An amazing location for Photography
We had just wrapped up another long day on the road with our workshop group. Alongside Bernard Geraghty and Chris Byrne, I was leading an 11–day photography tour around Ireland, with 11 participants joining us on the journey. Each day brought us to different corners of the country, but this particular evening in Donegal stood out.
The location had been on my list for quite some time, and while I had seen plenty of images of it before, standing there in person was something else entirely. Towering cliffs stretched out into the Atlantic, and right at their edge sat a striking sea arch carved over time by the relentless waves. The ocean was in no gentle mood that evening either; the swell rolled in with real force, crashing against the rocks and surging through the arch. It gave the place a sense of energy and power that no photo could fully capture.
As with every stop on the trip, my first priority was making sure the clients were set up and comfortable, finding compositions and getting their shots underway. Once I was happy that everyone was in good shape, I slipped away for a few minutes to record a video and work on some of my own images. The foregrounds here were plentiful—jagged rocks that naturally led the eye out toward the arch and the cliffs beyond. It didn’t take long to find a number of strong frames.
The light also played its part. As sunset approached, a warm glow broke across the cliffs, lighting up their textures and pulling out detail in every ridge and crack. It was the type of light that rewards patience, and everyone in the group had plenty of material to work with.
At one point Bernard decided to add something extra to the scene. He walked down to a nearby outcrop and stood tall against the backdrop of the cliffs. That small gesture gave all of us the chance to capture the sheer scale of the location, and judging by the reaction of the group, it made for one of the most memorable frames of the trip.
It was one of those evenings that ticked all the boxes: an incredible location, dramatic conditions, glowing light, and a group of photographers who fully embraced it. For me, finally visiting this spot was a highlight in itself, but what made it better was seeing 11 others enjoy it just as much.