A new Irish coastal landscape in B&W: In the distance

By Johan Peijnenburg

In September of last year, I flew to Ireland to meet up with Irish photographer friends John Dunne and Brian Fitzpatrick to shoot Irish coastal landscapes. I enjoyed all of it big time … the (way too) hearty breakfasts, the sunny weather (ahum), the beautiful Irish countryside and the people. I also enjoyed driving on the WRONG side of (way too narrow) roads, the pubs and yes even the “beer”. And ow yes John and Brian were fun company as well! Look them up if you don’t know them yet. You will like them, and they are very talented photographers to boot!! 🙂

In the Distance

An Irish coastal landscape in black & white showing the rugged cliffs of Greystones Beach and a freight ship in the Irish Sea near Wicklow, Ireland.

Shooting abroad to work with different scenery is quite refreshing and inspiring. Therefore, I will surely do that more in the coming years and will be going back to Ireland. I was there for a few days only but already managed to come home with quite a few nice images. This one is the first one that I added to the Irish Landscape Photography portfolio. It features the rocky coastline of the Irish Sea near Greystones (Wicklow) and is titled In the Distance.

I don’t get to shoot rocky coastlines in Switzerland, so had a lot of fun trying to find the right angles … without slipping. Unfortunately, the colourful sunrise that John and Brian promised did not happen. I had to bribe the captain of that freight ship on the horizon to anchor there for at least 5 minutes to allow me to complete my long exposure. I think it was worth it and I hope you like how this image came out!?

I shot this Irish coastal landscape with my Nikon D800E with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. 13 stops of neutral density plus a 2 stop graduated ND filter pushed the exposure time to 5 minutes.

Cheers, Johan 🙂

215 thoughts on “A new Irish coastal landscape in B&W: In the distance”

  10. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Shawn: thanks Shawn! How is Nova Scotia for photography?
    @Bjarte: It took only one Guinness Bjarte 😉 Glad you like the image!
    @Ian: many thanks Ian! Too short, but it definitely was fun 🙂

    • Ronald Regamey says:

      Oh, sorry for reading your message Johan regarding Nova Scotia. I am going there for my Holidays in the beginning of April for 2 weeks. I am really excited. Any

      • Johan Peijnenburg says:

        I can imagine the excitement Ronald 🙂 Chances are that I will end up in Canada as well again this year 🙂

    • Shawn Hudson says:

      I think you might get one or two shots Johan ! April is very unpredictable here,you may have spring or winter depending on the day my friend! Peggy’s Cove and the south shore are great for coastal shooting. In Cape Breton,we have Highlands National Park,the Cabot Trail and Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Of course,Halifax should be good for urban shooting as well. 

      • Ronald Regamey says:

        Hey Shawn, I will be in Nova Scotia for the beginning of April. I am really excited about this trip. I have always dreamed visiting this place and taking lots of pictures. I love

  12. Bjarte Wergedahl says:

    Very nice result Johan. Looks like the captain was happy with the bribe, as the tanker seemingly didn’t move at all. Must have been expensive 😀

  21. Tim Mulcahy says:

    Splendid LE Johan. The contrast in tone and textures between the smooth water and sky and the rugged rocks is really nice.

  22. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Athena: thank you 🙂 And you were absolutely right. Looking forward to going back later this year 🙂
    @Kurt: many thanks Kurt! 🙂
    @Thomas: many thanks for the kind words Thomas and nice to meet you! Yes, Ireland is a nice place to be … in general and definitely for photography 🙂 

  24. Thomas Welborn says:

    I would say it was well worth the ticket just for this one image Johan. Sounds like you had a great time.

  29. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @George: thanks George! Yes, looks like it had two anchors. I didn’t expect the boat to come out so sharp as this either 🙂
    @Michael: many thanks Michael!

  31. George Marquardt says:

    This looks terrific Johan! That boat must have dual anchor chains out to be that still for 5 minutes.

  34. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Paul: thanks for the fun feedback and compliment Paul! 🙂
    @Mark: many thanks Mark!
    @Nathan: thanks for the kind words! Would you move the boat to the right Nathan?

    • Nathan Wirth says:

      Well … if you did move the boat it would certainly fit the direction the eyes naturally go due to the the rest of the composition … but I think it is equally interesting where it currently sits. I also see a lovely square composition here as well … but, as you know, I tend to see the world in squares. :-)

  35. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @John: pfjew glad you like it. I was nervous about that 😉 No hardships John. Enjoyed it a lot. In all aspects!
    @Stephen: you would love it in Ireland Stephen! Thanks 🙂
    @markus: danke dir!
    @Shelly: that’s a great place to be. thanks 🙂

  36. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @John: many thanks John!
    @andi: you are very welcome. Thanks for the compliment and for sharing!
    @Patricia: nice to hear Patricia. Thank you !
    @Tom: and sometimes it is even 10 🙂 Thanks!
    @Yasmin: ow I did Yasmin! Thanks 🙂
    @Andreas: 🙂 Thanks Andreas !

  37. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @E.E. Giorgi: thank you Elena 🙂
    @amal: thank you!
    @David: thanks for the compliment David! Hope all is well with you!?
    @George: thanks!
    @Shelly: thanks Shelly 🙂
    @Christa: wow you are up late 😉 Thank you!

  38. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Kevin: thank you Kevin and you are of course welcome 🙂
    @Jim: thanks for the compliment Jim!
    @David Shield: thanks or the great feedback David 🙂
    @David Heath Williams: thank you! Despite of the changes, it was stil great. You live in a gorgeous country and will be coming back this year for sure!

  41. Paul Turkowski says:

    A reasonable replacement of the sun with this tanker. Your good connections “Vitamin B” to the captain is awesome Johan 😀 (I should travel with you) The seascape looks great as well!

  44. Stephen Cairns says:

    Especially nice to travel abroad and have locals meet you, feed you, then take you to the good spots. Sounds like a great trip with fine hosts. Glad that you had fun Johan. I wonder where the next photo destination will be?

    Easy to see why you were inspired to shoot here. Looks great.

  45. John Dunne says:

    At last :p

    I was really fascinated to see how you would interpret a location I have visited over and over again. Really beautiful work Johan, makes me want to get back over there today.

    Oh and I am so sorry for the hardships you faced while visiting last time. I’ll try harder for your next visit :-)

  46. Andreas Levi says:

    A wonderful composition and great capture, Johan!
    Yep, I’m with Yasmin: sound you had a great journey :)

  48. Tom Tran says:

    5min! Wowwee.
    The sharp details in your images are always outstanding Johan. Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip and met up with nice folks – always a big plus. :)

  52. Christa Niederer says:

    You have the whole range of greys in that lovely image, thanks for mentioning how you got it :)

  55. David Orr says:

    My friend this is excellent, I understand what you mean by shooting somewhere different, I need that. You have a terrific day my friend, love this image !!

  58. David Heath Williams says:

    Stunning long exposure! On rocks that I know so well! The scenery on this stretch has changed dramatically as heavier than normal storms have dumped tens of thousands of tons of sand covering much of the south beach 🙂 

  62. Jerry Johnson says:

    I was hoping to see one of your photographic gems show up and this beauty does not disappoint! The distant ship is, for me, the dot on the bottom of this visual exclamation point. :-)

  68. Dermot Russell says:

    Great to see you work in my part of the world Johan, the results are lovely and the ship adds a great detail. I really have to get out and explore local seascapes soon, this location is quite near me.

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Glad you like my interpretation Dermot 🙂 Would definitely check this part of Ireland out. I git back with quite a few nice ones :)

  74. Joan Munford says:

    Your stories are as great and just as fascination as your photography. A perfect match I’d say Johan 

  75. Michael Muraz says:

    How was it to leave your beloved mountains Johan? I’m it was refreshing to study new subjects.
    Great shot, love the clouds and the rocks!

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Inspiring and refreshing Michael! I have been focussing on Switzerland and a bit of The Netherlands the past few years. It is nice to shoot something else for a change … although I still have enough to shoot over here as well 🙂 Thanks!

  77. Dominique Hilbert says:

    Looks like you’ve benefit the time spend there very well. Marvelous work!
    and had some Guinness?

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Have fun Steve and you probably will get some nice opportunities. Ireland is great for photography 🙂

  80. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Louisa: glad you like it Louisa 🙂
    @Annick: thank you Annick 🙂 Wish we had coastlines like this in CH! 🙂 And yes that boat was a nice extra bonus. 

  81. Annick Jaquillard says:

    Ooooh! What a wonderful image …
    Perfect, nice horizon line, my eyes just go there after viewing the crispy details of the rocks! The liitle boat out there… extra bonus!

    Beautifully processed Johan !

  91. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Marie-Chantal: thank you!
    @Grzegorz: thanks for the compliment Grzegorz! Plan to go back this year and to Scotland as well. Will let you know when timing gets a bit clearer 🙂 

  92. Grzegorz Piechowicz says:

    I know your Swiss coastlines are different and nice to see your work from Ireland ;-). I have seen many great landscapes from this beautiful country and they are on my list “to capture” 🙂 Wonderful work Johan, very mystical mood here and superb b&w processing :-)

  94. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Victor: many thanks Victor! Pitty we don’t have these types of coastlines in NL and CH …
    @Günter: I am not spoiled here either Günter, but who knows. Maybe we will get some winter in March 🙂 

  95. Günter Schurr says:

    Everything is all right Johan! When the weather is constant and have time I’ll make winter shots from the region of Graubünden (which we were not spoiled this year) :)

  97. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Dalibor: Lol I might do that one day 🙂 Thanks!
    @Michael: ow yes I enjoyed it Michael. Will be going back to scout for a workshop soon 🙂 

    • Michael A. Koontz says:

      To attend or to hold a workshop Johan?. If you are going to hold one in ireland, let me know when and if it fits we might show up :-)

      • Johan Peijnenburg says:

        Hold one Michael, if I can get it together. Will be scouting the Southwest next time 🙂 Will keep you in mind. Would be cool to meet!

  98. Michael A. Koontz says:

    Another neat one Johan :-) And its nice to know you enjoyed a trip to Ireland enough to go back :-)

  100. Philipp Weimer says:

    Definitely looks like I have to go to Ireland one day. Oh well, it will be Cornwall and Wales in May :)

  104. Dominique Dubied says:

    This is very nice Johan! Firstly I appreciated the overall image and then I noticed the small boat in the background, a great addition to the image!

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Thank you and well spotted! That is a special treat for people who view the image full screen 😉 I was debating a bit if I needed to add more contrast and up the whites just touch but kept going back to this version 🙂 

  108. Gittan Beheydt says:

    Een leven zonder PS is voor mij ondenkbaar naast LR en Nik 🙂 Ben er zeker van dat jij ook dit zo zal ervaren …

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Een aantal dingen zullen zeker wat sneller gaan 🙂 Ik lukt me nog steeds mijn visie voor elkaar te krijgen met de meeste foto’s, maar ik heb er inmiddels redelijk wat klaar staan die wat meer nodig hebben. Binnenkort mezelf maar eens maandje opsluiten. Als de sneeuw hier smelt valt er toch even niet veel te fotograferen 🙂 

      • Gittan Beheydt says:

        Je gaat allicht het smeltseizoen goed gebruiken om met PS te werken maar eens je er mee werkt ga je LR enkel nog gebruiken voor de algemene RAW aanpassingen en PS + Nik om je visie door te drukken…

  115. Gittan Beheydt says:

    Striking photo Johan … looking forward to see some more photo’s from Ireland! You certainly did a great job here… 

          • Gittan Beheydt says:

            Hi Johan, ben echt verbaasd tot welk resultaat je komt met enkel LR an Nik…echt knap …en ik meen het dat ik dit een meesterwerkje vind.

          • Johan Peijnenburg says:

            nogmaals dank je wel voor het compliment! Ik zit wel op de grens van wat ik met LR en Nik kan, dus binnenkort duik ik maar eens in PS. Geen ontkomen aan 😉 

    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Thanks Anna! Nope it isn’t and I was stupid enough to hire a car with manual gear … 🙂 

      • Anna Ryndak says:

        I was keep touching the door to change the gear… Will be waiting for more your stunning work! Have a great evening!:)

        • Johan Peijnenburg says:

          Yep, that sounds familiar. And glad you are patient. Everytime I post I think I will post again in a week or so … but then life butts in 😉

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