Reflection

December 30, 2018December 30, 2018George McNeill 6 Comments

I guess it’s that time of the year where some look back over the outgoing year. Plans for the new year, a new you. I hope your dreams and hopes rise in the dawning of the new year.

The photo here was taken on my Scottish coast and highland tour last year. I spotted the sun breaking through to light up the mountain behind me. So using the motorcycle mirror to frame the shot also showing the road I had just came down.

Thank you all that visit and support this blog. Your likes and comments, so all that’s left is to wish you all a Happy new year.

(For Cherie)

For a new beginning.

In the out-of-the-way places of the heart,

Where your thoughts never think to wander,

This beginning has been quietly forming,

waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,

Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,

noticing how you willed yourself on,

Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety

And the grey promises that sameness whispered,

Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,

Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,

And out you stepped onto new ground,

Your eyes young again with energy and dream,

A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear

You can trust the promise of this opening;

Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning

That is at one with your life desires.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;

Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;

soon you will be home in a new rhythm,

For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

John O’Donohue , from the book ‘ To Bless the Space Between Us’.

A book of Blessings.

Black and White Wednesday

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018George McNeill 2 Comments

Today’s image is a 1983 Honda CM 125 Custom. It was restored by my father a couple of years back.

_DSC1453-01

Thank you for visiting.

George.

A cats adventure.

December 2, 2018George McNeill 3 Comments

Spotted this cat climbing a tree with its eye zoned in on a small bird sitting on the top branch. I went upstairs for the camera, looked out the window and it was at the top. Small birds nearby where flying out of dangers way. The following sequence of photos where taken from this point. I’ll leave the cat to tell the rest…

You’ll not be so lucky the next time.

Op’s where’s the stairs down!

Ok remain calm, you can sort it…

Right let’s see, how the hell did I get up here?

Well here goes, easy does it, sorry for the butt shot.

If I catch you, you’ll not be laughing..

Right let’s try this way.

Nope, got to go down and across.

Shit this is slippy..

another stretch and I’ll be safe. I think..

YES…..

Cross here, easy …

Right you bundle for feathers here I come.

Please be assured that no animals were hurt in this blog post.

Thank you,

George

Hillsborough Forest Park.

November 18, 2018George McNeill 7 Comments

On my way back home from picking up some decorating supplies I stopped of at Hillsborough forest park. Well I needed to get some air and a break from working. With the fine weather the park was busy and a parking spot was hard to find. I was in the park around 2.30 pm. This time of year the sun starts to set around 3.30 / 4 pm. So time to find a few shots on my walk around the lake. The low winter sun was throwing a warm light onto the lake and trees and I wasn’t the only photographer out and about.

Right lets get started.

Holly and cobwebs, the low sun back lighting and adding a rim light to the leaves and stems.

Blue skies and reflections.

The light breaking through the trees spot lighted these young ferns.

Sycamore leaf in its winter wardrobe.

I don’t know the name off this fungus , but if you were ever a Star Trex fan it might be call the Enterprise. Google it if you never saw it.

Mute swan Cygnet

Mute Swan.

A Cormorant taking off, it uses it feet to help it get airborne by pushing them against the water surface.

A more peaceful image of a duck silhouetted against the brightly light water.

Thank you for joining me,

George.

Portmeirion, North Wales

August 10, 2018George McNeill 4 Comments

This is the first post in a short series on my motorcycle tour of North Wales. I include a couple of links on the history of Portmeirion and the filming of the Prisoner, a cult 1960’s television series filmed there.

Portmeirion history.

The Prisoner

My Photo essay a walk through Portmeirion.

Parking the motorcycle in the car park and entering a place I recall from television. It was a little overcast but warm has I start my photo essay.

Lets enter, notice the painted ceiling in the archway.

One of the bikers I was travelling with.

Tides out, the following photos off a young blackbird are taken at the railings on top of the round platform in the photograph.

Moving on.

Up into the village.

Through the archway and into the gardens.

I liked the scale this child gives to the chest pieces.

A short climb back up into the village.

A short stop to play my respects to the Buddha.

He had a great view across the gardens from his lofty perch.

some little teasers of the garden has I make my way around the village.

The garden from another view.

It ‘s down hill from here, with a steep decline to the shore.

Things aren’t always what they seem.

With the last shot looking at the climb back up to the motorcycle, but not before a coffee and a short chat with other visitors.

Thank you for company on the walk around Portmeirion, Hope you enjoyed it and I’ll spare you the walk back up that hill. There are some longer walk in the grounds around Portmeirion, but walking in motorcycle gear is not recommended. Well that’s my excuse…

Feel free to comment, good or bad let me know, have a good weekend.

George.

Bee’s and butterflies

August 4, 2018November 26, 2018George McNeill 18 Comments

It’s been a while since I last posted, I had planned to stop this blog due to a number of things. Number one on the list was no motivation, so now having rested and with the support from friends plus followers from the blog, let’s continue. Thank you all.

Bee’s and Butterflies.

We have had a hot summer here in Ireland, not much rain. Hosepipe ban’s and a lot of native people with a tan. Both rare in Ireland. With all this sunshine the butterflies are around in large numbers. The other thing I have been photographing is bee’s. Not to hard a subject has they flirt with the Blackberry flowers in the hedgerows.

I liked the fly which was captured in this shot.

This is a Ringlet which is getting a little worn looking.

So I decided bee’s flying would be a good subject to try, have you ever tried to photograph them in flight. It great fun and the hours disappear. So armed with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 105mm Macro lens fitted, a nice sunny day to keep shutter speeds up into battle I went.

Why do bee’s always take off facing the wrong way, this kind of shot was the flavor off the first hour or so. I don’t give in easy. A coffee break and it was back to the front line. I started to notice bee’s lift the rear end up slightly before take off. Which didn’t help when they are going the wrong direction. So in between the bee’s I got some other close up’s ( these a chopped in post).

Hover fly.

Clover flower caught in a light breeze. Yes it’s the effect of the slight movement that I like in this shot.

Not a hundred percent on this plant but I think it’s English Plantain. These plant shots were taken by lying on the ground with the camera. Focusing in live view, use the self timer and press the shutter release. Right back to the bee’s.

After about two hours my success rate way getting better. I enjoyed this little challenge and will give it another try. Might try flash the next time. Now on to some butterflies. The next shots are Large Cabbage whites.

The large cabbage white from different angles. Was going to try shooting these in flight but did not get one sharp shot. Bee’s are easy compared to butterflies.

For the final photo I’ll leave you with my favourite, a close up of one feeding.

Thank you for joining me in the garden, please feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts or tips on shooting these subjects.

George.

Sunset, The Mourne Mountains

May 12, 2018May 12, 2018George McNeill 2 Comments

Went for a short drive along the coast and the light was not great. Looking up at the Mourne mountains I decide to drive into the hills just North West from them and wait for sun set. Stopping at the view point called the Windy Gap, it wasn’t living up to its name last night. Just a light breeze which got cold has the sun set.

This first show’s the Drumlin’s (small rounded hills) with the Mourne’s in the background. Drumlin’s make up a lot of the country side in County Down.

This and the one below was take with at 200mm on a Tamron 70-200mm zoom lens just has the sun was starting to set.

The sun was setting behind me and the colour was in the clouds behind me. So I walked up a short lane way and took the next few shots.

It was at this point I packed up, I got the heater on in the car and sat and watched the last ray’s drop and pull the night down.

Thank you for visiting, please feel free to comment.

George.

Drifting clouds

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018George McNeill 4 Comments

Drifting clouds

–
Small feet follow the secret paths,

Paths that lead to adventure’s,

played through the scrub and trees.

In the small glen where freedom was everywhere.

–

The secret tree hut, watch tower.

Shelter from the enemies that pursued me.

A place to see the wildlife

which the imagination transformed into monsters.

–

To lie in the fallen leaves and watch the clouds.

Faces and being’s formed in their shapes.

Drifting by where time mattered not.

A stick , a magic wand.

–

Bird song a code only I could know.

Know which plants to eat.

Berries that were sweet.

Secrets I would keep.

–

The dead forest, the swamp land.

Newts and frogs lived there.

Witch’s, swamp monsters kept watch’

Not a place to linger.

–

To know where the Sparrow hawk nested,

Sit beside the rabbit’s in the wild.

See the Hare play on the open hill.

Mice scurry around the dry stone wall.

–

Today I sit an older man’

Memories drift like clouds.

Wild berries in my hand.

Birds speak and I understand.

–

GeorgeMcNeill

07/05/2018

Photo: The Mourne Mountians, rain clouds passing.

Sea mist and sunshine

April 15, 2018April 15, 2018George McNeill 6 Comments

So at a loose end I grabbed the camera gear and headed for the coast. a lovely spring morning and sunshine. Here in Ireland a day of sun here in spring time is rare, well one without rain. The winds along the Newcastle to Ardglass coast was strong and still cold. Not much wild life around it was a day just to get some air. When I got around to the Strangford Lough side of the coast the wind was a light breeze. So parked up I went for a walk. Sat on some rocks and watched the world drift by. Then a Spaniel dog appeared chasing a ball down the sand. Grabbed the ball and ran back from where he came from. With great excitement he reappears chasing down the ball. Thought I would move and get some photos. I saw a lady throwing the ball , I loved the action and excitement here. So the first photograph captures this moment.

Coast 14.4.2018-2896.jpg

Coast 14.4.2018-2897.jpg

It was time to move a little further along the coast, again not much wildlife around. So enjoyed the sunshine and chilled out. Then a Red shank arrived, prodding its bill into the mud in search of food.

Coast 14.4.2018-2908.jpg

I like the reflections has it entered small pools left by the tide receding, this next shot is a little play on the reflection.

Coast 14.4.2018-2909.jpg

I chopped in on the reflection and turned it 180 degrees so it looks like its feeding.

The next is common here in this part of Ireland, the Great Black backed Gull. They are the UK and Ireland’s largest gulls, around the size for a goose.

Coast 14.4.2018-3092-2.jpg

They have a wing span around 1.7 metres and masters in flight. With the sun dropping lower in the sky and a chill returning in the wind I started for home. A few mile down the road and I spotted some seals basking on the rocks. Yes it was park up time and with camera and tripod I found a spot close to them but far enough away so I wouldn’t disturb them. We have two types of seals in Ireland . The common seal and the grey seal. Here’s a link for anyone who wishes to find out more about them. Seals in Ireland.

Coast 14.4.2018-3063-2.jpg

This is the Common Seal.

Coast 14.4.2018-2957.jpg

And a couple of Grey Seals. Please note its not the colour that gives them there name.

Coast 14.4.2018-3009.jpg

A Gray enjoying the evening sun.

Coast 14.4.2018-3138.jpg

Here we have Brent Geese feeding along the shallows.

Coast 14.4.2018-3143.jpg

A dispute about who own’s this section of the dinner plate. With the sun low and even with a coat, scarf and gloves the cold was seeping into my body I packed up the gear and headed for home. I had been out on the coast for over eight hours, when not photographing I love to sit with a scope and watch the interaction in wildlife. think we humans could learn from them.

Thank you for visiting.

George.

A short drive.

February 25, 2018George McNeill 7 Comments

I’ve not posted for a couple of weeks due to a slight injury. I’m back driving but still limited in my walking. So with the sun shining and being house bound for a while I grabbed the camera and went along the coast for a short drive. Not many shots but still a beautiful day with bright sunshine and a cold wind. A couple of shots were taken taken from leaning on the open door for support and the rest seated in the car.

This first is of the common Buzzard with a crow heading his way to chase him off.

this was shot from the car park at Cloughy rocks. These rocks become small islands when the tide is out and today there was a lot of seals around. These two where on the closest one. We have two type of seals common here in Ireland. These are Grey seals pictured and the other the Common or Harbour seal.

This little Robin sat posing in the sun a few feet from where I was parked, he kept returning so here he is. They have a great voice and if you whistle back you will soon have a duet going.

This last one is looking across the bay to Killard Point Nature reserve. Killard point

From here the coast turns into the sun so following it around to the village of Clough. I turned north and the road home.

Thank you for visiting.

George

George McNeill Photography

Photographers – Think Differently..

Category General

Reflection

Black and White Wednesday

A cats adventure.

Hillsborough Forest Park.

Portmeirion, North Wales

Bee’s and butterflies

Sunset, The Mourne Mountains

Drifting clouds

Sea mist and sunshine

A short drive.