31st December 2021 was the warmest New Year’s Even since records began, with some parts of Northern Ireland reaching 14 degrees Celsius. That’s warm for this part of the world! People were getting out and about, and no more so that at Portstewart, on the North Coast.
This old brick gateway at Ballyhome, Coleraine has attracted me for years – I pass it quite often on the way to our family holiday home at Portrush, and I’ve always wanted to point a lens at it – but up until last week I never had opportunity, for one reason or another…
…Until ask week, when Janette and me were driving back from Bushmills, and I determined to stop and make a few images – in between the passing cars on the road down into Coleraine!
I don’t know who owns it or where the path leads, but it’s a striking entrance for whatever property!
Photographed on the Fujifilm X-T4, F=50mm, f/5.6 @ 1/125th sec on ISO800.
Shooting seagulls at Islandhill, near Comber today, using the Fujifilm X-T4 and a 55-200mm lens. The tide was fully in when I was there, so there was no chance of getting along the Causeway to the island itself. Still, there were a few photo opportunities.
On Thursday 7th January I crossed the straits between Portaferry and Strangford on the ferry, with my Fujifilm X-T4. It was a cold, bright winter day, and Strangford village was sparkling in the winter sunlight.
Back in September, 2020, Janette and I did a drive around the Lecale District, an area of outstanding natural beauty, not too far from where we live in Co.Down. I did three blog posts about that area, and in the first of those pieces, https://bobmcevoy.co.uk/2020/09/01/the-lecale-district-1/ I mentioned Van Morrison’s song, “Coney Island.” (Is it really a song?), in which Mr Morrison, one of our native sons, mentions many of the local places of interest in this part of Northen Ireland. But one of the lines of the song intrigued me. For Mr Morrison writes of driving through Shrigley to take photographs before he travelled on down to Killyleagh.
Continue reading Shrigley, Van Morrison and that Clock!Autumn is a special time of year – especially along our local country roads! Here’s Ballyknockan Road, just outside Ballygowan, Co.Down.
The image was made with the Fujifilm X-T4 mirrorless camera, F=45mm, f/7.1 @ 1/60th sec on ISO800
Shooting into the midday sun is never a great idea but the waves and the dark Mournes were irresistible today.
The image was captured today on Murlough Beach, a National Trust property, between Dundrum and Newcastle, Co.Down. The tallest peak is Slieve Donard, part of the Mourne Mountains range.
Shot on the Fujifilm X-T4, F=30mm f/20 @ 1/125th sec on ISO160.
Continue reading Dark Mournes – Murlough BayBetween Carryduff and Lisburn, with views across Belfast and the Lagan Valley lies the hamlet of Drumbo, with its historic Round Tower, now situated the graveyard of the Drumbo Presbyterian Church.
The tower is one of the oldest monastic monuments in Ireland, dating from around the early medieval period. It was around in AD1130 when records show that it was plundered by one Connor McLochlin.
Continue reading Drumbo Round TowerIt was a sky just like this that inspired the songwriter Jimmie Kennedy to write his famous lyric, “Red Sails in the Sunset.” This image was captured using the Fujifilm X-T2.
Red sails in the sunset
Way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one
Home safely to me
Sketrick Island is a favourite place for a walk, and a walk needs a camera… Today, Friday 8th May 2020 Janette and I went for a socially isolated walk along the causeway out to the island. It was a lovely warm, calm sunny morning. Here’s some shots…
I think this is my ‘Shot of the Day…’
Portraits2Go.co.uk 