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Special Mornings with Daragh Muld0wney
There are no shortage of early mornings when you’re a landscape photographer. Early rises, sometimes a drive and a walk in….dedication is required. Sometimes we are rewarded and sometimes not but it is always worth it to be up early watching the day come into life. A truly magical time and I am always grateful… -
EPIC Faroe Islands : NEW Images
There is no place like the Faroes for fast-changing light. Bring your rain gear but also prepare for some epic changeable weather. Here are a few new edits from Peter that hopefully give you a flavour of the place. Can't wait to get back in September. We already have one workshop fully booked but there… -
Morocco 2023 : New Images by Daragh Muldowney
Thanks so much for stopping by. We are delighted to share some NEW Morocco images by Daragh Muldowney. Our April trip was simply EPIC - check out the images below. We hope you enjoy .. Our second Morocco workshop started 2 days ago - more epic stuff to come we are sure - so stay… -
Tuscany with Don Dino
As we are gearing up for our annual trip to Tuscany with Dino Marsango, we thought some NEW Tuscany images were in order. Our instructor, guide and great friend Don Dino sent us some real treats. Check them out below. Hope you enjoy. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram when we go LIVE from stunning Tuscany. Workshop… -
Morocco : Scouting Mission Images
Thanks so much for stopping by. Today we will feature some of the amazing images by Daragh Muldowney taken during his scouting mission in Morocco last year. We hope you enjoy. We are starting our first Morocco trip on 22nd April 2023 - can't wait for this 10 day adventure to kick off !! We… -
NEW Images Norway
Greetings from Norway. We are about to embark on our third week in the Arctic this year. It's been immense so far with some great Northern Lights and snow with of course the usual mix of dodgy weather to keep us on our toes. Not much text in the blog just a few new images… -
2022 In Review – Part 1 – NEW Images
2022 has been a great year. A return for us to doing what we love best. It started a little shakey with disruption to workshops with some restrictions still in place and so much uncertainty still in the air. After a super busy Autumn season though, it really does feel like we're back. Thanks so… -
Isle of Lewis and Harris – NEW Images from Daragh
More stunning new images from our very own Daragh Muldowney. This week it's the Isle of Lewis and Harris. One of those unique Scottish photography locations that we just love. We cant wait to get back. Fancy joining us? This workshop was fully booked but we had a late cancellation a couple of weeks ago.… -
Scotland – NEW Images from Daragh
Hope everyone is doing well out there. The summer is very much here and shooting takes somewhat of a back seat as we are all enjoying time with our loved ones here at ExploreLioght HQ. The sunrises are early and the midges make shooting by lakes and in the mountains a quite unpleasant experience over… -
FREE Photoshop Core Skills 1
The video below is designed to teach you some fundamentals about layers and layer masks and is the perfect entry level point for anyone trying to get to grip with Photoshop. Some timing below in case you want to skip through. Hope it's of use .. Peter Object Removal 3.45 Masks - White Reveals/Black Conceals/Brushes/Gradients… -
NEW Kerry Images – Ireland
It's been a few weeks without editing as I enjoyed a great Easter break visiting my wife's family in Croatia. Too much was eaten and there may have even been a few glasses of wine slipped in for good measure. The Irish landscape is always on my mind though and I managed to get a… -
Daragh in Provence – Purple Haze
As we start to move on from our superb winter adventures our focus is shifting to Spring and summer. It's feeling a bit warmer out there? Earlier starts but glorious colours, warm lighting, and epic glow. With this in mind, our very own Daragh Muldowney has stopped by the blog this week to showcase some… -
NEW Iceland Images – Arctic Adventure 2023
Hey guys. It's been quite a few weeks on the road with 2 epic adventures to Iceland and Norway now completed. We started out with an international canceled flight in Iceland which delayed us by a day and we finished with another canceled domestic flight for good measure. A 9-hour drive from Myvatn to Keflavik… -
New Irish Images – Out Connemara Way
Hey guys. Hope everyone is doing well out there. Loving getting stuck into editing some new images from Connemara this week. We had a number of workshops in the area in October and we were treated to some really stunning light in the area. Hopefully, the below gives you a good flavour. The drama is… -
Iceland – We Miss You!
What can we say about Iceland. It truly is a Mecca for landscape photography and with good reason. It really has it all. Stunning waterfalls, beaches, glaciers, changeable amazing light plus of course the epic northern lights. We cant wait to get back this winter so we thought it would make sense to share some… -
Embracing Everything – Donegal Part 2 – Early Sunsets
Im going wild and embracing all before me where the landscape is concerned. So here goes! Its Donegal on the brain for the next few weeks editing-wise. If you missed last week’s blog you can see a few more images from the trip HERE plus catch up on some general musings. This week I… -
Understanding Clouds and Light – Free Resource Chapter
There is so much more we can learn from the weather forecast if we’re willing to just look that little bit deeper. Most weather apps present us with beautiful little graphics with sunny and cloudy symbols and we use this to infer and understand the forecast. This type of information is fantastic for taking a… -
NEW Online Course : Effective Planning in the Landscape, Developing the Light
A weather and post-processing course for Landscape Photographers - Coming April 22nd It's big news this week at ExploreLight HQ with a brand new downloadable course coming online. Peter has been working away full throttle for the past 2 months to share the key ingredients of his philosophy around planning your landscape shoots. Apps, weather,… -
Effective Planning for Landscape with Lee Filters/Conns Cameras – FREE TALK
We are delighted to announce Peter will be giving a totally free talk on April 22nd, 12.30 pm UTC +1 (DUBLIN TIME). The talk is in association with Lee Filters and Conns Cameras, both wonderful supporters of ExploreLight over many years, and 2 amazing companies within the photographic community in Ireland and internationally. So what's… -
Storm Francis Waterford/Wexford
I’m definitely getting a strong urge to follow the severe wind and big waves. The stormy conditions of the past week seem like an appropriate narrative for the times we live in and certainly sum up my own feelings about the state of play worldwide. The chaos of the storm has been the perfect antidote…
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Storm Ellen Dublin
Storm Ellen hit Ireland last week. The south coast caught the worst of the storm but there were also some high winds in Dublin. Certainly, nothing to write home about but with the right location vis a vis win direction and exposure, combined with the high tide, there was still some drama to photograph. I…
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New YouTube VLOG : West of Ireland
Peter, Daragh, and Michael out west. Photography, swimming, drinking and singing as they scout new locations and enjoy some shooting time while prepping the brand spanking new Autumn workshops program. What more could you want in an episode of YouTube? NEW IRISH PROGRAMME : AUTUMN 2020 Looking for an adventure at home this Autumn? Learn…
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NEW Ireland 2020 Autumn Photography Staycations
Coronavirus has certainly not been fun, but it has given us photographers time away to explore some of the great landscape that’s closer to home. Well, actually it is home, our fair auld isle, Eire. Peter, Daragh, and Michael have been on the road exploring new locations to bring you this autumn. All your photography…
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Two Day Workshops in July 2020
It’s been a tricky time for everyone over these last few months but we’re ready to get going with some stunning new locations and some socially distant workshops. Join Peter in Louth and south Co Down for 2 days of seascapes, long exposures, lighthouses, single trees, forestry and more. Less traditional locations with an emphasis on more artistic outcomes…
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The Process of Lockdown #2 : NEW IMAGES
There’s so much we miss within the archives and the current lockdown has given all us photographers an opportunity to trawl through the archives and pick out some gems. I’ve always felt like there were lots of images that I missed so let’s just see if my archives can outlive the lockdown. Try it yourself…
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New Images Dublin Bay
I recently spent an amazing morning out in Dublin Bay where the reflections sat down, the mist was magical and the tide was just right. Great to be outside shooting and just a wonderful feeling to get such special conditions. Below some images from a really enjoyable morning in the Dublin Salt. PRINT AND FINISHING…
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The Process of Lockdown #1 : NEW IMAGES
There’s so much we miss within the archives and the current lockdown has given all us photographers an opportunity to trawl through the archives and pick out some gems. I’ve always felt like there were lots of images that I missed so let’s just see if my archives can outlive the lockdown. Try it yourself…
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White Balance – The Foundation of Good Colour
We are on the cusp of releasing Peter’s brand new editing course, Simple Tools Powerful Outcomes. Below is 1 of 27 chapters that gives you a sneak preview into what’s to come. Below also a full list of chapters. We hope you enjoy and if you want more info about the course or to avail…
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Free Photoshop Tutorial : Actions and Web Sharpening
Hey folks. I hope everyone is well and keeping safe out there. This week we have a free photoshop tutorial on using actions in photoshop and a look at Peter’s preferred method for web sharpening files. Lots and lots of info in the video so we hope it’s of use ..
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NEW Dolomites by ExploreLight Guide Dino Marsango
BENVENUTI DOLOMITI Dino Marsango is the resident Italian expert at ExploreLight, especially when it comes to the Dolomites. A great photographer and a friend. We have been lucky to have him on board for the last couple of years and we look forward to many more adventures on the horizon. We were delighted when Dino…
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FEP: European Success: Team ExploreLight
Hey folks. Hope everyone is keeping well out there and safe. Some good news to follow at least. Three members of our ExploreLight team were successful at this year’s FEP European Professional Photography Awards 2020. Daragh finished best with 2nd place with Peter and Thor hot on his heels finishing 4th and 5th respectively. Delighted…
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Lake Baikal : Trip Report by Daragh Muldowney
We are delighted to bring you some of Daragh’s amazing work and insights from Lake Baikal. The images below represent 3 trips, over 3 years and much of the work below has never been released before. We can’t wait to see Daragh’s exhibition and book coming later this year. Read on to hear lots more…
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Start to Finish Edit Lake Baikal
Check out Peter edit Claire’s images from Lake Baikal start to finish. Its a free tutorial using Lightroom, Photoshop and even some luminosity masks for good measure. Why not head over to YouTube and make sure to subscribe for lots more content. Hope you enjoy guys ..
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The Irish Landscape – No Place Like Home
Hey folks. We know all St Paddys Day-related activities are being canceled at the moment but we still thought it would be nice to celebrate our native landscape in the form of this blog. Peter has spent some time looking through images that give you guys a real sense of the place we call home.…
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Trip Report : Iceland North & West : NEW images
We are still trying to catch up with winter workshops edits here in the ExploreLight HQ. After the Dolomites, Lake Baikal and the Lofoten trip, not to forget Iceland South we finally got to Iceland North & West. Slightly embarrassed to admit Peter hadn’t quite managed the 2019 edit either so loads of new images…
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Trip Report : Lake Baikal : NEW IMAGES
We are just back from an EPIC trip to Lake Baikal. It was an absolute pleasure and great craic to spend 9 days freezing with an amazing group of photographers. The journey was intense and rewarding in equal measure and hopefully, you agree the photographic rewards have been amazing. So much more to edit but…
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Back From the Arctic : New Images
Peter, Daragh, and Thor are just back from some amazing winter adventures in Lofoten and Iceland. The clouds didn’t lift totally at night, and while we got some northern lights there wasn’t an epic display on either trip. This was more than made up for by some stunning clouds, moody light, ice caves, and some…
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ExploreLight 2019 – Our Favourite Images
Thanks so much to everyone that joined an ExploreLight adventure in 2019. Our community goes from strength to strength and we love seeing new and old friends for sunrises, sunsets, northern lights and even the occasional glass of Barolo. The people that come with us on these adventures are what makes this whole thing possible…
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New Short Courses : Perfect for Christmas
Hello and good wishes. I hope everyone is keeping well out there and getting ready for the festive season. We’re busy, busy preparing for next year and our winter, spring, and autumn extended workshops are nearly totally booked. We’ve been hatching a plan though to provide some great weekends and days out around Ireland and…
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New Short Courses: Beginner to Advanced
We have an extensive range of short courses in the Wicklow and Dublin area over the coming months with lots of new dates added. From beginner to advanced we have a unique educational program with Ireland’s top landscape professionals. Are you looking to make a start with your photography, firm up on some technical skills,…
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Winter is Coming – Ideas, Tips and Inspiration
We have just come off some amazing Autumn adventures and while there are still some great colours to be had we have begun to realise that winter is coming. We are on a bit of break time at the moment but we look forward to hitting Iceland, Norway the Dolomites plus of course Lake Baikal…
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Classic Lofoten – What a Location? Favourite Images
Its been a while since we have been on the amazing Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway. It really is a location that just keeps giving. Stunning mountains, the classic red fishing huts, pristine beaches with deep green water. Did we mention the northern lights? Peter and Thor have a vast amount of experience of these…
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IPA 1st Place Award – Peter Gordon
We are delighted to announce that Peter has had some really great success at this year’s International Photo Awards (IPA). The IPA awards are one of the most prestigious awards programmess in the world so we’re delighted to hear Peter had a 1st place in his category. The series were captured in Lofoten and Croatia…
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Favourite Images / European Photography 2020
We just love our job. Visiting stunning photographic locations throughout Europe, with great groups of people, laughing a lot with a constant stream of inspiration. With that in mind, it seemed to make sense to share a favourite image from the many locations we look forward to seeing this year. We hope you enjoy the…
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Photographing the Northern Lights Guide – Tips and Tricks
Oh my god there it is. Stay calm, I’m trying too, but it’s hard. And so it went after an epic 5 1/2 hour journey across Iceland’s south coast, we arrived at the glacial lagoon after midnight and the sky opened up. First attempt, success, its pin sharp; whoop, and whoop. Lofoten 2020 …
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Why does that image look so good?
We really are inundated with amazing image, after amazing image, on our Facebook and Instagram feeds to name but just a few. It can feel overwhelming as a photographer. What can I do to improve? Who are these people that make these amazing images and how can I do the same? Why do these pictures…
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Favourite Images through the Spring ..
Different times of the year, different locations, different possibilities. We plan to get seriously busy with new workshops in Spring 2020 so we thought it would make sense to make a blog that showcased some of our favourite images, from our favourite Spring locations. We’re calling it the mist and mood chasing season, with the…
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ExploreLight Photography Workshops 2020
EXPLORELIGHT WORKSHOPS PROGRAMME 2020 DOLOMITES, ITALY : 6 – 10 Jan 2020 : Peter Gordon & Dino Marsango ICELAND SOUTH : 21 – 28 Jan 2020 : Daragh Muldowney : 2 Places LOFOTEN, NORWAY : 22 – 28 Jan 2020 : Peter Gordon & Thorarinn Jonsson GLENCOE, SCOTLAND : 13 – 16 Feb 2020…
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Ed Gordon – Photographic Renaissance
We have some beautiful new imagery to share with you this week from ExploreLight’s Ed Gordon. Ed had a bit of a creative hiatus for the last few years but it’s fair to say Ed is back with a bang, and reconnecting with his first love, black and white. He is even running his own new set…
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ExploreLight Workshops 2019 : Only a couple of places left
It’s been a busy few months for the ExploreLight Team with workshops in the Dolomites, Iceland, Norway, Ireland, and the Isle of Skye. We are now gearing up for some sunnier and warmer weather with adventures to unfold in Tuscany, the Dolomites, and Ireland. ExploreLight 2019 workshops are all nearly Fully Booked but we have few places available and a…
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New Lofoten 2019 Images
Still trying to scratch the surface of the 2019 edit from 2 amzing workshops in Lofoten. We have already been to Iceland North and South in the interim plus we head back to Lofoten Sunday for our final aurora tracing trip of the season. Its been amazing, its been emotional. Check out the tip of…
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Developing Your Landscape Photography – Workflow and Method
We have been hanging out in obscure places, at obscure hours of the day, searching for the perfect image, that perfect light for more than 10 years now. The best image, the best experience is really at the core of what we want to achieve at ExploreLight. Time certainly flies but the ride has been…
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Updated .. Lofoten 2018 Images
Currently kicking off 2019 Lofoten so just wanted to bring the 2018 edit to a conclusion .. I have so much more editing to do but wanted to share with you for now what I managed to do while on the road. Lofoten is well, what can I say .. amazing! So much more still to…
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Nikon Pro Services Event – See the Z Series – Jan 24th
An event not to missed for all you good folks thinking of going mirrorless. The files from the Z series are seriously impressive. Its the perfect day out if you are looking at these cameras and Peter will be there too to take a look too. Get hands-on experience with the latest Nikon professional…
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2018 in Review – New Images !
What can we say about 2018? Well, it was a pretty epic adventure. We have been all over. From Norway to Iceland, Ireland and Scotland, the Dolomites, Tuscany, Brittany, the Faroe Islands, lest we forget the IrishLight festival, Peter’s launch of Dublin Salt, Ed rediscovering his mojo and Daragh’s adventures in Baikal. It’s been immense. We feel…
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Workshops Calendar 2019/2020
WORKSHOPS 2019 01 03 – 06 03 2019 ICELAND NORTH with Peter Gordon & Thorarinn Jonsson – FULLY BOOKED – NEW 2020 DATES ADDED 11 03 – 17 03 2019 LOFOTEN with Peter Gordon & Thorarinn Jonsson – FULLY BOOKED 03 04 – 07 04 2019 ISLE OF SKYE with Peter Gordon & Daragh Muldowney –…
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Thank God the Summer is Over.
I’m sick of those clear skies and sunny days. Endless heat and lazy days at the beach, eating ice cream, swimming, bright evenings sitting outside in short sleeves. There’s only so much bbq and beer a person can endure. My wife once told me I was the only man in Ireland who hoped for crap…
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New Iceland Images – Daragh Muldowney
Daragh has been leading workshops to Iceland for many years and captured some stunning work along the way. He will be back with 2 consecutive tours in 2018 hitting some of Iceland’s most iconic locations. Why not join him for an epic adventure next year? South Coast Workshop 2018 Click Here .. Snæfellsnes Workshops 2018…
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Introducing .. Well .. Daragh Muldowney
So it seems a little odd to introduce Daragh Muldowney here, because Daragh has been leading ExploreLight workshops for the past five years. Nevertheless, it recently occurred to us that you might not be aware of some of the extraordinary work Daragh does both inside and outside the ExploreLight family. And whom better than…
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Iceland – You’re Icy – The Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach
There are so many amazing things to shoot in Iceland but there is a reason for the ice in, well, ‘Iceland’. Vatnajökull ice cap has around 30 outlet glaciers flowing from the ice cap and covers over 11% of the countries land mass. I think its fair to say ice can make for some pretty amazing shooting…
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Understanding the Clouds – Predicting the Light !
Before I go any further I have to give massive credit for my understanding of clouds to my good friend and colleague Thorarinn Jonson, AKA “The Mighty Thor’ from Thor Photography. Traveling, working, and even shock horror, sipping a nice cool beer together after a long day shooting and guiding, The Mighty Thor and I have…
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2019 – In a Nutshell
We have just announced our full 2019 schedule and the bookings have been coming thick and fast over the past week. We thought it might be helpful to spell out our workshops in list format so you can see chronologically whats coming up, and also see what workshops connect together if you want to take 2…
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Iceland Favourites
We have been running photography workshops in Iceland for many years now. There’s nothing like having good experience of locations, and an even greater insight into weather and conditions. It makes for a safer and better photography experience. Alas I digress. Iceland is one of those places that simply knocks your socks off. Stunning and unusual,…
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West of Ireland Image Favourites and Workshops
We have put together some of our favourite images below from our west of Ireland workshop locations We have 2 week long tours on the west coast of Ireland in 2017. .. Check out the images below and the links for more info .. Check out our Oct 2018 Workshop/Tour here.. Check out our May…
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Irish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2018
I am delighted to announce that I’ve been named Bank of Ireland IPPVA Irish Landscape Photographer of the Year. It’s my third time winning the category so absolutely over the moon. Have a look at the winning images below. Hope you enjoy Norway Italy Italy Dublin Bay
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Iceland Trip Report 2018 – NEW IMAGES
I’m still trying to catch up on the mammoth task of editing my best images from a hectic winter season. As always there isn’t enough hours in the day. Nevertheless, I wanted to try and share some new images from our recent trip to the south coast of Iceland and Snaefellsness. Loads more to edit…
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Photography Workshops – This Weekend
Hope your week is going well and you are gearing up for a wonderful weekend ahead. We certainly are … We have a packed weekend ahead – 3 short photography workshops to get you back in the shooting mood for Spring. Check out the links below and see you for some wonderful light. Winter Risers…
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2019 FULL SCHEDULE
List of all 2019 workshops
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New Year – New Photoshop/Post Production Skills
Post Production, or image editing is an essential part of any photographers skillset. Frustrating, infuriating, are a few words we often hear from people describing their relationship with editing. We want to help you to take that frustration away, and in our upcoming courses, we aim to help you bring your skills to the next…
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2017 in Review – What a Year!
We had an amazing year in 2017 with workshops and trips to Slovenia, Italy, Iceland and Norway plus lots of work on DublinSalt. Most of the Dublin work will remain unreleased until later this year when Peter plans a book and exhibition. We also had the amazing Daragh Muldowney and Michael McLaughlin running ExploreLight workshops…
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Iceland November 17 Trip Report
We have been running photography workshops in Iceland for many years but it just never gets old. Every trip is different. New conditions, changing light, more ice, less ice. Different tides .. etc, etc, etc .. I think this is why so many of our workshop participants come back and take another trip with us…
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Amazing Dublin Sunrise
I left my house this morning with a good friend and fellow photographer at 7.15 heading for Sandymount Strand. Role on 7.30 and the intended coffee stop was cut immediately short when we saw the sky to the east. It was an hour and ten minutes still to sunrise but the sky was already on…
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Iceland 2017 New Images
So we are gearing up for a host of new trips in 2018 winter Iceland and it seemed like a good idea to share some of favourites from an amazing journey last March. Previously unreleased from 2017. What an amazing group and incredible times shooting northern lights 6 out of 8 nights. Tired, broken and…
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Slovenia Favourites
We love Slovenia. And here is it why. Peter visited Slovenia in 2016 and spent 10 days shooting the Julian Alps looking for the perfect locations to hold this year’s workshop. He also teamed up with Luka Esenko’s company, who we will work with on this year’s workshop for additional local guidance. It was really…
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Our Montenegro Favourites
Montenegro is an incredible place to make landscape images. An unspoilt gem. Here’s a few of our favourites from the last few years. We will be running a workshop there again this year in October if you fancy joining. We will guide you to some of Europe’s most beautiful and undiscovered landscape. Montenegro has stunning…
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Autumn Adventures with ExploreLight
As the summer is fast approaching we are looking forward to some sunshine and well deserved rest. Our workshops normally take place in winter, spring and autumn when the colours are peaking and the light is best. With its vibrant colours and atmospheric sunlight, autumn is an amazing season for photography. Workshops are either fully…
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ExploreLight People Feature : Ita Boyle : Montenegro
Montenegro is one our longest running workshops and we love returning to its beautiful landscapes – stunning mountains, lakes, forests and gorges. The gorges stretch for kilometers, filled with beautiful deciduous forestry and anchored by hugely impressive 2500 meter peaks. The rivers and glacial lakes are beautifully green and turquoise. Ita Boyle came to our 2015 Montenegro workshop. She…
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Irish Professional Photography Awards
Absoloutely delighted to be named Travel and Pictorial Photographer of the Year and finish second in the Landscape Category of the Bank of Ireland IPPA Irish Professional Photography Awards. Check out the awarded portfolio’s below. Hope you enjoy..
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New Images : Iceland : Lofoten
Its been a hugely busy winter season with trips to Slovenia, Lofoten in Norway, and Iceland. I have been incredibly fortunate to experience some of the best landscapes the world has to offer with some of the best conditions available. Blazing sunrises, off the chart northern lights and more. It’s all been done with some…
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Iceland Trip Report – NEW IMAGES
So we are travelling to Iceland today to run our annual trip across the south coast and beyond. It’s a huge highlight in our year and never fails to disappoint. No matter the weather there is always amazing images to be made. We have also just announced our 2018 trip. Just click here to see…
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Extended Weekend Workshops : Iceland & Ireland
Extended weekend photography workshops in Iceland & Ireland with award winning photographers Peter Gordon, Daragh Muldowney & Thorarinn Jonsson
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Trip Report – Spring West of Ireland Workshop
We’re starting to gear up for this May’s workshop on Ireland’s west coast. What better way to prepare than a look back at some images from last years trip. Hope you enjoy.. Click here for more images and info on the trip.. Warm Dawn Killarney Lakes Still Dawn Killarney Lakes Mirror Reflections Killarney Lake Mist…
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Our Favourite Irish Seascapes – Wild Atlantic Way
Yes, yes we’re just ever so fond of the west coast of Ireland. Especially the amazing seascapes. Clean untouched beaches. Big swell. Beautiful colour. Delicious… If you ever fancy joining us for a 7 day trip.. May Photography Workshop October Photography Workshop Donegal Sunset Dingle Glowing Atlantic Swell Dingle Calm Dingle Storm Donegal Nights Blasket…
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Layer Up – Not Photoshop – It’s Just Cold
It’s that special time of year where the angle of the sun is low, we have potential for beautiful snow and ice, and to top it all off the sunrise times are more than a little sociable. You can get a full days shooting in and still be home for a hearty meal and a…
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Scotland Favourites
Our Scottish Photo Tours are one of our longest running adventures, and also one of our favourites. The ExploreLight journey in Scotland started in 2012 and year after year we have had an exceptional interest for our workshops there. When we look back at the images and its amazing scenery it is easy to see…
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Photography Workshops – Christmas Gift Ideas
Looking for that perfect Christmas present. Still plenty of time to surprise your loved ones with one of our workshops or courses. And plenty to choose from : one day : weekend : week long photography courses available. See below for full list of workshops we offer … Happy Christmas Gift Voucher Available .. Click…
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Dublin Bay Workshops
Dublin Bay has some great landmarks for seascape photography: Poolbeg, a distant Sugar Loaf from Dollymount, Howth Head. In 2016 Peter has been documenting Dublin Bay sunrises and sunsets. Enjoy viewing Dublin Salt project.
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Glendalough – Transformed ..
Its not every day you see somewhere you know intimately transformed by amazing weather conditions. Frost had been building day after in Glendalough with a thaw only beginning today. I’m working on a nighttime project in the area (In a Different Light) at the moment but managed to squeeze in a brief sunset shoot and…
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Workshops Action
And this is what we love doing and do best – workshops. Iceland, Montenegro, Croatia, Scotland, Ireland … beautiful places we visit every year. Every workshop is different & special. It’s not only the landscapes we love, it’s the people. It was tough at times, hot and cold, fighting winds, melting snow. But it was…
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New Iceland Gallery..
We’ve updated explorelight.com with a new images gallery from Iceland. This represents our top selection from this years trips. Stop by and check them out.. http://explorelight.com/portfolio/new-fine-art-photography
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Irish Time Photo Comp..
Hey folks..I just came across a link to this Irish Time Photo Comp and thought some of you might be interested. Its for amateurs only and has a really high standard of work. Get involved and check out the link below.. http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/photography/photography-competition/slideshow-have-you-entered-our-photography-competition-yet-1.2171934
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Iceland Workshop and Tour Images
We ran two workshops in Iceland this year and both we’re equally amazing. We saw everything from dramatic snowstorms, breaking magenta sunsets to incredible auroras. We also had an amazing crew of people on board. Lot’s of our regulars and some new faces too. Thanks to all of you for making the trips so amazing too.…
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Capturing Northern Lights in Iceland.
Hi Folks, hope you enjoyed the Mother’s day and St. Patrick’s day celebrations, especially if you took Monday off and gave yourselves a long weekend! If you are back at work with a sore head, perhaps these amazing images of the Aurora Borealis (aka The Northern Lights) captured by ExploreLight photographers this week in Iceland…
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ExploreLight wins “Best Irish Landscape Photographer of the Year” again!
Hello friends. Hope the week has started well for you all. We are absolutely delighted to announce that ExploreLight’s Peter Gordon has be named Irish Landscape Photographer of the Year for the 3rd year running! Peter said a great day was had talking at the IPPA conference and celebrating after the awards ceremony! There were some…
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Award Winning Photographer Peter Gordon to speak at IPPA Conference.
Hi all, hope you have had a great week enjoying the hint of Spring in the air. We are delighted to announce to some of you (or remind others), that our very own multi award winning travel and landscape photographer – Peter Gordon will be speaking at this years IPPA (Irish Professional Photographers Association) conference…
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Fundamentals 2 day Photography Workshop in Co. Wicklow
Hi all, hope your week is going well and you are gearing up for a wonderful weekend ahead! Just to remind you that our ExploreLight Wicklow fundamentals workshop takes place Saturday March 7th in none other than (you guessed it) beautiful Co Wicklow! There are just 2 places left so book now not to be…
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ExploreLight Landscape Photographers Shoot in Iceland
Hi all, here are some more stunning images shot by ExploreLight landscape and travel photographers Ed and Peter Gordon this week whilst running this years photography workshop in Iceland. They have been exploring and shooting the such wonders as the northern lights, ice caves, glaciers and all sorts of magical Icelandic locations. Their 2016 Iceland…
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ExploreLight Landscape Photography Iceland Workshop 2015
Hi all, so it seems the ExploreLight photographers are off to a great start in Iceland this week. Peter Gordon shot this stunning image of the magical Northern Lights on his first attempt the day they began the workshop. For information on the 2016 Iceland tour click this link.. http://goo.gl/PRQ4iMWe wish all the workshop participants the…
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Landscape Masters Seminar – Schedule Announced
This is going to be a really meeting of some of Ireland’s finest landscape photographers. BOOK HERE 9.30 – 10.20 Vision and Technique – Daragh Muldowney 10.30 – 11.20 Vision to Finish – Post Production – Daragh Muldowney 11.30 – 12.20 Vision and Technique – Rohan Reilly Lunch Break 1.30 – 2.20 Vision to Finish…
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ExploreLight Seminar
Just in case you missed it our seminar will be happening soon..Click here to attend.. Dates & Times: Feb 7th 2015. 9.30am-5pm Location: Bewleys Hotel, Leopardstown, Dublin (just off the M50) Instructors: Peter Gordon, Daragh Muldowney, Rohan Reilly. Fee: €75 (includes lectures, tea and coffee) Level: Beginner to Advanced. Gift Vouchers Available Contact Peter at…
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ExploreLight feature in Outdoor Photography magazine.
Check out the cover image of Outdoor Photography Magazine by ExploreLight’s own Ed Gordon. Peter Gordon has also written a great article inside the same issue .. well done lads and thanks to the folks at Outdoor Photography Magazine for the feature!
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ExploreLight Photography Workshops 2015
Hi all, after the success of last years workshops and tours, we are back this year with plenty to choose from. Starting off with Iceland next month which is fully booked and then moving onto Wicklow, Montenegro, Connemara and Scotland as well as one to one tuition and masterclasses available too! We look forward to…
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ExploreLight Photography looking forward to 2015 workshops!
Happy new year friends of ExploreLight photography! Hope 2015 is treating you well so far.. we want to thank those of you who joined us on our workshops and tours last year and are really looking forward to making more great images together and meeting and working with some new people too! Here are a…
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ExploreLight Fine Art Photography says Merry Christmas!
We at ExploreLight Fine Art Photography want to wish all our customers, friends and family members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy new year! We hope you get what you want from Santa and whatever you are doing, whoever you are with, that you have a peaceful one! Here is an image…
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ExploreLight Photography Workshops: Do something new in 2015!
Treat yourself or your loved ones to an ExploreLight Photography workshop in 2015! Choose from a range of amazing locations including Scotland, the West of Ireland, Montenegro and Wicklow to visit and learn new photography skills.
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Christmas Gift Idea’s..Art and Photography Workshops
Christmas is here and we would love some big snow to transform the landscape. I’m looking out the window every morning with my kids. No santa, and no snow yet but we live in hope. If you fancy some ExploreLight art for Christmas get cracking soon. All orders will need to be made by December…
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ExploreLight Landscape Photography Workshop – Wicklow
Stillness in one of my favourite places on earth ..Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. Click here to find out information on our Wicklow workshops http://goo.gl/UDD9WW
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ExploreLight Fine Art Photography – New Project
‘In a Different Light’ – A new conceptual landscape project to be exhibited 2015..We will be showing a sneak preview of this new and upcoming project from tomorrow at the craft fair..drop by to see it on acrylic..National Art & Craft Fair RDS, Dublin Dec 3rd – 7th. Stands 122 & 123. Drop by if…
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ExploreLight Fine Art Photography – Connemara Image
The Colour of Time – Peter Gordon. See this spectacular Connemara landscape along with many other fine art photography pieces by ExploreLight photographers Peter Gordon and Ed Gordon at the National Art and Craft Fair in Dublin’s RDS from Dec 3rd to 7th. Drop by stands 122 & 123 by and have a chin wag!
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ExploreLight Landscape Photography Workshop Montenegro
Drop by the RDS to discuss all things workshops and see this print..National Art and Craft Fair RDS, Dublin Dec 3rd – 7th. Stands 122 and 123. Vouchers will be available. Click here for workshops http://goo.gl/dTsbqg
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ExploreLight Fine Art Photography at The RDS Art & Craft Fair.
Between Life and Death – Peter Gordon. National Art and Craft Fair RDS, Dublin Dec 3rd – 7th. Stands 122 & 123. Come by to view prints and have a chin wag.. Fiery Bark – Ed Gordon. It’s going to be on a big acrylic.. National Art and Craft Fair RDS, Dublin Dec 3rd –…
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ExploreLight Photography One to One Training & Guide Service
One to one training and guide service in Co. Wicklow and the West of Ireland. http://goo.gl/k7V0Ff If you want individual instruction to help you bring your photography to a new level, then we can tailor a course in Wicklow or Ireland’s West that suits you. Location guide service also available.
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ExploreLight Landscape Photography Workshop – Scotland
So we are back in magnificent Scotland for another workshop/tour. Here’s a couple of images from the beginning of the Scotland journey, I’m feeling dark and blue .. in a good way! 🙂 Some more blue atmosphere … Scotland is full of beautiful locations to shoot.Click here to check out other upcoming workshops & tours…
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ExploreLight landscape photography Connemara Workshop.
People in action on a Connemara workshop. Looking forward to getting back here on our tour later this year.. and of course to our workshop in Co. Wicklow happening this weekend! http://goo.gl/pRPBI7
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West of Ireland Photography Workshop – October 2014
After a wonderful week in the West of Ireland with some amazing photographers and landscapes to shoot, we are looking forward to our upcoming workshop in Wicklow. Click here to book a place .. http://goo.gl/jYA3Ki Here are two of our favourite pictures from our West of Ireland photography workshop..
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New Images on Explorelight.com..Lots of Photography workshops Images
Delighted to report we have updated the website with some new fine art photography from our varuous photography workshops around the world. Open this post and follow the link below to see this image and more. Hope you enjoy.. Click here to see the new gallery..
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Welcome to Our New Website
It’s been on our minds for a while. Our workshops and tours need their own home. A place they can call their own. And we are delighted to have found one for them. We are also delighted to be offering a new range of workshops and seminars with a carefully selected crew of Ireland’s top landscape photographers.…
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Photography Workshop and Tour Location Showcase #1Connemara
Welcome to the first in our new series where we will show you some of the images we have created while running our various photography workshops and photo tours. Todays images are drawn from Connemara where we run a landscape masterclass and also a leg of our extended West of Ireland Photography Tour. This first…
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Inside the Art – ‘The Playa’ – Fine Art Photography Burning Man
Sometimes a plan just comes together. Sometimes there’s no plan at all yet everything still comes together. It was the latter. An amazing moment where the universe just seemed to come into alignment. The Playa is one of my all time favourite images and some of the best fine art photography I have ever produced.…
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Exhibition Opening May 7th Alliance Française – Life and Death – The Temple
We are delighted to announce that Peter’s award winning fine art photography project, Life and Death – The Temple, will be exhibited again in Dublin. If you missed or loved the last show then please join us for the opening on May 7th at 6.30 at the Alliance Française, 1 Kildare Street. We will have a…
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IPPA Irish Professional Photographer of the Year 2014
On Sunday night, and for the second year running, I was named Landscape and overall Irish Professional Photographer of the Year 2014..Delighted..Check out the winning panel of images..
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Closer Look – ‘Gator’ Connemara – Fine Art Photography
All good things come to those that wait. Don’t go home just because it’s dark. Let there be light even if you can’t see it. It’s amazing what post-sunset light does to fine art imagery. This particular image was made 30 minutes after sunset when it was practically dark with an exposure time of 4…
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Iceland Photography Tour Announced 2015
It’s been in the pipeline for a while but we are delighted to now announce we will be heading for the stunning landscape of Iceland in 2015. Have a look at the tour here.. The tour will focus on the dramatic ice beaches, lagoons, glaciers and much more of the south west and east. We…
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Landscape Photography Tutorial – Gap of Dunloe, County Kerry, Ireland
I’m a big believer that when as photographers we start to previsualise we get the best results. By previsualise I mean imagining what you intend to put on a piece of paper before you click the shutter. For me this landscape photograph is a great example of previsualisation. When I first saw this scene it…
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Inside the Art – ‘Engulfed’ Montenegro – Fine Art Photography
Sometimes there’s just magic in the air. And by magic I mean mist. Mist, mist, glorious mist. There’s something wonderful about being at a lakes edge on a still morning when the magic has formed overnight. It simplifies the landscape, but at the same time creates subtle and wonderful shapes as the early morning sunrise…
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The Book Has Landed..
A sneak preview before the official launch of Life and Death – The Temple. Imagery from the Burning Man.. Click through to see the video..
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Life and Death – The Temple – Exhibition Update..
Everything is in full swing now and it feels like the exhibition is just around the corner. The first copies of the book to send to press are due here tomorrow and Ive been proofing images for fine art print for the exhibition. We’re using a fine art baryta paper as well as a range…
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Life and Death – The Temple, Exhibition Date Announced October 24th 2013
After a great year with lots of awards won for Peter’s fine art images from Burning Man we are delighted to announce a date for an exhibition and book launch of the work. Opening October 24th 6 – 9 pm and running until November 3rd. Centre for Creative Practices, 15 Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin 2…
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Open Edition Fine Art Print Reward – Kickstarter
We’re in the process of rolling out our fine art print reward for our Kickstarter campaign. Check out the list of images below..We’ve even added some limited edition landscapes.. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13
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The Final Leg – West of Ireland Photography Trip
So we’re back in Dublin but I’m happy to report we went out with a bang on the final shoot of our trip. A still colourful sunrise in Connemara. Perfect conditions for landscape photography. A clear crisp reflection (it fluctuated a bit but stayed clear for long enough at the right times) and some beautifully lit…
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West of Ireland Photography Trip – Day 7 and 8
We’ve made it to the last leg of our photography trip in Connemara. The last couple of sunrises haven’t been too cooperative but we’ve still managed to put some really good shots together none the less. The light has tended to open in the afternoon for the past few days. We have a shoot tonight…
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West of Ireland Photography Trip – Day 6
The thing about landscape photography is that early starts are imperative. We’ve been going hard at from Killarney to Dingle and Clare. We decided a sleep in was needed so we’re feeling well rested from a minor break yesterday and today. We did of course get ourselves out for some afternoon photography and caught an…
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West of Ireland Trip – Day 3, 4 and 5
We’re still flat out shooting the beautiful landscape down west. Here’s some imagery from the last few days. Check out our workshops and tour’s page if you fancy joining us next year for a landscape photography trip of a lifetime in Ireland.. .
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West of Ireland Photography Trip – Day 3
It’s been a day of transition. We’ve moved from Kerry to Clare. The light looks like its going to break so it’s simply not the time to be editing in front of a computer. We got some great light on the Dingle Peninsula with lots to share. More to come from Torc waterfall too. For…
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The Passage of Time..Sunrise Landscape Photography in the Gap of Dunloe..
Sometimes you just have to hold position and watch the light unfold. I had explored my foreground options at this beautiful location for landscape photography in the Gap of Dunloe. I felt pretty satisfied this was the best location. With research in check I waited..and waited..Not a bad place to hang around watching the sun…
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West of Ireland Landscape Photography Trip – Day 2
We’re still in Killarney and we’ve been treated to some sporadically beautiful light on day 2. Last night we had a couple of shoots in Killarney National Park. The conditions for landscape photography we’re mixed with some beautiful moments. It wasn’t non stop but enough to come away with some beautiful shots. This morning was…
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West Of Ireland Photography Trip – Day 1
So we’re in Killarney at the moment putting our landscape photography skills to good use in beautiful surroundings. We’re on a ten day trip so expect lots of landscape photography over the coming days. Ill be updating the blog each afternoon. For now here’s what we’ve shot so far. Its been really still which makes…
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Heading West for some Landscape Photography..
We’re about to head to Ireland’s west coast for 10 days landscape photography. We’re going to be making pictures amongst the finest scenery Ireland has to offer. From Killarney through Dingle on to Clare then finishing in Connemara. Ill be updating the blog regularly so keep an eye out for new imagery and updates on…
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Crann Magazine Article – The Art of Photographing Tree’s – Aug 2013
Peter is talking landscape photography, specifically tree’s, in this months Crann magazine..
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Featured in the Irish Independent – Life and Death Burning Man Photography
Here’s the PDF of a recent feature about Peter and his Life and Death Burning Man photography project..Full launch coming October 2013..
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Inside the Art – An Irish Man’s Diary – Connemara Blue Hour
We’ve been away from our blog for a while but its time to get back to talking some landscape photography and Irish art. Kickstarter was just an overload on all things Internet and we needed a bit of a break from updates. I’m happy to report I’m feeling refreshed and ready to go. Landscape photography…
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New Image Added to our Kickstarter Rewards
We’ve just added a new image to the Print Reward section. Its one of my personal favourites from the series. A lone cyclist in a dust storm. The Temple is actually very close to the figure. Lots of clean empty space in the middle of nowhere but to me the figure doesn’t seem lost or…
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‘Life and Death – The Temple’ Featured on Burners.me
Are you looking for a bit more insight into our latest project. I’ve just been interviewed by one of Burning Man’s most influential bloggers. Check out the link here.. THE TEMPLE: Life and Death with Peter Gordon
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‘Life and Death – The Temple’ – Award Winning Photography from Burning Man
The Story..and our Kickstarter Campaign.. If your a regular visitor to our blog or facebook page you’ll undoubtedly know a little bit about the imagery Peter captured at the Temple during the Burning Man festival. You’ll know that a selection of the work has won Peter European and Irish Professional Photographer of the Year with…
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West of Ireland Photography Workshop. Day 1
What can I say…the amazing light has more than made up for Dad’s incessant snoring. We’re currently running our west of Ireland photography workshop and despite room sharing myself and Dad haven’t come to blows yet. Another few days to go I suppose. We started with a sunset shoot last night in north west Connemara.…
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Landscape Photography Workshop Connemara, Ireland
Myself and Dad are heading down to Connemara to run our west of Ireland landscape photography workshop tomorrow. Three days in confined quarters with the auld man does sound a little stressful. The abuse and the snoring might get a bit much. Concern has been duly noted. Seriously though, Im dying to get down and…
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European Photographer of the Year 2012 (FEP)
You know when you have an early wake up call its just impossible to sleep. The alarm was set for 4. Sure enough the iphone was checked at least 4 times before the alarm actually went off at a very unpleasant hour. Id like to blame my wife, but to be fair there was anticipation…
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Embrace the Rain – Spring Landscape Photography Ireland
I think it’s fair to say we get our fair share of rain in Ireland. Ok I think its fair to say we get more than our fair share of rain in Ireland. Is it a bad thing? Could it be a great thing for landscape photography? Well its not good for lazing around the…
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How to Be a Photographer – Landscape Tutorial – Graduated Filters Part 3, The Gear!
A big part of learning how to be a photographer for most people is getting the right gear. I think there is often an over emphasis on gear for photographers nevertheless a guideline can often be helpful. Before I get into the techie discussion you can read our previous posts on graduated neutral density filters…
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How to Be a Photographer – Landscape Tutorial – Graduated Filters Part 2, A Little More Concept!
Learning how to be a photographer, landscape or otherwise is never completely straight forward. So let’s delve into the use of graduated neutral density filters a bit further. Roller’s by Peter Gordon – Sunset Donegal – 2 Stop Hard Filter Used The filters as pictured below are typically rectangular in shape and have a dark…
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Inside the Art – An Irish Man’s Diary – Dingle Peninsula
Ireland isn’t exactly famous for its warm inviting tropical waters. However the depth of colour in our oceans in parts of the west provide great material for photographic Irish art. The Dingle peninsula is one such western location. Before the image below was photographed we had spent nearly a week with my Dad and my…
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How to Be a Photographer – Landscape Tutorial – Graduated Filters Part 1, Why Use Them?
If you want to learn how to be a photographer understanding the use of graduated neutral density filters will be of great help for in camera landscape technique. The first part of this tutorial will deal with the reasons why we need these filters in the first place. So let’s talk about light. Our camera’s…
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We Still Love Slide Film..
Neither myself nor Dad really shoot slide film anymore but we both still love it. It’s a little bit like enjoying the distinct sound of vinyl. Yes, it has is deficiencies. It’s become inconvenient, over priced and difficult to master. But I have to say it still looks great. It has a look of its…
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Landscape Photography Ireland – Location Guide – Lough Tay Wicklow
County Wicklow boasts some of the finest landscape photography opportunities Ireland has to offer. Furthermore if your living or visiting Dublin its only a stones throw away. Now I might like to put the foot down while behind the wheel on occasion, but I can get from Booterstown in South Dublin to the viewpoint for…
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Some Photograph’s from the IPPA Award’s Ceremony
A few photograph’s below form the Irish Professional Photography Awards last week mostly with IPPA President Gareth Byrne. Thanks to Gareth and everyone else involved in the awards program at the IPPA especially Mick Quinn and Robert Allen. The lads have done a really great job on the IPPA program. Thanks to John Ohle for…
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IPPA Irish Landscape Photography Portfolio of the Year Award
The series of images from my last post won the Travel and Pictorial portfolio prize as well as the overall Photographer of the Year award. However there was additional joy.
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Peter Wins IPPA Irish Professional Photographer of the Year 2013
An amazing thing happened last Thursday at the annual awards ceremony for the IPPA. I managed to win IPPA Photographer of the Year 2013..
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‘The One That Got Away’ – Landscape Photography Ireland
This image was made on a perfectly still morning in Glendalough’s Upper Lake while teaching a photography workshop. The lake had sat down beautifully and the reflections were really showing up. Ideal conditions for landscape photography. The upper lake at sunrise is always an amazing place to visit and one I frequent regularly when teaching…
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Inside the Art – An Irish Man’s Diary
It’s the very first post in the series so I thought I better start with a photograph that’s gone over well before. An image made in some of…
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A Photography Blog That Gives You More
The photography blog on our old site was, shall we say, dormant, possibly extinct, defunct, idle, just write something will ya..you get the idea. New site, new ideas, new ways of sharing our photography, our insights, our stories and our thoughts. We’ve changed the way we display our photography online. Prior to the build of…
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Welcome to Our New Website
We’re delighted to have a new online home to share our photography with you. Big thanks to Ronan and Peter over at me&him&you for doing a great job.