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This website concentrates on my ‘Kerry Vistas’ collection; a project I have been working
on from my base on Valentia since the late 80’s. In the last couple of years, many of
the photographs have been available to purchase through various outlets in
County Kerry. They are now also available via this site.
Kerry is the perfect place if you are interested in landscape and seascape
photography. With the continually changing Atlantic light, you never see
the same scene twice. Those people familiar with the West Coast of
the British Isles will understand what I mean. If you are not familiar
with it, do come and see for yourself.
My favorite times of the year here are spring and autumn, when
Atlantic showers start to blow in… dark clouds contrasting with
low, clean sunlight illuminating the landscape. It has to be
seen to be believed. You will see more rainbows in a
single morning than in a whole year on mainland UK.
Summer offers plenty of opportunities to capture a good
photograph. There are numerous festivals, regattas,
horse fairs, shows, etc - all packed with things to
point a camera at. The most famous is probably
the Puck Fair held mid August each year in
Killorglin. As with all events in Kerry, it is
packed with colourful characters.
Landscape photography in summer is best early;
around daybreak, and the following couple of
hours, however because Kerry is further
west, dawn comes half an hour or so
later than in the UK. This can make
all the difference when you are trying
to drag yourself out of bed after the odd
Guinness the night before! Correspondingly,
sunset is also later; allowing more time for a
‘sundowner’ …and another sunset picture…does
the world need any more sunset pictures? I hope so!
Spring is a great time for photographing flora. The infamous Kerry
rain that keeps the countryside so green also provides for an abundance
of colour - from the iconic Bog Cotton and Sea Thrift to the mile after mile of
Fuchsia and Montbretia that line the lanes in summer. The variety and sheer number
of flowers has to be seen to be believed. This time of year is great for wildlife, I have managed
to find and photograph both the Corncrake and the Otter; although nothing quite good enough to
show, unfortunately.
Winter time presents its own photographic opportunities; with low light all day picking out the landscape in fine detail; the usually quiet beaches now completely empty. Huge Atlantic rollers come crashing in, offering some great pictures. Cold weather puts white hats of snow on the mountain tops - these mountains really do look spectacular; the golden hues of the dead dried grasses and heathers look wonderful against a cold blue sky. It is often asked: “How many shades of green are there in Ireland?” I would also like to know how many shades of gold there are on a Kerry mountainside in winter.
A trip to the Skelligs is essential for all Kerry visitors. For photographers it is an absolute must; though not for the faint-hearted or those who suffer from vertigo. You will see thousands of seabirds including Gannets, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, and Razorbills and of course the famous Skellig Puffins. Also, it is quite common on the way out to these rocky islands to see dolphins, and the occasional Basking Shark or even from time to time a whale. I have also seen a Sunfish making its ungainly, awkward way; flip flopping along the surface, and silvery salmon darting out of one side of the swell and disappearing into the other. It happens so fast the first time you see it that you think you may have imagined it.
After the long and for some slightly concerning climb, the view from the top of Skellig Michael, the largest of the Skellig rocks, is quite simply incredible. With its fifth century monastic ‘Beehive’ huts, if you are not a religious person you could soon become one. There is not room here to adequately describe the splendour of the Skelligs, so do please Google and explore them further.
If you are interested in any of my pictures and would like more information, or if you would like to use them in any way, please contact me. This website is brand new there are going to be quite a few changes until we get things right. Any suggestions are gratefully received.
John Wesson
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All visitors to Ireland, and Kerry in particular, should visit the local pub. The pub plays a huge part of Kerry culture and is not to be missed. The best advice I can give to all first timers is “Stay at the Bar!” Don’t go and sit in the corner or out of the way somewhere.
The bar is much more than just a place to buy a pint of Guinness, at the bar you will soon be engaged in conversation, it will start off at first by polite enquires about where you are from, where you are staying, the weather etc… these days the recession will soon get a mention. Next will come various suggestions, places for you to visit, eat, things to do, things not to miss! In all, a lot that a guide book could not hope to cover or even be aware of. If you are looking for something specific during your stay i.e. some information or other, perhaps a boat trip, how to get to a particular place, whatever, if your new friend does not know the answer you can bet he knows a man who does.
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If you are hoping for some musical entertainment, the pub is the place again. Usually music will start quite late, rarely before nine o’clock. Look out for posters or just a piece of paper in the window advertising live music, if it gives a start time you can generally add half an hour or so to it before anything actually happens. Through the summer months there is a lot of music and you can be spoiled for choice, also a lot of impromptu ‘sessions’- these are my favourite.
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I have introduced a lot of people to Kerry over the years, (many come back now year after year) everyone it seems returns with their own ‘Kerry experience’ story usually completely wacky and very often pub-based.
It is not easy to get to Kerry, It’s a long drive and ferry ride - you could have flown half way around the world in the time it takes to get here. If you do fly, there is still a good drive, and of course there is always the temptation to fly somewhere with settled guaranteed weather...most people do, however, if you do make the effort I very much doubt you will regret it. The remoteness, added to the unpredictable weather, makes Kerry special: it’s also what makes Kerry people appreciative of those who do make the effort to visit.
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© John Wesson 2009. All rights reserved
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