This time our drive was up Gap of Dunloe from the south to catch the sunrise on Lake Auger. The site was so beautiful and serene that I considered the option of just sitting quietly and watching the sun. "Ignore the camera!", I thought. Nah!

Just imagine sitting quietly on the shore.  Oh, and this reminds me. . . I am looking for a graduated neutral density lens that had a triangle as the grad.  It would have come in so handy on this trip.  Let me know if they exist. — Just imagine sitting quietly on the shore. Oh, and this reminds me. . . I am looking for a graduated neutral density lens that had a triangle as the grad. It would have come in so handy on this trip. Let me know if they exist.

Tom said that this composition should just have the rocks at the bottom. . . . hmmm . . . .  I remember Daragh's advice on composition, "Try to get it right in the camera."  Maybe I should have taken two shots instead. — Tom said that this composition should just have the rocks at the bottom. . . . hmmm . . . . I remember Daragh's advice on composition, "Try to get it right in the camera." Maybe I should have taken two shots instead.

As you can imagine, almost all of our sites had many compositional opportunities.  And seldom did we have to work around people. — As you can imagine, almost all of our sites had many compositional opportunities. And seldom did we have to work around people.

From our sunrise spot we crossed the bridge to the other side where the water was leaving the lake.  More green! — From our sunrise spot we crossed the bridge to the other side where the water was leaving the lake. More green!

I may have mentioned the roads . . . this is a two way road!  Tom took this from the front seat of our van.  Drivers are polite and work it out.  Sometimes we backed up, sometimes we just squeaked by and sometimes we just slowed down.… — I may have mentioned the roads . . . this is a two way road! Tom took this from the front seat of our van. Drivers are polite and work it out. Sometimes we backed up, sometimes we just squeaked by and sometimes we just slowed down. Some drivers are so close that they pull their side mirrors in! And, big tour busses take these roads!! There are few pullouts.

Sheep on the other hand, can have the whole road to themselves.  The dye you see is used to identify ownership.  Daragh had some fun telling us that it let people know how tame and docile the sheep were . . . or not.  Blues were suppo… — Sheep on the other hand, can have the whole road to themselves. The dye you see is used to identify ownership. Daragh had some fun telling us that it let people know how tame and docile the sheep were . . . or not. Blues were supposed to be docile and reds were supposed to be very aggressive. This is one confused sheep, prancing as he walked towards us.

Sometime Sunday we stopped at the Muckross House.  Lovely and crowded with families enjoying a pleasant fall day.  This house faces a beautiful lake. — Sometime Sunday we stopped at the Muckross House. Lovely and crowded with families enjoying a pleasant fall day. This house faces a beautiful lake.

After our morning shoot we headed back to the hotel for a lavish breakfast bar, to pack up and then head to Dingle where we would stay for the next two nights. Our sunset shot took place on a beach in Sleah Head. It just keeps getting better!

We got up early to get another sunrise shot. We were back in familiar territory but it looked so very different in the different light.

A blue hour shot.  Finally, peace on the pond.  The wind slept in.  Our challenge, compositionally was to find 'balance' in the shot. — A blue hour shot. Finally, peace on the pond. The wind slept in. Our challenge, compositionally was to find 'balance' in the shot.

Daragh suggested stepping back and getting the 'curve' in the rock.  One important part of this composition was to be sure that the rock on the left did not encroach on the reflection.  That is a big 'no no'!  I think the composition … — Daragh suggested stepping back and getting the 'curve' in the rock. One important part of this composition was to be sure that the rock on the left did not encroach on the reflection. That is a big 'no no'! I think the composition was better from other angles (taken by other participants). I did like the balance of the green framing the blue lake.

This ended up being my favorite.  I even left in the itty bitty tree growing on the front rock. — This ended up being my favorite. I even left in the itty bitty tree growing on the front rock.

The fog was lowering and the sun was rising.  Blues are gone!  Plus, it was getting warmer and that was good. — The fog was lowering and the sun was rising. Blues are gone! Plus, it was getting warmer and that was good.

Oh, the fog just made art everywhere.  Compositionally the question was do we add the foreground (not a bad one).  Daragh  would not suggest the idea of just cropping it out.  You can see here what would happen if I had stayed ba… — Oh, the fog just made art everywhere. Compositionally the question was do we add the foreground (not a bad one). Daragh would not suggest the idea of just cropping it out. You can see here what would happen if I had stayed back with the idea of cropping it out later. So, if I am a foreground person I need to make sure that it works at treat it like it is there to stay.

Down the road and not far away.  My first shot got in more sheep and an old house.  Daragh asked me what my subject was.  The boats!  "Then make that apparent", was his reply.  Bold and present.  Got it. — Down the road and not far away. My first shot got in more sheep and an old house. Daragh asked me what my subject was. The boats! "Then make that apparent", was his reply. Bold and present. Got it.

Up the road and around the bend.  White out on the sky! — Up the road and around the bend. White out on the sky!

If you take a tumble in the bog you might roll over and look at this.  Yes, I fell again.  I think at this point my tally was 9 tumbles.  Still no damage to the camera.  Only my pride was pouting. — If you take a tumble in the bog you might roll over and look at this. Yes, I fell again. I think at this point my tally was 9 tumbles. Still no damage to the camera. Only my pride was pouting.

We were at the north end of the Gap of Dunloe.  Mother Nature has a way of playing with your mind.  Lovely Irish fog in the Gap.  That was OK.  We would go back. — We were at the north end of the Gap of Dunloe. Mother Nature has a way of playing with your mind. Lovely Irish fog in the Gap. That was OK. We would go back.

A full day! We went back to our hotel and dined like the Kings and Queens we were! Hard to get to bed early when your got back late and dine on three courses. So nice to have each of you along.

Sunrise on Lake Auger

Sunrise on Lake Cumeendorff

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