Fanad Lighthouse at dawn

Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, f/16, ISO 100, tripod.

The weather has been so poor here for the last few weeks that getting out at all has been a bit of a struggle. I had a photographic commission in north-west Donegal to complete and decided to take a chance and head up for a few days. Surprisingly, the weather was dry, but overcast, which suited my purpose regarding the contract, but not for shooting landscapes. I managed to complete the commission  in a couple of days and decided to visit Fanad Lighthouse – a place Iv’e been to a number of times, but only once before at first light. The sun never sets behind the lighthouse at any time of the year if viewed from the land so a dawn trip is your only chance if you want to create such a shot. I was staying on Melmore Head – the peninsula next to Fanad so it was only a short journey over to the lighthouse. Rising from my bed at 6.30am, the sky looked promising, however, on arrival at the lighthouse there was a fair amount of cloud about. It was also freezing cold with a bit of a breeze. I decided to stay for a while and rattled off a number of shots despite the cloud. When dawn finally came it was a brief affair with little to get excited about. The only other living thing I managed to see was this Winter Moth, which I disturbed from the stones. It quickly settled again in a small hollow and despite the wind I managed a few shots. I grabbed a few other shots on the way back before breakfast and then the journey home.

Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, f/16, ISO 100, tripod.

 

 Nikon D800, 200mm Micro nikkor lens, f/16, fill-flash, ISO 100, tripod.

 

 Nikon D800, 24-70mm wide angle lens, f/16, ISO 100, tripod.

 

 Nikon D800, 16-35mm wide angle lens, f/16, ISO 100, tripod.