Marlay Park Waterfall #1

Marlay Park Waterfall #1
Originally uploaded by petergriffin_1892.

Another trip to Marlay, this time to try out my new tripod. It's heavy but it was worth it, and should hopefully be a very useful tool in the future.

It's funny though, I don't think there's any great technique in these shots: find a spot, figure out the composition, set the ISO down low, fire off a few shots at different exposues until you figure out what the best shutter speed is (in this case it was 1 second at f/11). But that's it, nothing complicated or complex for anyone that can work a camera on manual.

So...why do these shots get so much attention on sites like Flickr when the ones that take some real thought or hard work (usually B&W street images) tend to get ignored? This one got lots of attention in what semed like no time...

Anyway, there are far too many of these long exposure/water images floating around the various sites. My excuse was that I was giving the tripod a good workout ;)

Glencree & Great Sugar Loaf

Great Sugar Loaf #2
Originally uploaded by petergriffin_1892.

The peak away off in the distance is the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain in Co. Wicklow, and this shot is taken from the 'Military Road' that runs through the county, over the top of the Wicklow Mountains.

The mountain is actually quite low at 501 metres, but it's got what I consider to be more of a classic 'mountain' shape than the domed hills of the Wicklow Mountains (which are generally higher, Lugnaquilla being the highest point in the county at 925 metres).

I'd been meaning to get up here for a while to take some shots, I'll come back some evening to get the sunset colours :)

Botanic Drake

Drake
Originally uploaded by petergriffin_1892.

Another duck photo, I think it's becoming an obsession ;)

Actually this one was difficult enough, the weather & light on the day kept chaning, add in all the trees in the Botanic Gardens and it all makes for a bit of a challenge to get exposures right.

Of course, the Squirrels were harder work again, they just don't stay still long enough!

It was freezing up there last week, the lingering winter weather sending some cold fronts our way. At least the huge glasshouses were warm (although the camera lens & lcd screens got steamed up...)

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel
Originally uploaded by petergriffin_1892.

A grey Squirrel in Dublin's Botanic Gardens. These Squirrels aren't native to Ireland but were imported from North America and have displaced the native Red Squirrel.

The Squirrels in the Botanic Gardens are fairly cheeky & don't seem to have a problem approaching people!