County Tipperary has been named as one of the top places in the world to visit in 2022 by Condé Nast, the world's most famous travel magazine.

It has been mentioned specifically for its food and scenic beauty.

You will find no argument about this from Panoramic Ireland, we enjoy photographing in the green county that stretches from the River Shannon to the River Suir.

I have written about Torc Waterfall in County Kerry before, my last visit was during the winter on a trip to the Kingdom that saw me photograph snow on the mountains and visit some of the finest sections of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.

Here, what is probably Ireland's most photographed waterfall, Torc cascades from behind a natural green curtain of foliage, notably brighter than in the winter image featuring only the darker shades of evergreen holly.

A recent photography tour in County Donegal brought us to the edge of a mountain to photograph the landscape of Ireland's most northerly county.

The weather was overcast, torrential rain had put an early end to photographic pursuits the previous evening, so despite a long journey across the country we headed off to photograph at least a few of the scenes missed.

Just off the boggy path, sodden from the recent heavy precipitation, we spotted a relaxed sheep just sitting on the edge of a rock. 

With a smile it watched our every move, unperturbed by our presence and the glass of our long lenses pointed right at it.

No doubt finding mirth at our clumsy perambulation across the narrow, slippy track.

For a time this was the most photographed sheep in Donegal, and the most accommodating, as it continued with its perfect pose for some time.

A moment of utilitarianism.

On we went in search of waterfalls and ancient ruins.

Join Panoramic Ireland, that's me, to photograph in the Irish mountains or the urban wilderness of Dublin.

Ireland has seen some weather in the past few weeks of summer 2021. A heatwave covered the island in a thick layer of warm air with temperatures regularly in the high 20s Celsius, even reaching 31.4C.

Then, the inevitable rainy weather where now, a week later, we are seeing rain and wind and unseasonably cold weather of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Yet it's not all doom and gloom, the weather often gives landscape photographers a fine spectacle at sunset.

That's what we got tonight as a full day of rain cleared to give a cloudy sunset with spreading rays of orangey-red light across the sky. Quite an experience, initially we saw the rays of sunshine lighting up the landscape so turned to find the view obscured somewhat as we were photographing from behind a tall hedge; after spending some time and effort climbing through hawthorns and elder to get a clearer view of the final burst of colour in the sky and were not disappointed.

Join Panoramic Ireland, that's me, for a landscape photography adventure in the Irish countryside.

Ireland is a green country, except when it snows and even in winter (February in the image above) that green still shows in the fields and woodlands of the Irish countryside.

Here, in a fine little woodland of beech, ash and oak a cascading stream flows over rocks as the low rays of the winter sun brightens riparian scene of mosses, ferns and fallen leaves.

Photography in Ireland isn't just a summer interest, the country has many beautiful scenes to capture throughout the year.

Golden light slowly fills in from the east as sunrise approaches on the Irish Sea coast of Ireland.

Mountains hidden by the night slowly emerge from darkness casting off their shrouds of cloud, gently pushed by the morning breeze.

It might not be possible to travel to Ireland right now, as we approach the end of 2020 but in spring and summer 2021 Ireland will be open to travel and to visitors seeking to view and photograph the seascapes and landscapes of the fine countryside.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, for a landscape photography tour in Ireland during 2021 - no deposit required.

Pots of gold they say, that's what you will find at the end of a rainbow.

I'm not so sure, I have photographed many rainbows over the years and upon inspection have never found any gold - perhaps those pesky leprechauns got there before me.

Here, the round tower and small church of the monastic city at Glendalough are seen above the fast flowing river and underneath the rainbow. These stones must have seen plenty of rainbows and rainy weather in their almost 1,000 years in their current positions.

Rainbows can only occur when the sun is located behind the observer, when the sun is low in the sky and when there is rain or mist in the direction of view. The colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

Sunlight enters droplets of water in the atmosphere and is reflected back, undergoing refraction as it enters and leaves the water.

Anyway, for a photographer a rainbow is a little like gold in itself, find a rainbow over any scene and it is instantly improved and if you move around to find a new angle the rainbow will be accommodating in its desire to fit neatly into the subject in front of you as seen here on Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, on a photography workshop in Ireland when we can travel again (in 2021) and in the meantime check back for more images, stories and news from Ireland.

As I write it appears that Ireland is again heading for lockdown, the Irish government are meeting tomorrow Monday 19th October to decide on moving the country to Level 4 or Level 5, perhaps something in between.

I have just created a new voucher for a photography workshop in Dublin, and I chose the image above of a stormy morning by the coast of the capital; blue hour is well under way as crashing waves fill the rocky shore with texture, clouds racing across the sky - you can almost smell and feel the freshness of the Irish coast. 

See a previous post on vouchers here: https://panoramicireland.com/miscellaneous-blog-category/131-vouchers-for-christmas-or-birthday-presents-photo-tours

While travel overseas may be disrupted, vouchers make a good present for friends and family who want to learn more about photography on a private workshop - so without crowds; a relaxing environment to learn and enjoy the experience.

Don't forget that Panoramic Ireland's photography workshops and tours are private, made to suit your interests and location - and we have been creating tailored tours in Ireland for 15 years.

Vouchers are available for Christmas and all year round, they are valid for several years and bookings can be made for most days of the year subject to availability. It is possible to pay for workshop vouchers in instalments so contact us to find out more.

While museums and many indoor attractions are currently closed in Dublin - including the Long Room Library and Book of Kells at Trinity College as the city is is on a three-week lockdown - the rest of Ireland is open.

Exploring the Irish countryside with camera is not a new endeavour to me but for much of this year it has been a difficult one with travel restrictions in place.

Here, deep in rural Ireland I found some old miners' cottages.  A remnant of a previous economic collapse, the industry here halted due to cheaper imports from overseas; soon after the mine closed and the miners left to find new work - often heading overseas to where those cheaper imports were coming from.

Join me, actually on a photography workshop in Ireland, or virtually by keeping up to date with Panoramic Ireland's travels in the Irish countryside by subscribing to the newsletter below.

Croagh Patrick Brocken Spectre and Ringed Glory

Ireland is a magical place, many myths and legends abound of superheroic endeavours and mysterious peoples.

That magic didn’t disappear centuries ago either, it still exists.