Murlough National Nature Reserve
The weather has not been good at all during the Christmas week and having survived the annual blowout, I thought I might visit the coast at Murlough Dundrum for a dawn shoot and to stretch my legs. I never claimed to be a dedicated early riser, especially during the summer months when dawn comes at such an unearthly hour; at least during the winter sunrise is at a more respectable time. I do have a passion for landscape photography, especially in the panoramic format. I don’t get enough time to pursue it during the spring and summer months due to my various macro photography commitments.
Murlough National Nature Reserve at dawn.
Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, ISO 100, tripod.
There was a heavy overnight frost and at 6am the sky was clear so I hauled myself out of bed having only managed to get into it around 2 am. I headed off around 7 am; Murlough is only a short drive away so I had plenty of time walk through the dunes in semi darkness and pick my location. The tide was retreating and would be in a reasonable position by sunrise however; I would have preferred it to be just a bit further out that it was. It is important to arrive at your location well in advance of sunrise and get set up; you only really have a short window in which to shoot as the light changes by the minute. Knowing the location as well as I do meant I was able to move fairly quickly to a couple of other nearby spots and squeeze in a few other quick shots before it began to cloud up. It wasn’t the most dramatic of sunrises, but at least I managed to get a few acceptable images.
High mournes from Murlough National Nature Reserve.
Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, ISO 100, tripod.
High mournes from the dunes at Murlough National Nature Reserve.
Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, ISO 100, tripod.
Sunrise from the beach at Murlough.
Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, ISO 100, tripod.
Within half an hour, the whole area had clouded up with little prospect of any change. I had a few other areas in mind a bit further down the coast, but the lack of light forced me to head back home again for a late breakfast and a walk with the kids before the rain moved in for the rest of the day!