Ok, I know people must be bored looking at posts featuring images of Newcastle, Co.Down, but I never tire of visiting the town, and photographing its scenic setting, where mountains meet the sea, or as the songwriter Percy French would have said, “Where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down To The Sea.” Here’s the view that may have inspired the words of the famous song, an image of those very mountains, doing exactly that…
Kilmood is a small hamlet, a few miles from Comber, Co.Down. This picturesque little settlement consists basically of one single street, – Kilmmod Church Road, with rows of cute cottages.
I visited in July 2024, with the Nikon F100 Camera, and a roll of Fujifilm Neon Acros 100ISO film, which I later developed for 7 minutes in Fotospeed FD10
Continue reading Kilmood, Co.DownSt Andrews Church (Church of Ireland) Balligan, near Ballywalter, Co.Down, on a bleak midwinter day.
Built in 1704, the church became famous for choral recitals and classical music, and was a popular venue. Choral Evensong was held on two Sundays each month until fairly recently.
Continue reading Balligan ChurchOur Lady of the Assumption RC Church – a striking modern building situated on Downs Road, Newcastle, Co.Down.
Photographed with a Fujifilm X-T4 F=35mm, f/9 @ 1/125th sec on ISO400
I’ve photographed the Dolmen at Loughinisland before, including around a decade ago, when I shot a wedding scene there, but when passing by from a nearby job, I couldn’t resist stopping for a quick snap or two. It was 17th January, temperature was just above freezing, and bright winter light from a low sun was casting long dark shadows and frost still on the ground, at 11am, in the shadow areas.
I took the Fujifilm X-T4 up to the dolmen with me, and three lenses, a standard zoom, a 300mm zoom and a Lensbaby.
Continue reading Annadorn Dolmen at Loughinisland, Co.DownOn 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.
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 Dundrum and Newcastle, Co.Down is this ancient Dolmen, a strange stone structure that stands out against the skyline.
It is generally supposed that these stone structures mark burial grounds, probably from around 3000-4000 BC. Who built them, or how they were built is a mystery, it seems, but they occur all over Western Europe. Notice how the heaven top rock seems to fit into ‘sockets’ on the supporting rocks, and marvel at ancient engineering skills! To visit the Dolmen take the A2 road from Dundrum to Newcastle, and on reaching Murlough Nature Reserve turn onto Old Road, The Dolmen is on the left. Be aware though, that the tomb is sited on private land, which often is sowed out in crops, and to cross over to the monument would be trespass. It’s wise to take a medium range zoom lens if you want to photograph the Dolmen, and work from the road verge.
I visited the Dolmen on a bright afternoon, so conditions for photography were not optimal. I had to overexpose by around 2 stops to bring out some detail in the stones, which left the sky overexposed. I’d no tripod with me, so no opportunity for a series of shots for HDR processing.
The images above was made with the Fujifilm X-T2, F=180mm, f/8 @ 1/250th sec on ISO250.
Why is Ardglass in a Jamjar? I’ve no idea! But I’ve heard that expression used by my late grandparents, back in the 1960’s. It was made famous by Van Morrison, the singer/sngwriter, who immortalised it in his song ‘Coney Island.’
…On and on, over the hill to Ardglass
Van Morrison
In the jam jar, autumn sunshine, magnificent
And all shining through Stop off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of
Mussels and some potted herrings in case
We get famished before dinner…
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!
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