An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme announced the winning photographers of the 15th edition of the Love Your Coast photography competition and images of Kerry were among the winners.
With a prize fund of €5000, the competition has attracted hundreds of amateur photographers from all around Ireland this year, each with their own unique way of capturing stunning photographs of Ireland’s beautiful coastline.
William Murphy with his photo ‘An Fear Marbh agus an Fear ag eitilt’, taken at Slea Head Drive, Dingle, won the overall ‘Photographer of the Year’ title as well as 1st place in the ‘People and the Coast’ category in the Clean Coasts 2024 Love Your Coast photography competition.
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The image displays Inis Tuaisceart Island, also known as the Dead Man or the Sleeping Giant, the northernmost of the famed Blasket Islands, bathed in evening light with a human focal point soaring high in the sky above.
William said of his photo, “This was an opportunistic shot of a paraglider taking in the sights of the Slea Head Drive, passing by Inishtooskert ‘An Fear Marbh’ while I waited for the famous Dingle light to appear in late July. The previous evening had little to no visibility due to low cloud and rain, so I headed for the Schoolhouse from Ryan’s Daughter to take in sunset in hope of good light there and over Inistooskert, two shots with the one location. What I thought was a photographer heading to the cliffs turned out to be a paraglider who circled the area for a while and allowed me the opportunity to capture An Fear Marbh and a flying man, an Fear ag eitilt, in the one shot.”
In the Coastal Landscape category, first place was also taken in Kerry. John Hooton’s photo, ‘Fog on the 3 Sisters’, was snapped in Clogher Head Dingle.
Speaking on his photo, John said, “This is one of my favourite places to be for dawn. I had to do a bit of a climb up Clogher Head to get this view, with the very distinctive Three Sisters in the background. This particular morning had the added advantage of the rolling fog.”
Also in the Coastal Landscape category, Krastyu Vasilev took third place with “The Red House”, taken at Glanearagh Co. Kerry.
“I have long planned to visit Skellig Michael, Co Kerry. The weather was dark and gloomy. I was walking along the shore to find a good composition for a photo when I saw a red house standing out against the dark sky. I got into position and at that moment a few rays of sun broke through the clouds and seemed to say “Here are the islands, take a picture”. Seconds later, they sank back into the darkness of the ocean.”, Vasilev said.
Taking fourth and sixth place respectively in the Underwater category was Anna Kellagher, with “Nudibranch”, taken at Knights Town, Valentia Island Co. Kerry and Richie O Donnell, with “Curious Squat Lobster”, taken at Douglas Head, Co. Kerry.