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…
Our 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
Nestling in the shadow of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mountains of Mourne, is one of the most beautiful areas of Northern Ireland. Driving towards Newcastle, whether through Ballynahinch or Downpatrick, one will pass through Clough, where on the left hand side of the road is Clough Castle, an ancient Motte, probably dating back to Norman times.
The Irish poet and songwriter, Percy French immortalised Newcastle, Co.Down in his famous song…
Oh, Mary, this London’s a wonderful sight
With people here working by day and by night
They don’t sow potatoes, nor barley nor wheat
But there’ gangs of them digging for gold in the streets
At least when I asked them that’s what I was told
So I just took a hand at this diggin’ for gold
But for all that I found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
Tonight, on the hottest day of the year in Northern Ireland, I visited Newcastle, and made some images around the town… Continue reading Percy French Country
Sometimes it’s a good practice to look back at image one has made over the years, – with a critical eye! Here’s a few I’ve been mulling over recently:-
This image of the Playhouse Theatre, Derry/Londonderry was part of a commercial commission. The brief was to show the effect of the lights on the wall opposite the Theatre.
This simple image of Slieve Bunion, in Co Down, part of the ‘Mountains of Mourne’ range has been one of my very best sellers! I’ve sold this image in framed prints, magnets, even mugs!
This image of Ballycopeland Windmill in Co. Down is a real quirk, as anyone who knows it would realise! It is of course, heavily photoshopped, to show the sun rising in the North! Just for a wee change.
And finally, for this selection, an image that’s just a little more personal…
This image of Janette’s parent’s old kitchen, after they’d moved out of the farmhouse, was part of an exhibition at the Curve Gallery, Belfast. I called it ‘Dereliction.’
A visit to Newcastle on a wild, wet, windy Tuesday, and an opportunity to capture some images with the iPhone. I was fascinated with the tumult of the sea at the mouth of the Shimna River, so I opened the ‘Hueless App’ and quick iPhone snap or two later…
Go on, use your iPhone camera, and record life as it happens.
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