<< Previous Next >>

Ballinskellig Bay


Ballinskellig Bay
Photo Information
Copyright: Emma Taylor (Aramok) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 103 N: 1420] (4887)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-17
Categories: Seascape, Mountain, Sky
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 24-105mm F/4.0 L IS USM, Digital ISO 100, Lee Filter System
Exposure: f/8, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Ireland - September 2008
Date Submitted: 2008-10-30 5:38
Viewed: 358
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is Ballinskellig Bay. (Irish: Baile na Sceilge meaning homestead of the rocks) - Actually finding any information on this area is surprisingly difficult. What I can tell you is that it is one of Europe's western most land points, covered in standing stones, oratories, burial grounds and crosses.

This was the first of only 3 walks we did whist on holiday in Ireland. The weather was simply too hot for us for any serious mountaineering/walking.

We had parked at Ballinskellig village which has a fantastic little beach in a cove with a ruined castle and a tea/coffee shop very close by.
We set off towards Bolus Head climbing up a whole 410m to the top of Bolus (a hill) to see our first view of the Skellig Isles.

Here, there Irish have an interesting approach to access - they happily let you walk up tracks and footpaths (if they exist), but you frequently end up climbing over fences covered in barbed wire or gates that are padlocked (even on footpaths & tracks), I guess the trick is just to make sure that you do not damage the fence or gate in the process and just to get on with it. It is something that I am not used to in the UK... I don't think we actually came across a single style or gate we could open on this walk.

This was taken from the road on the way to Bolus Head and the ruined barracks at the summit.

On the left you can just see the Cill Rialaig Famine Village (information "Cill Rialaig (pronounced Kill Reelig) is an abandoned pre- famine village consisting of two rows of stone cottages and outbuildings.").

In the far distance in Waterville on the Ring of Kerry. Ballinskellig is on the much quieter Ring of Skellig which we cycled a few days later.

Very little has been done to the picture. It was taken close to the ground, peering between a wire fence, because I did not want the fence in the picture. I used the 105mm B&W polarising filter - I was walking with a bare minimum and did not have the tripod with me...

The picture was taken in RAW - converted to jpeg and resized. It is full frame and has not been edited other than sharpness and a touch of saturation.

PS - the picture is not distorted by the wide angle, it is the bay that curves round giving that effect!
Mikolaj, Jamesp, oanaotilia, albert, PaulH, SunToucher has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PaulH: HiAramok 1 11-09 11:20
To SunToucher: thanksAramok 1 11-09 11:15
To Wolfpower: oh...Evelynn 1 11-08 16:15
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Emma,
that's a wonderful place, I guess you were standing there for a long time to enjoy that perfect view. When I see that I'm sure that I have to visit this green iland soon.
Thanks so much, it's fantastic
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Emma! Excellent landscape. Very good perspective. Beautiful colours. Good work. Well done!

Hello Emma
This is a great image, filled with lots of nature and lots of detail to appreciate. I like the view from the top in which you have captured this lovely landscape. You have captured lots of open space and the view right far in te distance is just great. The ripples in the water is quite clear even from a distance. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards.
Anna

Hello Emma

There was an old saying that blue and green should never be seen except in the washing machine...it must only apply to fashion because here the combination is wonderful.
The colours are vibrant with rich tones.
Tack sharp focus and details.
Nicely composed ,your POV was well chosen.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2171 W: 232 N: 4055] (13483)
  • [2008-10-30 23:54]

Hi Emma

This looks really nice!
Apparently we caught some very beautiful weather there in Ireland with some excellent shooting light. I hope to see more shots from you, even if you only took 3 walks.
The landscape here is gorgeous and one is instantly captured by the charming and contrasting tones - the greens and the blues - that look so well next to one another.
The stones everywhere add an extra touch of contrast with their highlights and shadows and give a better sense of perspective.
Very beautifully composed, exposed and presented!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 0 N: 5286] (15770)
  • [2008-10-30 23:58]

Hi Emma


Lovely composition with lovely colours and dof.

James

Hello Emma
Beautiful coastline picture, with fresh green grass and whittish stones.
Regards, Oana

Hello Emma,
Great wild lanscape with good details of the rocky formations
Good DOF and nice 3D effect
Well done
Have a nice W-E
Albert

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1996 W: 245 N: 6508] (23200)
  • [2008-10-31 14:39]

A wonderful photo, Emma!
This place is amazing!
Excellent colours.
Great composition.
Very sharp.

Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 29 N: 3294] (11787)
  • [2008-11-02 9:55]
  • [+]

Hi Emma,
A great depection of the 'Emerald Isle', you can see where it gets the nickname here! Very nice clarity and superbly exposed...perhaps using one of those scattered rocks a bit more as a foreground element may have been interesting but hey, i wasn;t there and you did a great job anyway!
well done,
Paul

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer [C: 73 W: 0 N: 6] (396)
  • [2008-11-02 10:56]

Hi Emma
Gorgeous postcard of Ireland.Excellent light and colours.Perfectly sharp picture.
Regards Jiri.

Hi Emma,
I got mixed feelings with this photo. I like the view down the bay and the clarity of the entire photo. But, I am not that fond of the cluttered FG. I think that there is just too much going on with out a clear leadline. My eyes are actually stuck at these rocks. Probably also because of the brightness of most of them. I think that if you used one of the rock walls as a dominant FG feature, the feel of the photo would be better.
The photo does show that you had exceptional good weather for a vacation but less for a photography trip.
TFS,
Niek

The clarity of the air and the richness of the color make this image special. I like the irregular shapes that make up your composition. I am so glad that you were able to get back to travelling and photography.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF