Landscape Photography in Ireland
A Day with Thomas Heaton & Darren J. Spoonley
Landscape photography in Ireland
What happens when three landscape photographers meet up on Ireland's west coast? A whole lot of laughter, some spectacular light, and a few stolen compositions. Join me as I share an evening and morning spent shooting alongside Thomas Heaton and Darren J. Spoonley — two photographers I deeply admire.
Hello there, folks. How is it going?
Sometimes in photography, the stars align. You find yourself in a beautiful location, with good light, and in the company of people who share your passion.
On this particular evening, I found myself on the west coast of Ireland, in a spot I'd driven past a million times but never actually stopped to photograph. And waiting for me there was Thomas Heaton and Darren J. Spoonley.
It was one of those evenings that far exceeded any expectation I had.
The beautiful location on Ireland's west coast — my first time photographing it.
The Meeting
I pulled into the car park, eating an apple, minding my own business. I spied a red van and immediately thought, "I know that van from somewhere."
Sure enough, it was Darren. He was already there, drone in the sky, capturing a beautiful rainbow that had appeared. It was all deja vu — the kind of moment that feels meant to be.
The light was absolutely gorgeous. We stood around, chatting, laughing, and trying to get the grass out of the way. There's something special about sharing a scene with other photographers who see the same magic you do.
Three photographers, one incredible location — the light was magic.
Thomas Heaton
Thomas has been in Ireland this week, and I'm really happy to meet up with him in some of the beautiful spots we have here. He's fallen in love with Ireland — I'm half expecting him to change his name to Thomas O'Heaton or something along those lines!
For those who don't know, Thomas Heaton is a UK-based landscape photographer with over 420,000 YouTube subscribers. He's known for his honest, storytelling approach to landscape photography and his willingness to share the ups and downs of the creative process. Meeting up with him and sharing a scene was a real privilege.
If you'd like to see more of Thomas's work, you can find him at thomasheaton.co.uk.
Darren J. Spoonley
Darren is an Irish landscape photographer with over a decade of experience documenting Ireland's coast. His work captures the raw beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way in a way that feels both intimate and grand. We've spoken a couple of times online, but this was the first time we'd met in person.
It was so great to finally meet him — and even better to share a location and a laugh.
You can check out Darren's stunning Irish landscapes at darrenjspoonleyphotography.com.
The Evening Shoot
We had about two hours before the sun set, and the light was just spectacular. The location was my first time visiting, and it exceeded all expectations.
I managed to capture two images that really stood out to me. The first was a nice panorama crop that really captured the light beautifully. The second — my favourite — was a long exposure with my 10-stop neutral density filter.
There's something a bit more ethereal about a long exposure. It helps encapsulate the magic that was in the air that evening.
The long exposure — ethereal and magical.
The shorter exposure — sharp and detailed.
I'd be curious to know which you prefer — the shorter exposure or the longer one. For me, there's just something a bit more ethereal about that long exposure image.
Stealing Thomas Heaton's Composition
After a wonderful evening shoot, we camped overnight — no camping signs be damned — and got up for sunrise. The light never really materialised, but I felt like I owed it to myself to photograph the scene we ultimately found.
And then I saw it: Thomas Heaton's composition. The challenge was laid down, and I accepted it. In memory of James A. Jones, I wandered over to the spot and tried my hand at capturing the same scene.
There are compositions coming out of your ears in this particular spot. The little broken jetty acts as a wonderful leading line to the little island, and there were whispers of stillness.
Thomas Heaton's composition — I couldn't resist trying it myself.
I went intentionally heavy on the Orton effect for this image. I wanted it to convey a real sense of magic. That beautiful golden light streaming through from the right of the frame, illuminating the gorgeous walkway into the island — for me, it adds to the whole magic that was in the air.
The Camaraderie
One of the things I love most about photography is the camaraderie. Being in the company of other photographers as talented as Thomas Heaton and Darren Spoonley fills me with such confidence.
It's fascinating to see how other people approach a scene, what they see when they look at the landscape, and how they work the light. You learn so much just by watching and sharing.
It was wonderful to share this experience with two good friends and some beautiful light.
What I Learned
Sharing a scene elevates the experience. Photography doesn't have to be a solitary pursuit. Sharing a location with other photographers can inspire you to see things differently.
Good company makes the light better. Even when the conditions aren't perfect, good company makes the experience worthwhile.
You can learn a lot from watching others. Seeing how Thomas and Darren approached the scene, what compositions they found, and how they worked the light — it was a masterclass in itself.
Sometimes you have to steal a composition. In the spirit of photography, there's no shame in standing where someone else stood and trying your hand at their view.
A Note on the Workshop
I am absolutely delighted to say that this particular spot will be on the itinerary for the photography workshops I have planned in Ireland.
If you're any way interested in visiting this beautiful country with me, you're most welcome to head over to the website and have a look at the itineraries. I'll be updating them with these new images as well.
Chase the Irish Light With Me
Ireland is full of hidden gems — from the west coast to the ancient landscapes of the Burren. If you'd like to experience these locations with a small group of like-minded photographers, I'd love to have you along.
Explore the Ireland Workshop →