Old Country
Old Country
On a rugged hillside, not far from the shores of Doo Lough, lies the weathered remains of a Rowan tree emerging from a lone rock. Ben Creggan’s shear mountain face rises 693m high behind lying in shadow as morning sunlight dapples across its Western façade. This region of Co. Mayo is carved with incredible natural beauty from its glaciated past and holds memories of generations lost to the famine.
Behind the Image
Despite passing through the Doo Lough Valley countless times, the weather gods never provided the right opportunity to capture this specific image I had envisioned for the longest time. The previous day to this capture, I was exposed to sheets of rain and strong gusts of wind, certainly, inhospitable conditions for capturing the landscape successfully, never mind using a telephoto lens without error. Thankfully the following morning conditions had eased and the right level of dappled sunlight illuminated the Western shoulder of Ben Creggan. This location in Ireland is one of my favourites, the stark mountainsides as you weave your way along the R335 Northward provides ample opportunity to admire the scale of this glacial valley. No matter the weather conditions, the atmosphere here should be experienced.
