This series of posts, Photos from My Photography Walk , is a series in which I hope to showcase some of my images taken during a morning walk. The photographs will not be part of a theme, just images of random subjects that happened to catch my eye on that morning, with a short commentary on what drew me to them. The series will challenge me to present photos that I might not normally show, but they are part of my photography journey and an important aspect of my progress. On each of my regular photography walks I take one of several familiar routes close to my home. I start in my immediate neighbourhood and proceed either to one of the local parks, to a small woodland area or along a river bank. My photographs range from 'ordinary' subjects, to woodland images, to anything interesting or unusual that crosses my path. I love to capture the way light falls on a subject, interesting weather conditions such as fog or mist, raindrops after a shower or a splash of colour contrast. Generally, I go out without any preconceived ideas and am happy to see what the morning brings. I want to showcase my location in all its ordinariness. Here are 12 Photos from My Photography Walk Since it was a wet, dark morning, in my first images of the day I was drawn to vehicles coming towards me with their lights shining on the wet roads. I liked the balance and contrast in this image - the red and white of the pillar and the stop sign diagonally opposite each other, the contrasting colours of yellow and black on the right and the white car providing interest in the background. Many dark coloured cars came past but I waited for white as I think white stands out more in this image. I tend to photograph leading lines a lot and on this occasion, in the absence of good light, I focused on the wet surface and the scattering of leaves that lead the eye further into the image to land on the figure coming towards us. As the morning brightened I came upon this random scene. I just like the placement of the objects and the flashes of light in the background add a little interest. to the scene. I waited for a white car and a red car to drive into the frame to add balance. I couldn't get the scene into the right perspective and not cut through the cars with the posts. At least I can see the mistake. This is a shop in the courtyard area of the local park. Since there was no light shining on it I chose a tight crop and I edited to give a vintage look. I like the lines, shapes and contrasting colours here. Although the image is rather dull, I do like the reflection of the outer landscape that we see through the window. For this image, I moved around until I got all the bollards standing alone with no overlap. By taking random pictures on my photography walks I am able to work on composition techniques and learn how to spot and avoid simple mistakes. FINAL THOUGHTS By putting together this random set of images, and adding notes on my thought process as I was taking them, I will begin to become more aware of why I take certain images and what I can learn from them. It gives me greater motivation to take my camera with me as often as possible and improve my shutter count, my skills and my enjoyment of photography.

How Fog Changes Everything for Photographers When I awaken to a foggy morning I am immediately motivated to get out with my camera. Fog changes the world around us. It softens harsh light and reduces contrast, which can make ordinary scenes look magical. Fog hides details and creates a unique atmosphere that invites photographers to slow down and embrace the changed world around them. Photographing in fog is less about capturing every detail and more about conveying atmosphere, mood and feeling. The challenge is learning how to adjust your approach to make the most of this short-lived weather. Composition Techniques That Help to Highlight Fog’s Mood Fog changes how you compose images. Here are some ideas to make the most of it: Look for strong shapes and silhouettes : Fog simplifies the scene, so bold shapes, such as trees, buildings and structures, or people, will stand out. Use leading lines that disappear into the mist : Roads, fences, or rivers that fade away create depth and invite viewers into the scene. Capture layers of fog : Look for hills, trees, or objects at different distances. The fog creates natural layers that add dimension. Focus on minimalism : Fog removes distractions. Embrace empty space and simple compositions to create a peaceful mood. Include a single subject : A lone figure or object in fog can tell a powerful story of solitude or mystery. Below are some examples of these techniques: My Foggy Photography Shoot I was visiting family in early November and was delighted to awaken to a foggy morning as there was a picturesque lake close by. I don't encounter these conditions often so I hoped to embrace the limited visibility and make some unique images. I focused on a single subject, a small pier, visible through the fog. The background shrouded in fog gave the image an eerie, haunted look. As I moved on, I took a moment to stop to photograph the road as a leading line directing the viewer's eye to the old cottage in the fog. I think it works as a composition as it leads the viewer's eye along the road to settle on the cottage and overhanging tree. Later, I returned to the ruins of an old abbey that I have photographed in different conditions. Unfortunately, by this time the fog was beginning to dissipate although there was still some atmosphere. My photography experience on this morning taught me to slow down, observe carefully, and let the fog guide my creative choices. Final Thoughts: Embracing the Atmosphere Through Your Images Fog invites photographers to capture more than just a scene; it asks us to capture a mood. Instead of sharpness we are encouraged to focus on a lack of clarity. We embrace mystery and atmosphere. The fog creates a sense of eerie silence, of solitude, of change happening around us. The compositions above are by no means great compositions. They are an attempt to make the most of the fleeting conditions I found on that morning. A foggy morning gives us an opportunity to experiment with our photography in an attempt to find even one decent image. As I drove around the lake the conditions continually changed and in some places there was hardly any fog. That's just the way it was and my goal on that morning was not to find perfect compositions but rather to capture a feeling, a mood, an atmosphere, and to enjoy foggy morning photography while it lasted.

It was the last week in November. It had been raining for nearly a week when suddenly the forecast promised a sunny day. I decided to take the opportunity to travel to the coastal village of Rosslare, Co. Wexford, to do some winter coastal photography. The journey to Rosslare takes around 90 minutes, so after stopping for some lunch, I arrived in the early afternoon. The winter sun was low in the sky giving a soft, rather than harsh, light and despite the bitterly cold wind the beach was dotted with dog walkers, people out for an afternoon stroll, occasional joggers and even another photographer! Here are some of my images from the day. Despite the cold, the weather conditions were ideal for photography and I tried to make good use of my brief time at this location by getting a variety of different views and perspectives. I hope they have given you a taste of this coastal location in winter, and perhaps the incentive to go out and capture some winter photographs for yourself.

In Ireland, we have been fortunate this year to have had a relatively dry and calm October and early November, resulting in a rich tapestry of peak autumn colour. My local park has been a photographer's paradise this year and I managed to get out often with my camera to capture some of the autumn glory. Here are 15 images from a recent late autumn walk in the park. They were taken in early November. The photos are not award winners but I enjoyed taking them and spending time in these beautiful surroundings. I hope you have lots of opportunities to get out with your camera this season.

It was a cold, bright morning in the first week of November. An early mist had dissipated and the sun was making a brief appearance. I was taking a photography walk down a forest path along the banks of a local canal. There was an eerie stillness in the air; no wind whistling in the trees, no birdsong, and, thankfully, no noise of traffic. The only sounds were the gentle fluttering of leaves as they fell to the ground and joined the glistening carpet of leaves underfoot, the occasional drops of water falling from the trees above my head and the distant mooing of cattle. I had brought my Nikon D5600 and one lens, the 40mm macro, which doubles as a sharp general lens. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much photography on this occasion, but the colours and quiet atmosphere gave me such a strong sense of an ending of one season and the beginning of another that I knew I had to record it in some way. My choice of lens gave me options. I could capture the changing colours and even the sense of decay among the leaves from a close up perspective, as well as the bigger view of the changing ambiance along the forest path. My images are an emotional response to the location, the stillness of the morning and the sense of the ending of autumn and the imminence of winter. I hope they convey that feeling accurately. Further along, the forest track opened and I was greeted by some cattle and sheep grazing quietly. One of the cows was curious and allowed me to take his portrait. There was a joy about this photo shoot - the joy of being in nature on this beautiful still morning and being able to enjoy all that nature has to offer. But there was a sadness too, of the passing of another autumn, with its glorious colour and abundance, and the coming of winter. Yet winter too will offer its photography opportunities and all we have to do is to go out with our camera and seize each moment. I hope you enjoy your photography, wherever you are, and whatever season you are in.

Autumn is my favourite season for photography. Whether it's the crisp, dry mornings or the glistening foliage following the rain, the season offers a wealth of vibrant colours and a multitude of macro subjects, presenting endless opportunities for capturing stunning images. In addition to appreciating the richness of nature, engaging in photography during this season is very life-affirming. It is hard not to feel grateful for nature’s seasonal bounty as we wander through woodlands, hike up mountains or stroll along riverbanks embracing the colour, light, vibrance and diversity of this beautiful season. In my autumnal photography I love to explore and experiment. My favourite woodland compositions use leading lines or find a natural frame to showcase a subject. I enjoy photographing the miniature world in the form of fungi, or single leaves providing contrast in their surroundings. I use bursts of autumn colour to create ICM or abstract images, but most of all I take time to stroll along, camera in hand, to capture whatever catches my eye. Here is a slideshow that attempts to capture the essence of autumn 2025. I hope I have succeeded in capturing the essence and wonder of the season through my lens, and that you will enjoy doing the same.

When I read or listen to suggestions or guidance for getting the best composition in photography, I usually get the message that it is important to have a distinct subject in the frame, something that will draw the viewer’s eye and that is distinguishable from its surroundings elements. I agree with this. When I started photography, I tended to arrive at a location, point my camera in the direction of the best view, and take the shot. Most of the elements had equal weight which meant that the viewer had nowhere to focus. I have since learned the error of my ways and I now begin by looking for an interesting subject to place within a good background and with some supporting elements. But what if I am shooting in a boring place and most of the subjects are mundane? Can I then use light to elevate a boring subject to something interesting and captivating? Can Light become my subject? I believe it can. Most of the time we think of light as a tool. We talk of the different types of light we can use -  front light, back light, side light  - to enhance an already interesting subject. Most of us won’t want to take a photograph of an uninteresting subject yet if we are in an everyday location sometimes we don’t have a great choice of interesting subjects. In this case what if light itself became the subject to draw the viewer’s eye into the frame? The contrast between light and shadow changes an ordinary house into an interesting subject. There are a few conditions required for light to work as a main subject. Situations with good contrast between light and shadow will often work, such as corners, laneways or archways. Patterns and shapes where the light creates strong shadows make interesting subjects, as do tree branches and leaves silhouetted against a bright surface. In the two previous examples light is the star of the show. Without it we would have a boring scene. Silhouettes of people or objects often make compelling images, but it is the light that creates the interest as the same scenario in flat light would not have the same effect. I made the following image in the early morning light. Later in the day it would not have been possible. Sometimes we might find a patch of light and wait for a subject to walk into it. In this case the light and the subject work in tandem to create a pleasing image. While the subject may not be central, it does add interest to the overall image. In the image above, the woman walking into the light adds an extra element to the image, while the contrast between light and shadow on her clothes and on the ground add depth and interest. The scene without subject and light would be of little interest as an image. In this image, the light was interesting so I waited for a subject to walk into the space between the shadows. I would have preferred a single person or someone on a bicycle but neither of those materialised on this morning. I took the shot from behind the tinted safety glass of a bus shelter. Below are some more examples where light turns an ordinary, dull subject, into something more interesting. Have you ever considered making light your subject?

These are some images to celebrate autumn/fall, the season that gives us nature's true bounty in terms of abundance of colour, an array of fruits, soft light and sweet scented air. Why not go out with your camera and capture some seasonal photographs.

This question frequently becomes a topic of discussion among photographers. Many street photographers are of the view that street photography must include people, that candid images of people going about their daily lives are the very essence of street photography. They believe that photos taken on the street that do not include human interactions are not true to the genre. Others are of the view that any photographs taken on the street, or in a public place, with or without people, can be included under the term street photography. These may include street furniture, signs, shapes and patterns on buildings, and so on. In this view, anything that is found in a public place can be termed street photography. There is another view that has recently been discussed on some photography forums. It respects both the above viewpoints but suggests that street images that don’t include people could, in the words of UK based photographer Sean Tucker, have ‘hints of human life’. In this approach photographs would have evidence of recent human presence, even if there are no people in the frame. Subjects may be something left behind, something recently used or something that tells a story of human presence even in human absence. I like this approach and decided to adopt it in recent street photography sessions. Before I began, I wanted to draw up some parameters. Firstly, I wanted my photographs to be candid; images of things I randomly came across on the street or in a public place such as a park. Secondly, I wanted my images to tell a story or to inspire the viewer to make up their own story of what might have occurred. They might include a person but the photograph focusses on the story rather than the person. Thirdly, I wanted to focus on little details; on objects that others overlook or just walk past. I wanted to pay attention to the potential of discarded objects to tell stories of what is happening on the street. Finally, for this project I didn’t want to include faces of people, or buildings that involve human influence on a large scale.  My subjects would reflect small, intimate details of life on the street and give clues to the human stories that happen there. Here are some initial results from my project. I intend to continue with this project and to build on the bank of images by finding some that are even more relevant to the theme. Do you think street photography needs to include people?

It is easy to fall into a rut in any creative pursuit. We can begin to feel that our output is not as good as it could be, that we are not ‘making progress’ - whatever we deem progress to be - or we may just become bored or frustrated and lacking in ideas. From time to time, I find myself falling into this sort of rut with my photography. This might be due to some of the reasons above or just that life intervenes, and I can’t spend as much time with my camera as I would like, leading to difficulty getting back out again when time allows. One of the most common reasons that I fall into a rut is that I temporarily lose interest in the images I am making. I feel that I am repeating the same type of photographs and that I am not adding anything new to my work. Going to a new location can be a solution to this problem but since that is not always possible, I have to find another way to restore my enthusiasm for this hobby that I love. When I found myself in this situation recently, I decided to see if a change of perspective would make a difference. This was inspired by watching some videos by Rick Bebbington, who frequently gives good advice on this topic. I will link below to some videos that I have found most interesting. The main benefits that a change in perspective brought were: (a) I stopped confining myself to any genre, at least temporarily (b) I stopped believing that a new camera or lens would make me a better photographer (c) I began to take a camera with me as often as possible and photograph life as I found it. In addition, I began to have regular Shoot What You See  sessions where I just take photographs of things that draw my attention, without making any judgements on whether they make ‘good’ subjects. Advantages of a change in perspective The lack of judgement on the photographs I make is very freeing. I can just enjoy making pictures instead of trying to judge if they are ‘good enough’. I can develop creatively as I remove the shackles of believing that photography should be done ‘a certain way’. A change in perspective means I am open to new opportunities and possibilities and willing to try new things. I have photographed many subjects that I would not normally consider and enjoyed doing so. Mundane things have suddenly revealed their beauty to me. I have stopped looking at new equipment and instead have taken out lenses that were gathering dust in my bag. I have spent time confining myself to a prime lens until I became very familiar with it before changing back to a telephoto lens. Restricting lens use gives more structure to my photo shoot and I can accept limitations. Photography has become enjoyable and creative. A video posted by photographer Rick Bebbington gave me the flicker of insight that helped me change my perspective, look at things in a new way and be guided by my own curiosity. I hope you can find inspiration in a similar way. Rick has a particular love for photographing bus stops. This one is for Rick! If you think you might like Rick Bebbington's approach to photography, here are some videos which will give you a taste of his work. 17 Tears With a Camera - Here's What's Actually Worth Knowing How to Document Your Life (and Why You Should) I Wanted to Quit photography. Instead I Did This

Take a quick look through YouTube photography videos and you will see titles such as… 5 Photography Locations You Must Visit Photos From My Recent Trip to… (add location) Top 5 Photography Locations This is Why You Want to Photograph in… (add location) 5 Epic Landscape Locations Photographing Iconic Locations in… (add country) Best Landscape Locations for Photographers And so on. You could be forgiven for thinking that unless you can visit an epic location you won’t get any decent photographs. Of course, most of us love to take a trip to a different location which offers us new photographic opportunities. But for most of us, travelling to exotic locations will not be possible very often and even travelling outside our own country may just be for holiday purposes rather than for a photography trip. So, if travelling for photography is not possible for you, are you confined to producing average photography in average locations? I think not. I want to suggest that your LOCAL AREA could be your BEST photography location. Here are 7 reasons to back up my claim. In your local area you will have opportunities to: #1. MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE PLACE When you return constantly to the same location you begin to make real connections with the place. Whether you like to photograph nature, landscapes or street images you get to know your location intimately and therefore invest more emotion into what you are photographing. As you develop a deeper connection with the place you visit often you get the chance to discover what you like to photograph and learn about yourself as a photographer. This contrasts with making a brief visit to an iconic location where you don’t have time to really get to know the area, or even the photographic subjects it offers. Indeed, it is often the case that your trip and your photographic shoots are planned for you in these locations, giving you little real choice over what you photograph. #2 . FIND YOUR OWN UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE By doing your photography in your local area you have ample opportunity to make decisions about what and how you want to photograph. Rather than capturing an expected image from an epic location you can make more unique images that reflect your own photography style. Furthermore, by visiting a place often you can photograph all the main landmarks from many perspectives as well as finding hidden subjects that may not have been immediately obvious. One of the places that I frequent often is a local woodland. Even when I go out thinking that there will be nothing new to photograph, I always find something. It might be a pattern of leaves on the ground, a particularly interesting tree, or just the way the sun catches a subject. Nothing stays the same from day to day and it is these changes that bring such diversity of images. #3. DISCOVER THE BEAUTY ALL AROUND YOU As I suggested in point number one, when you know an area well you feel more deeply about the place and that emotion can transfer to your images. In this way you encourage yourself to find beauty in the mundane, and everyday scenes become photographic opportunities. I love to use my camera and macro lens to examine the tiny world which often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. I love to watch out for animals in their natural environment or birds go about their daily business. I love to find a beautiful leaf pattern backlit by the early morning sunlight or create an abstract pattern using the natural elements around me. Your local area, no matter where that is, is an area of abundant beauty. You just have to look, and look again, to find it. #4. OBSERVE THE LOCATION OVER TIME  When you photograph primarily in your local area you have opportunities to observe the place in different weather, over different seasons and at different times of day. You can watch how the light behaves in various parts of the location and plan your visits accordingly. You notice small details that others miss, and you can use these details to get creative with composition. #5. ENJOY YOUR TRAINING GROUND One of the great advantages of photographing in your local area is that you will have countless opportunities to develop and hone your skills as a photographer. It is quite literally your photography training ground where you can experiment, discover, practise your skills and make mistakes that help you learn and grow. If you come home with an image that you know could have been better, you can return and see if you can correct your faults. If you see something as you go about your daily business, you can keep it in mind for a time when you can return with your camera. I am sure that I am not alone when I say that I have often visited a distant location and returned with a disappointing image, wishing in vain that I could return and get a better version of my photograph. In your local area, you can easily do this. #6. DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVITY In my view, creativity needs three main ingredients. These are, Time, Opportunity and Observation. Many photographers can produce a creative image wherever they are, but I believe that many of them developed their creative skills in their own local place. Certainly, for me creativity has developed over time, by constantly getting out with my camera, making the most of the opportunities that present themselves and closely observing what is around me so that I can represent what I see in a creative way. Sometimes I will see interesting water patterns in a pond or discover a way to get creative with autumn colours. Sometimes I will see an opportunity to create an abstract image or to experiment with intentional camera movement. Sometimes I will make creative use of camera settings, deliberately over or under exposing an image to get the desired effect. All of this experimentation requires time, opportunity and ability to observe closely in a location, which are all attributes that your local area can offer. #7. INCREASE YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING One obvious advantage of using your local area for photography is that you will be more likely to go out often and therefore reap all the health benefits on offer. I will usually spend at least one or two hours on each occasion walking, observing, being immersed in the natural world; stress-free, pollution-free, and able to take time for myself, my thoughts and my photography. It can become a precious and life affirming time. FINAL THOUGHTS I hope my discussion has gone some way to help convince you why your local area could be your best photography location. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this video from well known UK photographer Simon Booth.   Finding Great Images Close to Home

One simple challenge would be to photograph patterns created by the early morning sunshine. If you are someone who likes to do daily photography, whether that is with a dedicated camera or your phone camera, you might at times find yourself wondering what to photograph. It could be that you are so familiar with your local area that you run out of ideas for anything interesting to photograph, or you are faced with many dull days without good light for photography, or it could even be that you just can’t see the photography potential around you.   That is when a simple challenge can give you a new impetus and can help you look at your daily photography in a new way. For many of us, daily photography is about getting in the practice; it’s primarily about honing our composition skills, finding new subjects, learning about our camera and understanding light. It is not about perfection or even about getting great images, but if a daily photography practice is worth doing, we want to keep ourselves motivated, keep learning and keep enjoying our photography, For me, taking a simple challenge on a photography outing can encourage me to see anew, to notice small details and to look at familiar subjects and scenes from different perspectives. Simple challenges are exactly that – simple! They don’t take any prior planning, they simply require you to become more observant when out with your camera, to become more adventurous with your subjects and to think a little more creatively. One of the first simple challenges I gave myself was to photograph the colour yellow. Any colour will do for this challenge and the challenge can be repeated many times taking a different colour each time. It might not seem very interesting initially but as you get going you begin to want to find something outside of the usual, you want to photograph ordinary subjects from different perspectives, and you want to showcase just how many examples of each colour there are all around us. Here are some of my sample images of the colour yellow.   Ideas for simple challenges are easy to find; they just need us to think creatively and not resist topics because they seem mundane or ordinary. Our task is to find the ordinary and try to present it in a remarkable way and doing that will give us many productive photography hours. Some topics to consider are: Road signs Telephone boxes Overhead wires Vehicles Road markings Light patterns Windows Doors Old buildings Shapes Basketball nets Bridges Sheds Benches   The list is endless and once you get started you will think of many more ideas. All these subjects are things that I can photograph within walking distance of my home on a daily walk. Some will require good light, but many of them will work by experimenting with perspective and different focal lengths.   Below are some more sample images to illustrate some of the above ideas. Why not try a simple challenge for yourself.