My typical Irish summer snaps.....

Well it wasn't a summer of sunny swims or shady meadow picnics. But in our typical Irish summer there were golden days in spite of that.

That's the thing about looking back, we somehow manage to find the sun in it. Like the day the little girl in pink wellies flew her kite on Tramore Beach, the day the neighbours' geese made a run for me, or the perishing Sunday I saw my elders swimming happily during howling gales in Garrarus.

The way the local girls exercise their ponies and manage to chat about Justin Bieber at the same time. Paddy's delight when he finds something lovely for me to photograph. The screams coming from the disembodied legs at the amusements "down around."

Those cloudy grey skies and the very occasionally visible western sunset which would have me running up to the highest point on the hill. The way that little pools of dreamy coloured rain settle in Hydrangea flowers.

Perhaps one of my favourite sights this summer was of the French couple snacking on the Copper Coast bench at Annestown beach. Wrapped up warm, a nice bottle of wine, a pint of Guinness and a selection of cheeses, all while staring into space and an onshore breeze.......A great example of what we would call "getting the best from the day." Here's to a few more weeks of the typical Irish summer!

Fledgeling

Because everything I have done in photography so far has been totally instinctive I have recently found myself wanting to expand my horizons and learn a bit more about the technical side. Taking my courage in my hands I joined George Munday in a Photography Course at the Art Hand a new art school on the Copper Coast 

I was surprised at how vulnerable I felt as a learner again. For starters George is such a completely brilliant professional that delving into his work would make you want to throw your hat at the whole aspiration! For seconders I am usually the trainer in these type of situations and I think it is easy to forget how at sea you can feel as a student. Thirdly maths and numbers would not be my strong point so aperture settings and shutter speeds have always completely eluded me!

The three day intensive covered all the essential skills for Raw and Manual shooting, composition and editing. We went out on location to practice what we were learning, and were encouraged to challenge ourselves and expand our personal portfolios. Our hosts Sean and Miranda Corcoran looked after us in every possible way including hot baked muffins for elevenses and gorgeous home cooked evening meals which we shared in the stunning living space of their grass roofed home. Their vision for creating an experimental art school in this unique cliff-side setting was also truly inspiring.

Gradually the learning is all beginning to sink in. Yesterday I photographed the Great Tit fledgelings on the old birdbath. They were beginning to get a sense of their new wings, and looked a lot like like I feel........it just takes time and practice.......but brings such happiness!

The dance of the Oystercatchers

All my life I have seen Oystercatchers dabbling around in the shallows along Benvoy or one of the other beaches of my childhood. They have a simple routine.

A flock flies in, lands, and then, all together now, dainty little steps into the water and then, suddenly, about face and quick steps out again, and again. After a while a quick foxtrot up or down the beach followed by a swooping fast flight and they are gone again.

Through the lens, I could see that they were having fun, enjoying the larking about, and perfectly present in their world. I was just an observer, a flightless blob on the rock, unable to keep up, I watched them disappear around the headland and on to their next adventure.

I am a slow one these days in comparison. When I try to speed up I remind myself that I am observing details of life very carefully and I must stand still to really see what is around me. This seems to be just as true of work as of play!

And when I take it slowly the mystery and the magic continues......."in a dark time, the eye begins to see" -Theodore Roethke