Eday; Under Northern Skies

The small village of Stromness, on Orkney, Orkney Isles, under a blue Summer sky. Taken from the Northlink Ferry on the way to Scrabster/Thurso.

Mountain Mist...

The shore of Loch ness; a mist suddenly descends at twilight in early July and clings to the mountains.

Edinburgh Blues

Not the typical view of the Edinburgh rooftops and Old City, but I liked the splash of blue against the grey; taken a month before the tattoo as the stands were being prepared (Scotland July 2nd 2007)

Donkey Moments

As children we were obsessed with Donkeys. The west of Ireland was filled with them; you couldn't travel a Connemara road without meeting with a field of them. We made my unfortunate father stop at every hand's turn so we could get out and pet them; we kept our pockets filled with wrapped sugar lumps from every restaurant and café that we stopped at on our holidays. You rarely see them now, I had to wait until Sanday to snap these!

Sea Green

Baginbun Beach, Wexford - walking along the shore, the green of the kelp catches the eye on a dull and overcast day.

Cloud Watching

When we were kids we used to lie back on a hill or a flat piece of ground and watch clouds; I saw pictures in clouds, entire epics written in the sky....
The Curragh, early Summer, twilight.

Rock of Dunamaise ruined Keep

Easter 2007 (when we actually had sunshine!) I took a series of shots of the Rock of Dunamaise, Portlaoise; the ruined castle is the oldest in Ireland and s ite of great historical value. It's also a lvoely, open accessible area to visit.

Sea Mist

Crossing from Orkney Island (or the Mainland as the Okney locals call it!) to Sanday as the famous sea mist clung obstinately to the cliffs of one of the many islands. I've been over and back a few tiems now, and while mostly I have had sunny, bright crossings in my head the mist is always present, it's an iconic aspect of travelling round the Orkneys

Right Reflections

Taken at Thurso, Scotland one evening. Again the thundery weather and earlier rain produced a wonderful sunset, with excellent light. I loved to colour of the builing (otherwise rather grey and dull) and the reflection in the water of the river.

In the Graveyard

One of my favourites from the Wexford trip last year, I love the slightly otherworldly light and the ancient yew literally envoloping thegravestone.

Ice Blue at Dores

Another view of Loch Ness from Dores. I loved the ice blue of the sky and the dark clouds on the right, with the tiniest detail of sunlit green on the far left, half way down, just above the water level. I also liked the way the fenceposts details came out.

American Skyline

Taken from the back of a moving vehicle on the road between Sonoma Valley and San Francisco as the sun set.

Shades of Blue

View over Loch Ness from Dores (back of the Dores Inn to be precise) I loved the light, and the reflections but especially the subtle variations of blue from the sky down to the foreshore.

At Table

I sat with you
at table. Among friends
we broke bread
and your hand reached for mine.

Sup wine from my cup,
steal sweets from my plate;
All good things I have
I offer to you, serve them up.

Are your cheeks flushed?
or is it candlelight and fireside -
the heat of the hall?
or is it my touch, cooler than air...

I sit beside you
at table. We are blessed
in each other and friends
and joined by merry words.


Geraldine Moorkens Byrne

Weathered by Time

The surface of the stones in the Ring of Brodgar.

Circular Reasoning

The Ring Of Brodgar is set on a narrow strip of land called the Ness of Brodgar which lies between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray on the Orkney "Mainland". One of the best examples of a stone cricle you'll ever see - well worth waiting for the tourist buses to depart and photograph it without those irritating little figures in the background. It took me a good half hour to get a few shots without complete and irrelevant strangers in them (I didn't photograph my finace grinning and mugging at the camera why would I photograph Heidi from Munich or Lisa from Milwaukee?!)

Rope Trick

It was the shade of blue that attracted me to this - I really wanted to capture that splash of improbable colour against the grey of the pier at Johno' Groats.

February Sky

Taken in Rosscarbery, West Cork in February - unseasonable sunshine created wonderful sunsets and dramatic skies.

Picture Perfect

The ruggedness of the shore around the Torridon area, complete with distant yacht and a smattering of houses (july 2007)

By Yon Bonny Banks and Braes

Loch Torridon, West Coast of Scotland; I liked the composition of this one, the way it hints at the rest of the loch, behind the tree covered island (or possible Crannóg)

Heat Seeking

Fire and Flames; at the medieval Banquet, Sanday, Orkney.

Silver Sea

The crossing from Sanday to Orkney; a rare a perfect day of sunshine, turngint the sea to silver while ferry passengers enjoy the crossing.