Amazing Waves On The Atlantic Coast of Ireland Sigma 150-600

Late January shoots are always a gamble, and this one came with a yellow rain warning across the south of Ireland. I had the trip planned with Jaro and Diarmuid, and despite the forecast, we committed to it. The plan was to photograph the Skellig Islands from the mainland, using long focal lengths to bring distant wave action into the frame.

It had been eight years since I last stood on this stretch of coast. Back then, I was working with limited reach and unfinished ideas. This time, I arrived with a clear goal and the right lens to execute it. The Sigma 150–600mm was central to the plan, giving me the compression and distance I had lacked previously. I am confident this lens changed what was possible on this shoot.

The drive down was wet from start to finish. There were moments where turning back felt reasonable, but coastal light is rarely predictable. As we got closer, gaps appeared offshore, and wave height began to build. That was enough to justify continuing.

Once on the beach, I slowed everything down. Long lens work requires patience, and the waves needed to be read properly before committing to compositions. Watching the sets roll through helped me decide where to stand and when to shoot. This part of the process often gets skipped, but it made a clear difference here.

The first frames confirmed the conditions were workable. The waves were lining up well with the islands, and compression made them feel closer than they were. I initially focused too much on keeping the islands sharp, which cost me some wave detail. Catching that early allowed me to correct course and shift priority to the moving water.

Light came and went quickly. Rain pockets softened the scene and forced constant changes in settings. Shutter speeds varied widely, and I worked through both fast and slow options to see what suited the movement best. Some of the strongest frames came from combinations I had not planned.

As rain increased and temperatures dropped, sunset approached with no direct sun. Instead, the light diffused offshore and settled into a quiet, warm tone. It was not dramatic, but it was honest to the conditions.

This shoot reminded me why I keep returning to difficult places in poor weather. You learn more, adapt faster, and often come away with images that feel earned rather than lucky.

You can see the gallery of shots I managed to capture on this shoot plus watch the entire story unfold on my youTube Channel.