My Story of Landscape Photography in Winter Wicklow
As human beings I believe we all have the ability to feel deep connections to our passions and experiences. As a landscape photographer my passion is intertwined with the landscape, its intimate elements and the light which describes its beauty. More specifically my heart can be found beating at 6am deep in the Sally Gap awaiting the first magical rays of a new day. What you are about to read is my story of astounding and beautiful winter Wicklow.
This winter period saw some of the largest snowfalls and coldest temperatures recorded in Ireland in recent history. During the cold snaps of January and February 2009, I made a series of pilgrimages into remote parts of County Wicklow to capture some of the unique weather and beautiful moments which ensued. These expeditions were undertaken at times with my father and fellow ExploreLight photographer Ed Gordon, and also with another photographer friend of ours, Daragh.
During my expeditions I experienced the most wonderful and exceptional conditions I have ever seen in Ireland. I was transfixed by the change which the snow and freezing weather brought to the landscape. Hiking up toward the Sally Gap at 6am surrounded by darkness and thick bands of mist, I was often waist deep in clean fresh snow, my surroundings more reminiscent of winters depth deep in the heart of Colorado's San Juan mountain range. As an artist and a photographer, I had never before seen such a transformation to an area which I know so well. The pine forests of the Ballinstoe woods were clad with thick layers of snow while the banks of Lough Tay's view points and the bands of forest which nestled on lower Douce were 5/6ft deep in the drift. The bog rivers which run through the heart of the Sally Gap were so heavily frozen that I was reminded of conditions I experienced in Yellowstone National Park in the US some years ago. Beautiful patterns of frozen ice formed winters blanket above the barely moving bog water which slowly ran beneath. There was a seismic change to the landscape which allowed me to make images which reflect a period of deep connection with my surroundings and which I consider to be truly unique. I can only hope that I dont have to wait another ten or twenty years to experience similar amounts of snow fall in Wicklow.
My journey was carried out by car and on foot. During the initial stages of snowfall in early February many roads were still passable. It was during this period that we managed to reach Glendaloughs upper lake for a misty moody sunrise. The dark contrast created by the bare winter forests on the lakes bank were remodeled by the heavy dusting of snow. It was in these moments that I captured Elements Edge and Glendalough Sunrise.
After an inspiring sunrise in Glengalough, we decided to attempt higher ground by 4x4. However, stuck at the top of Glenmacnass Waterfall it soon became evident that our only recourse for further exploration was by foot. Once we eventually freed the car from two foot of snow our decision not to venture further seemed more than justified as we heard news reports the following day of the first ski rescue operations in Ireland taking place in parts of the Sally Gap where just twelve hours before we had tried to venture. A number of 4x4's were stuck in the bog as winter took over and the normally passable roads simply disappeared.
The following days were dominated by hikes, a big bag of camera gear and film, as well as fellow photographer Daragh's trusty hip flask. As we huddled under thick pine to shelter from waves of blizzards deep in the Wicklow mountains it seemed like we were living in a moment which was genuinely unique, unrepeatable and only recordable through our imagery and our own connection with our surroundings. Patterns were continually forming and reforming as the fresh snow nestled itself amongst the forest and surrounding mountains. I feel very fortunate to have been present in those moments and to be able to now share with you the imagery and art which was born of this endeavour.
Whether your based in the city or a more quiet rural environment the advent of Spring is more than evident. A new transition has taken hold as the evenings become brighter and new spring leaves begin to paint the landscape vivid green once more. A forgotten winter seems like a distant memory. This story and the images which were created during my experiences are a visual reminder of the periodic beauty which every seasonal period has to offer. I thought it was appropriate to release a new body of work dedicated to Winter during this transitional period as a reminder of what has gone, but also as evidence that nature is part of a great cycle and irrespective of season has an astounding ability to amaze and inspire.