All posts by Bob McEvoy

Freelance Photographer.
Beautiful Ulster, Co. Down, Travel

The Lecale District #1

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Kilclief, Co.Down

Van Morrison (who I understand had a significant birthday yesterday) wrote a song called ‘Coney Island’ in which he mentions ‘the Lecale District.’ It’s that broad area that stretches along the Co.Down coastline between Killyleagh and Killough, and includes towns like Downpatrick, Shrigley, Strangford, and Ardglass. locale is (like Strangford and the Ards Peninsula), a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’ – so it’s no wonder that when Van Morrison made his meandering car journey through it, he would wish that it could be like this all the time!

Fujifilm X-T30, F=21mm, f/5.6 @ 1/180th sec on ISO400

One of those outstandingly beautiful areas is the little hamlet of Kilclief, perched right on the edge of ‘the Narrows’ that bottle-neck of unpredictable tidal water at the mouth of Strangford Lough. Kilclief has an old castle, (Caislean Cill Cléithe) a state supported monument, a ‘tower-house’ built around the years 1412-1441, by one John Sely, the Bishop of Down, later defrocked for living at this castle with a married woman who went by the unusual name of Lettice Savage!

Continue reading The Lecale District #1 →
Beautiful Ulster, Co. Down, Travel

Driftwood

Newcastle Co.Down.

The recent storm (Ellen, I think) caused flooding in the seaside town of Newcastle as the Shimna River burst through its banks. The Shimna rises in the Mournes and meanders through forested areas on the sides of the hills. Wood swept down by the torrential currents ended up in the Irish Sea and washed up on the beach.

The dark hills in the background are the Mourne Mountains of Percy French fame, sweeping musically down to the sea. I like this image because of its contrasts, its light and shade, the textures of the driftwood and the deep shadow of the hills.

Fujifilm X-T2, F=18mm, f/6.4 @ 1/125th sec on ISO800.

The driftwood is quite bright – after all, it’s been washed clean by the sea, so I exposed for the wood, which cast the mountains into deep shadow, an effect I rather liked!

Beautiful Ulster, Co. Down, Ireland, Travel

Angus Rock Lighthouse

Angus Rock Lighthouse sited in the Narrows between Lecale and the Ards Peninnsula. Built as a day guide only, the light was added in 1980, and later became solar powered. It can be photographed from Kilclief, but you need a longish lens. This image was made with a 300mm Nikon lens on a Fujifilm X-T30, so probably the equivalent of approx 500mm on a full-frame/35mm camera.

The camera was supported on a monopod (My granddaughter Chloe calls it my ‘giant selfie stick’). Here’s the boring stuff: F=300mm, f/5.6 @ 1/180th sec on ISO400.

Personally, I like the ‘minimalist’ look of the image.

Co. Antrim, Travel

Portrush Wheel

A long walk from the West Strand into Portrush, around Ramore Head and back past Barry’s to the West Strand, with a break for a cappuccino along the way! Just one pause to make an image with the Fujifilm X-T30, and a Nikon manual focus 35-70mm lens. It was dusk, around 8.45pm:-

Beautiful Ulster, Black & White, Co. Antrim, Ireland, Photo-Essay, Travel

Same Portrush – Different PerspecTive

We walked through Portrush this afternoon, and then drove out through Bushmills to have afternoon coffee at the fabulous BOTHY COFFEE cafe at White Park Bay. Iv’e spent so much time with a camera in Portrush, so I wanted to get some different shots, something fresh and original from a familiar location. Here’s a few of my efforts…

The Liverpool Supporter’s Back Alley/.

I looked down this entry and noticed a Liverpool FC flag hanging from a window, giving a tiny splash colour to an otherwise bland scene.

Continue reading Same Portrush – Different PerspecTive →
Belfast, Documentary, Reportage

Templemore Avenue Baths (Part 3)

The Bathrooms and the Board Room!

I’ve finally got around to uploading part three of my Templemore Avenue Baths Project. If you haven’t seen Part One and Two, you can find them here.

https://bobmcevoy.co.uk/2019/12/29/templemore-baths-belfast/

https://bobmcevoy.co.uk/2020/06/27/templemore-baths-belfast-part-2/

The Public Baths was more than just a swimming pool (or two!).  The original idea of the baths was to provide hygiene for the people of East Belfast at a time when houses had no bathrooms.  The old bathrooms are long out of use, but I was able to get a look at them. Continue reading Templemore Avenue Baths (Part 3) →

Co.Londonderry, Londonderry, News and Commentary, Reportage

Guildhall Square, Londonderry

Where have all the tourists gone?

I sat for an hour or so in Derry’s Guildhall Square, watching the people coming and going, drunks, locals, buskers, children, parents, tour guides and even the odd tourist…  All manner of life passes through it.

Co_LDerry 19-08-2020_36
Covid-19 has changed this popular tourist destination – and not for the better.

Continue reading Guildhall Square, Londonderry →

Co.Londonderry, Photo-Technique

Silhouettes

Derry Girls.

One of my favourite photo-techniques is the silhouette. This involves exposing for a bright background and leaving the subject in deep shadow.

In Londonderry I made this silhouette of a girl, sitting looking out the window of a cafe. Silhouettes are good for this kind of candid shot, for the identity of the ‘Derry Girl’ remains shrouded in mystery.

Fujifilm X-T30 fitted with a Nikon 35-70mm manual focus lens.

Co.Londonderry, Londonderry, Travel

NIR Railway Journeys – L’Derry

The Coleraine to Londonderry Line.

(Updated)

If you are travelling on the train from Coleraine to Londonderry there are some truly stunning views, and on approach to the city this otherwise inaccessible view of the Peace Bridge and the Guildhall are a worthwhile image to capture.

This mage made while the train was moving using the Fujifilm X-T30. The trains are double glazed so a little bit of dehazing in Lightroom fixed that. Continue reading NIR Railway Journeys – L’Derry →