Images of Connemara: Aoife Herriott
The West of Ireland always looks a million dollars. It can’t get any prettier, we thought. There’s no way the West could look sharper, we said.
Then we saw Aoife Herriott’s work.
When it rains, she captures a rainbow. When mist forms, she heads for the mountains. When lightning strikes a tree, she treats it like sculpture.
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy these shots of and her commentary.
‘Connemara Ponies at Gurteen, Renvyle’
‘Connemara Ponies at Gurteen’
This photo was taken after a recent heavy spell of rain. The sun had just broken through, illuminating the ponies and the foreground, while another heavy shower can be seen coming in over Maol Reidh mountain in the distance.
‘Maol Reidh from Renvyle’
‘Maol Reidh from Renvyle’, Connemara
I find that Maol Reidh mountain features in many of my coastal images – sometimes quite prominently but in this case, where I have used quite a wide lens, its dominant form is reduced to an interesting shape on the horizon line. This image was taken early in the year when there was still a light sprinkling of snow on the summit.
‘Gurteen Pier, Renvyle’
‘Gurteen Pier’
This long exposure was taken at around midday on a particularly bright summer’s day. It required a 10 stop ND filter to bring the exposure down to around 30 secs, resulting in the silky texture of the water. I love the simplicity and calmness of this image.
‘Lightning Tree, Currywongaun’
‘ Lightning Tree’
I think this photo works because of the simplicity of the subject and the beautiful evening light combined with the classic ‘rule of thirds’ technique. I am not sure whether the tree was actually ever struck by lightning but this is the name I have known it by since I was a child!
‘Misty morning Over Lough Inagh’ (panorama)
‘Misty Morning’, Lough Inagh
Driving from to Galway early one morning, I was struck by this heavy mist which had settled itself over Lough Inagh. This image is actually a composite of six separate images subsequently stitched together in Photoshop.
‘Mussel Bags, Killary Fjord’
‘Mussel Bags’, Killary Fjord
This photograph was taken for a locally produced book ‘Irish Mussel Cuisine’ featuring mussel recipes inspired by the Connemara Mussel Festival. The Fjord, which is well known for mussel farming, is the only one of its kind in Ireland.
‘The Twelve Bens from Roundstone Bog’
‘The Twelve Bens from Roundstone Bog’
A relatively long exposure was again used here to add a little movement to the reeds in the lake. The transient Connemara light is evident over the Twelve Bens mountain range in the distance.
‘Rainbow Over Renvyle Strand’
‘Rainbow over Renvyle Strand’
I had to run for cover just moments after taking this photograph! I love the quality of the light here and the rainbow was a lucky bonus!
Stunning work Aoife.
We were at Kilary Fjord last week,so your picture of the farmed mussels,spoke to me. Interesting to see them out of the water, delicious on the plate!
My usual gift of gab has left as I look at your images…simply put…beautiful!
I love the pictures, hope to see more of them. I always wanted to go to Ireland, I wish i had a friend in Ireland, some one to talk to, so please write back, if you can.
Fabulous….keep up the great work. It’s so nice to look at scenery like this far from home. You’ve captured the spirit and essence of Connemara.
These are beautiful!!
Beautiful
check out this guy’s photos of Ireland http://greg77.net/
These are great pictures,so calming. Have been to Connermara many times and we also saw Rainbows. Spent some days on my husbands Island call Feenish. She was born on this Island. Love to spend the day there it is so calming and love all the history of it.
Some days when we went to Connermara we saw Rainbows also. We spent many days on an Island called Feenish where my husbands Mother came from. It was so claming and like to hear his cousins tell us all about it. Very quiet and peaceful.
You can not walk there you go by a little boat.
Prachtige foto’s van zo’n mooie streek. Het doet ons terug denken aan een vakantie in die streek. Wij hebben daar ‘s nachts een hevige storm meegemaakt op een camping in Renvyle, aan de kust. Geen prettige ervaring, maar de volgende dag met de opkomst van de zon, het mooiste wat we ooit gezien hebben.
Wow! They’re really lovely, Kasia. I particularly like the shot with the leafless tree in the mist.
Some serious talent there. Thanks a million for posting the link.
David
Stunning Photography.Congratulations Aoife.Lovely to see those places again.Thank you so much. Bridget. Ontario.canada.
Beautiful photos of Connemara. You captured it in its various moods. Makes me long to be there!
Simply gorgeous you have made me very homesick