour

It has been a busy few weeks here at panoramicireland.com, we have covered Ireland's largest music festival Electric Picnic (more to come on that) and also have been busy photographing Ireland's landscapes while leading photography tours in the west of the country.

Here is an image from this week's visit to Ireland's west, a region of lakes and mountains sometimes sunny weather but often it looks like in this image and don't you think it's inviting?

Recent weeks have seen me leading photography tours and workshops all over Ireland, from Antrim to Cork, Dublin to Galway and many points in between using the country's scenic roads like this one to get to location.

Find more about those adventures here on Panoramic Ireland or contact me to join me on a photography experience in Ireland - you choose the location and day.