Ireland

There is a problem with off-season photography in Ireland, which I noted on my first extended visit —then inconveniently forgot, only to rediscover during a subsequent stay— and that is that there is no sky. None. Earth and Sea and… nothing.

Eighteen percent grey (more or less) and utterly featureless. Does not show up on film or digital. May as well be in a studio. Great if your subject thrives on flat light, only you really must either not shoot any of the heavens to begin with, or crop it out or colour it in after. It does not read as sky.

I long ago observed that Wales subsists on second hand Irish weather. However, between the sea crossing and whatever else, Welsh weather has variation —diurnal, nocturnal and inverted— the winter pattern being mild wet grey days (no sky) and bright cold starry nights (all sky).

Perhaps the real Irish sky is reserved for paying tourists. If so, I may never know. Every shade of green. Not one of blue. Strange. And somehow impoverished.

Yet I love Ireland.

[]