We were very fortunate that George Jackson of Dingle Darkroom offered to provide the club with a beginner’s overview course this weekend, and I was lucky enough to tag along. I am glad the weather didn’t deter anyone from attending, with all 12 attendees turning up at Coumeenoole car park early on a very wet Saturday morning! I must admit I don’t think I’ve seen as many creative ways to protect cameras during rain showers, but Angela won the show with her plastic bag and glittering bracelet.

The day started on Coumeenoole Beach with a review of the safety aspects of photography on a tidal beach surrounded by rock faces – be careful of falling rocks and of standing out on soft sand when the tide is coming in.

We were all in awe of George who seemed to be able to explain the most complex photography principles in such a basic and easy way for us to understand. After a run-through of focusing, shutter speed, aperture and ISO we were off to the beach for a couple of exercises:

  1. Shutter speed and freezing motion: setting the camera to shutter priority, take one photo of the way at 1/30, and then compare it to an image taken at 1/250 to see how the waves seem to freeze, and you can see the individual droplets of water.
  2. Aperture and Depth of field – setting the camera to aperture priority, taking an image of rocks in the foreground, mid and background, focusing in on the middle rock, first taking the image at f4, repeating at f11, and then looking at how much more in focus the whole image is at f11.

After a couple of hours and needing to warm up we, took a quick break at Krugers (thank you to Pat for paying for our drinks!!!). And after, we all headed to the Blasket Island Centre for the next session of instruction.

If you’ve never been to the Blasket Island Centre, it features a stunning museum and cultural building and it has the most fantastic viewing platform looking out at the Islands, including the well photographed “Sleeping Giant”. Just check out this photograph from above from the Heritage Ireland website with its platform in the shape of the Wild Atlantic Way logo!!

We headed back to Krugers for a well-deserved lunch whilst our exhausted teacher took a nap in his car to recharge his batteries (I am so jealous of anyone who can nap like this!!!!). And then it was back to class for us all as we returned to the Blasket Centre but this time following the path down to the beach. Not only did we get a cracking view of the islands, if you turned and looked back up the little stream we could see a fantastic waterfall – it wasn’t that I didn’t get the “stand on the bridge” memo!!!!!

Just look at the fabulous shot by Pat, mine was blurred – obviously, I should’ve been paying more attention to teacher George throughout the day!!!! The day finished with a quick lesson on the playback histogram and the differences between filters.

I think that everyone got a lot out of the day and we all agreed that we would love to do a follow-up course with George sometime in the new year. George has also sent through his notes and promised and Marie will be circulating these shortly. Below are some more images from the class.

The only thing left to say is “Thank you George and Dingle Darkroom” – see you soon!!!

Tuition on the histogram
The Cliffs at Coumeenoole Beach
by Michael Kennedy
Get that tripod steady Pat!
Checking out the competition!
A lesson in freezing action and seeing the power of waves
Marie getting a sneaky extra lesson!
Practice using a slower shutter speed with the help of a filter
Angela checking out the escape route after pinching the teacher’s filters!!!!
Sam and co in photography pose!
Sneaky selfie
Angela, very happy with her progress today
Now, which island to photograph!!
Diane setting up the shot!
Slow motion crashing waves by Michael Kennedy
a little blurry as on a Monopod

Next Club meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, 21st November at 7.30pm and Terry will be giving us a talk and presentation about his trip. It’s also the closing date for the Curves competition so please send in your entries to Ade at entries@killarneycameraclub.ie before midnight on the 21st. Terry will also be leading the next outing to Rossbeigh on Saturday 23rd November. Arrangements are still be worked out but as soon as I have them, we’ll let you know.

Just to also let you know, next year our annual exhibition will be in Killarney House and Gardens for 2 months so to celebrate this, our theme will be Killarney National Park – please bear this in mind when you are out and about taking your images. I’ll see you next time and if you have any photos from outings that you want to add to these updates and reports please do send them to me, cheers for now!

Please note all our outings are for members only. If you’d like to join our club please contact our club secretary on secretary@killarneycameraclub.ie