I Nearly Walked Away… Then The Light Changed

A Day of Unexpected Photography on the Mayo Coast

There is always a temptation in landscape photography to believe that the best images come from perfect planning. We study maps, check weather forecasts, look at tides, and try to predict exactly when everything will come together.

Of course, preparation is important, but some of my favourite photography memories have come from situations where the plan did not quite go as expected.

This was one of those days.

We started the morning on Achill Island in County Mayo after spending the previous evening photographing the coastline at sunset. After finishing the shoot, we headed for a local pub for a well-earned pint before settling down for the night.

The plan had been to photograph sunrise the following morning, but when we woke, it was clear that the conditions were not going to provide much. The sky was quiet, there was little happening with the light, and rather than forcing a photograph, we decided to leave the cameras packed away.

Over the years, I have realised that knowing when not to take a photograph is just as important as knowing when to press the shutter. There is no point standing in front of a scene simply because the clock says it is sunrise. Sometimes the best decision is to wait for another opportunity.

After a slower start to the morning, we packed up and began our journey away from Achill Island and onto the mainland of County Mayo.

The drive itself was one of the highlights of the day.

The Atlantic Drive on Achill Island is one of the best coastal roads I have driven. The road follows the coastline, with the Atlantic Ocean constantly visible and the landscape changing around every corner.

For photographers, these journeys can sometimes be overlooked. We become focused on reaching a specific viewpoint or location and forget that there are opportunities everywhere.

As we made our way along the road, I filmed Bernard driving ahead of me, capturing the experience of travelling through this part of Mayo. It was not about photographing a particular scene; it was about documenting the journey and showing the scale of the landscape around us.

Once we left Achill Island and continued towards our next destination on the mainland, the pace of the day became much slower.

Eventually, we arrived at our camping location for the evening. It was one of those places where you immediately understand why exploring Ireland with a campervan gives you so many opportunities.

The location was a piece of land extending out towards the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by water and offering views across the coastline.

Before doing anything else, I sent the drone up to get a better understanding of the area. This is something I regularly do when arriving somewhere new. A drone gives you a different perspective and can reveal the relationship between the landscape features that you cannot always appreciate from ground level.

The view from above did not disappoint.

It showed the isolation of the location, the shape of the coastline, and just how much space surrounded us. It was a reminder that sometimes the location itself can be part of the experience, even before the camera comes out.

After taking some time to settle in, we decided to head out for a short drive and an even shorter walk to explore another viewpoint nearby.

The timing was not what many photographers would consider ideal.

It was mid-afternoon, the clouds were thick, and the light was flat. If I had looked at the forecast beforehand, I probably would not have expected much from the shoot.

However, this is exactly why it is important not to judge a location too quickly.

When we arrived, I immediately saw the potential. The viewpoint allowed us to get close to the cliffs, creating a strong sense of scale. Looking across the coastline, a small collection of sea stacks appeared in the distance, adding another layer to the composition.

The first thing I did was work with wider compositions, showing the relationship between the cliffs, ocean, and surrounding landscape.

I then changed my approach and reached for my longer lens.

We often associate wide-angle lenses with this type of photography, but longer lenses can be incredibly useful. They allow you to simplify the scene, remove distractions, and concentrate on specific details.

I started photographing individual rock formations, compressing the distance between the cliffs and the sea stacks. These minimalist compositions gave a completely different feel compared to the wider images.

One of the things I enjoy about photography is that the same location can provide many different opportunities depending on how you approach it.

The light still had not changed, but I continued exploring different compositions. I captured some longer exposures, worked on smaller details, and started setting up a timelapse.

Then, just as often happens in landscape photography, the conditions changed.

The clouds began to break apart, and sunlight started to reach the cliffs.

Within minutes, the scene was transformed. The light moved across the landscape, highlighting the texture of the cliffs and creating the type of conditions that photographers spend hours waiting for.

Of course, I captured photographs during this moment, but the bigger lesson was not just about the images.

It was about patience.

If I had arrived expecting perfect conditions immediately, I might have dismissed the location and moved on. Instead, by giving the scene time and looking beyond the obvious, I came away with some of my favourite photographs from the trip.

This is something I have experienced many times during landscape photography adventures. The locations that appear quiet at first can often become the most rewarding.

We cannot control the weather. We cannot guarantee dramatic skies or perfect light. What we can control is our approach.

We can choose to explore, experiment, and look for opportunities.

This day started with a decision not to photograph a sunrise. It continued with a scenic drive, a new location, a drone flight, and a spontaneous afternoon shoot.

None of it followed a strict plan, but that was exactly what made it memorable.

The photographs were a bonus, but the experience was the real reward.

Achill Island gave us the perfect start to the day, and the mainland coast of Mayo reminded me once again why landscape photography is about more than just chasing perfect conditions.

Sometimes the best images happen when you least expect them.

Watch the adventure unfold here