Movement can add to a landscape and travel image, if it is in context and adds to the final image.

During a recent photography workshop we stopped to photograph a woodland scene with thin, straight, tall beech trees growing from a moss-covered wet hummocky floor providing the interest, a path meandering that leads the eye.

Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta are a common sight throughout Ireland in late spring every year, particularly in woodlands.

Here in Sligo the whole woodland floor is carpeted with blue from the native wildflowers, rocks and trees are covered with bright green moss under a canopy of fresh green beech leaves.

The woodlands of Ireland make a perfect location for photography during all seasons, late spring is just perfect with fresh green leaves and mixed lighting giving the perfect combination for capturing colour.

Just like the autumnal scenes I photographed here, the spring path through this Irish forest gave us a splendid afternoon of photography on a recent photography workshop with Jim from San Diego. 

The day started with images of a nearby lake, its character lay in its densely wooded shores and islands with a blue cloud-filled sky. Following a downpour and break for lunch we headed on to this location, an old woodland, but not ancient, comprised mainly of beech, ash and a few horse chestnuts.

At one point a group of walkers pass us by and we wait for them to amble off into the distance before continuing on our own journey again. A few ruins dot the forest, the walls covered with moss lie in tumble-down condition with hawthorn growing low and spreading in one corner. Taking another path we find some more interesting woodland scenes.

Photography in woodlands presents many challenges, the quality of the light is as important as it is for any landscape photography, even in the depths of a forest the slightest breeze can cause movement in branches.

Panoramic Ireland's photography tours, photography workshops and experiences are suitable for everyone, from woodland landscapes to street photography and for all levels. You don't need a high-end DSLR, just a camera (preferably with manual controls) and lots of enthusiasm. For more information contact us here.

Autumn is really the time of year to be out there with camera in hand, or on tripod as the case may be.

Colour and character conquer the countryside as leaves turn and fall to the ground.

Irish Forests - A countryside resource

Walking in Ireland is a pleasure but can sometimes be a disappointment especially given the better levels of access to the countryside that other countries enjoy.  

In Ireland, access to the countryside is poor compared to the levels afforded in Scotland, England, France and other countries.

Ancient woodlands are very rare in Ireland. By ancient woodland in Ireland we mean woodland that has been continuously forested since 1660, this date is shortly after the Cromwellian land confiscations of the seventeenth century and several surveys carried out around the 1650s would have identified land ownership and land use.