Thomas Heaton Attacked me:-)

If you’re a landscape photographer, Thomas Heaton's name likely rings a bell. With his extensive YouTube library showcasing landscapes from around the globe, his blend of candid successes and failures has resonated with many, including myself. While I may not have his millions of views, our shared passion for photography has allowed us to connect virtually over the years.

When Thomas announced his visit to Ireland for the Irish Light Festival, I reached out to offer any assistance with locations. To my delight, he invited me to shoot with him. Since I was already planning a road trip west to explore new spots in North Kerry, it was a perfect opportunity.

My journey led me to meet Thomas at the Pine Islands viewpoint on Derryclare Lough in Connemara—an iconic location I've shot many times. Known for its stunning views, this spot requires specific conditions to capture its best side. I arrived after finishing my shoot in Kerry, greeted by a vibrant rainbow. With light conditions too good to pass up, I parked the van and started photographing.

During this session, Neil Arthurs, a photographer I once featured on my YouTube channel, approached. Neil had been shooting in the Arctic and was now on his own road trip. It turned out he was also there to meet Thomas. As we waited, we exchanged photography stories and captured the beautiful scenery.

When Thomas arrived, the rainbow made a spectacular return—a fitting welcome. As we began setting up for our shoot and recording videos, I decided to play a little prank. I pretended to mistakenly try to open Thomas's van, prompting him to “attack” me with exaggerated enthusiasm. The playful moment, which almost knocked me off my feet, resulted in a hearty laugh and some memorable footage.

We proceeded to the first viewpoint where I allowed Thomas to take the prime spot for capturing the island with the mountains in the background. I set up a bit further to the right, and despite the challenging wind, we made the best of the dramatic light and approaching rain.

Next, we moved to the second most photographed spot, heavily trodden by other photographers. It didn't quite meet our expectations, so we decided to explore a new composition. Thomas suggested we venture onto the island for a different perspective. We experimented with this idea, but with the light fading and clouds not cooperating, we decided to entertain ourselves with a skipping stone contest. For a laugh and to see some questionable techniques, check out the video linked at the end of this blog.

As evening approached, we returned to our campers, anticipating some morning light. Spending a few hours chatting about all things photography it was time to retire for the evening, still hopeful that the morning would be as the forecast predicted.

However, dawn brought only dark clouds and persistent wind. Despite the forecasted conditions, we did a few timelapses but soon realized the shoot was over. The light was still ok, so I took a couple of shots as I was there, however one thing that annoys me about this location before and aldo now is the constant that is telegraph wires that run firectly across the scene, you need to remove them in post porduction and there is no way to avoid this. I took them out of some shots, but also left them in for others as its quite time consiming to get them all just right. For the fun of it I also took some shots of them, basking in the morning light too.

Before parting ways, I discovered an issue with my van, adding a final twist to the adventure. You can catch all the details, including the van mishap, in the video linked below. Overall, the shoot was a fantastic experience—full of laughs, challenges, and collaboration. While I joke about Thomas’s “attack,” the fun we had during the skipping stone contest was definitely a highlight.