Each year I like to take a look back and see what I have learned or more so what it has taught me, and 2022 was no different to previous years in that it taught me loads. It’s always a good idea to close out each year as it kind of act’s like an envelope of sorts and seals all the memories into

Normally I would go on a photography trip with my camera when I have the opportunity to go out, living a busy life in general, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to get away, and when I do it is the time that mainly dictates the opportunity, the weather and conditions are secondary, this can result in lacklustre results if the weather isn’t right and can also force you onto a pigeon hole for photo possibilities.

2022 wasn’t much different to the previous years right up to May when myself and my wingman Diarmuid headed off to a location that always has a fond spot in my heart and rarely lets me down when it comes to photos. this location is The Dingle Peninsula in Kerry. The difference this time would be that I was going to spend a couple of days on location rather than the usual afternoon or morning, meaning I could return to a location again and again to suit the light and conditions, rather than having to deal with whatever was thrown at me, which would have normally been the case.

This would end out being pivotal for my photography for many reasons, the photography of course, the many hours of craic we had * Irish for fun, the ability to see the location at dawn ( which was something I want to do for many years but most of all being able to sleep in the camper van was a game changer. I would then go on to have 2 more trips in the year. the Mammoth trip to the Isle of Skye, which I documented in previous Blogs and the fantastic trip up north to the Causeway Coast, also documented in my blogs. If you haven’t read those then please head over and give them a read

The freedom that a campervan gives a photography trip is incredible, and I’ve had a yearning for it for years, ever since my trip to Donegal in 2015 I knew that someday I would have one of my own, so towards the end of 2022 I started to put more fuel on those thoughts, to eventually be able to put myself in a position of owning my own.

2022 will also be the year that I remember with quite a considerable amount of pain and discomfort! I’ve had a bad back for a while but in 2022 it got considerably worse so I ended up going got an MRI and discovered that I have a herniated disk which would explain the massive amount of discomfort that I endured during the year! Perhaps carrying over 10kg on my back for my photography adventures didn’t help this however what I now need to do, besides trying to rehabilitate is to look at reducing the overall weight I carry and this will mean me either strategically changing my gear or bringing less with me, but one thing for certain is that I’m not going to let it stop me getting out, hiking and exploring the many beautiful areas that I have planned to visit next year! I will just have to take it easy and take each step at a time, albeit they lighter steps hopefully!

Honey pot locations are called just that for a reason and 2022 saw me visit many! And even tho I prefer to forge my own trails and shots I would also now say that you shouldn’t rule out such locations as you can get your own version of well-photographed locations in the conditions that you encounter and put your own spin on them! The Isle of Skye for example is packed full of icons and while visiting there for the first time I was happy to know where they were and that a great shot existed even before we drove one kilometre !! The same was true for the causeway coast however the difference being that the light and conditions are constantly changing and even tho it’s good to stand in the spot as others as such you will get your own unique shot and of course memories of what it felt to stand there at that moment! Don’t be put off by the fact that others have shot them before you! The simple fact is that they are new to you and you can enjoy them for yourself just as much!

I remember a number of years back Adam Gibbs said that expectations mostly deliver disappointment and I felt this a number of times during 2022! You build yourself up by looking at the weather forecast in advance and even right up to the point of arrival expectations can be high but as a landscape photographer, you know in your heart of hearts that you are at the mercy of the weather to deliver the light needed to make the shot as epic as you imagined it! If we got the conditions expected every time then I guess the feeling of the hunt wouldn’t be so strong in the end! In contrast to this, I have found that having low expectations of a location generally can deliver good results! Perhaps because they were low in the first place so it would be hard to be disappointed or most likely because you didn’t put the pressure on yourself for that location and the images or conditions found you !! All in all, I have learned to go into a location with an open mind and 9/10 you will come back with a shot that exceeded your extractions because you had none, to begin with .

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Bad conditions still don’t exist

It seems almost every year I have said that bad conditions do not exist in landscape photography there is always a shot to be had and 2022 has been no different !! At this stage we should know by now the best light comes after rain !! However, even when I had zero clouds for my trip to Dingle I still managed to get some great light, conditions and of course shots !! So yes keep an eye on the weather for sure as you will of course want to get out in the very best conditions for the location but remember if it all turns bad you can still get a shot, you just need to stick with it, use the conditions to your advantage and of course be creative in your vision !! Try not to be put off by bad conditions, they don’t exist and there is always a shot to be had.

2022 What a year !!