I've been visiting County Wexford for over 10 years (my wife is from there) but it was only this June that I learnt about the Portlairge wreck in Bannow Bay when I read about it in a blog post on Kieran Russell's website. I was very excited about having such an interesting subject to photograph only 10 minutes away from where I stay when in Wexford and at the tail end of October I finally got my chance on the morning before my family and I caught the ferry to Wales for my brother's wedding. It had been a long time since I'd photographed something that required checking the tide times.

After a terrible December and January (photography-wise) I was stood on the side of a mountain on Achill Island getting battered by strong winds and I was absolutely loving it. I'd first hiked up this mountain side a few years previous on a recce. I'd gone up there to take a look at a neolithic tomb and when I turned round I saw an amazing view of Keel Beach and beyond. This time it was so windy that I had to wedge my tripod legs into the tomb and wrap any cords or straps up tightly. I had to put one foot on the tomb in order to put my eye to the camera's viewfinder and more than once a

I arrived at Downpatrick Head in good time. From a previous visit to Dún Briste (North Mayo Coast) I knew that I wanted to capture it at an angle which made it look the skinniest and that I wanted it to be a long-exposure shot. For this I needed an overcast morning (I settled for mostly cloudy) because otherwise the difference in exposure between the sky and the rest of the image would be too great. I also needed the wind to not be coming in from the direction of the sea, otherwise I'd get sea spray all over the lens. I was lucky enough to get conditions close enough to what I needed on a

  I suppose you wouldn't think of how physically gruelling it is to be a landscape photographer unless you are one (or maybe if you live with one). I forget myself, of course, and keep planning ever more ambitious distances and locations. I'd been wanting to photograph the above view of Achill Island for some time, had attempted it once of twice and gotten nothing but disappointment. I made a 5am start so as to have enough time to get to the location and set up in time for sunrise. I hadn't slept for long enough and the almost 2 hour drive was taxing. Conveniently there's a road

I grunted as I slung my fully laden camera bag on to my back for the first time in months and set off in my new hiking boots and waterproof trousers (an upgrade to the skinny jeans and Harley Davidson boots I'd been wearing every previous year). I set off along the path that leads to Toormakeady Waterfall in the twilight and as I gazed into the crepuscular gloom I wished I'd thought to take the torch out of the bag. Luckily I'd set off from my house earlier than I had planned because Google Maps sent me to the wrong spot. It was only when I wound up in the middle of nowhere that I

Landscape photographers love snow. When I heard the first reports of 'The Beast from the East' I was looking forward to the first proper snowfall in years. The initial reports were that the east coast would get the most snow and that Galway would possibly not be affected. Luckily for me (or so I thought at the time), I was going to a gig in Dublin on the Tuesday, with the snow to start that night and the worst of the storm to hit on the Thursday. I figured that I'd get to bed straight after the gig, rise early, get a few shots near where I was staying in Leixlip and from there head to

It was one of those clear, bright days that happen after snow has fallen and I was going to attempt driving to the top of Croaghmoyle mountain. There's an RTÉ mast at the summit so there's a road that leads to that. How far up the mountain I'd be able to get I had no idea until I tried. When I got to Castlebar the sky turned grey and no sooner had I got onto the first L road than it started to snow. In no time at all the snow was coming down thick and the world had turned white. I was crawling along and any time I did more than tap the brakes the ABS would come on. I thought better of

The forecast had promised heavy rain through the night turning to light rain at dawn, which suited me as I'd read that the waterfalls were most impressive after heavy rain and an overcast morning would enable me to get some long exposure shots. Driving up the road to Mahon Falls was like driving in to a cloud. With the combination of arriving at a car park and Google Maps telling me so, I assumed that I'd arrived. I put my pack on and walked up what I assumed was the path to the falls. I had to hold out my umbrella in front of me with both hands and walk head down in to the wind. After a

Shortly after passing through Tuam the sky darkened, turning almost purple, while a low and intense sunlight made everything before me really vivid. It was spectacular but somehow conditions like this seem to only happen when I'm in the car, or looking out through the window of my house, not when I'm pointing the camera at something. I was on my way to the north coast of Mayo for the first time, specifically Downpatrick Head. When I arrived I was assaulted by wind that seemed to be seeking out gaps in my clothing. I had to clip the sleeves on my jacket shut which I've never done before.

I'd been having no luck at all during December so I was looking forward to visiting Wales around new years because I figured a different country would bring different weather conditions. I was wrong however, and it pretty much just rained the whole time. I was only over for a few days so I was eagerly waiting for any opportunity in the weather forecast. I decided to take a chance one morning on a promised moment of sunshine at dawn. I headed for Cerreg Cennen Castle. It was wet when I arrived and it only got wetter. I had no choice but to give up, however I thought I may as well head to