Togs & Tales
Mark McGuire

Mark McGuire
Landscape Photographer
What was your path to becoming a Landscape Photographer & What was your first camera?
What was your favourite Landscape Adventure Story since becoming a Photographer?
Ah it has to be trekking the 4 provincial high peaks in 4 days for charity. My god, that is some experience. There’s the obvious adventure of hiking the high peaks of Lugnaquilla, Slieve Donard, Mweelrea and Carrauntoohil, but the craic touring Ireland over 4 days with the lads and seeing so much of the country on the road is unreal. It’s actually hard to put words on how enjoyable an experience it is. It’s tough don’t get me wrong and it’s both physically and mentally draining but there’s so many moments that you take from the experience that I’ll no doubt carry as vivid memories to my death bed. I mean there are scenes like watching the deer prancing around the Wicklow Mountains, the low clouds quickly rolling over the Mourne Wall like a scene straight from a Hollywood blockbuster, sun rays bursting through the low clouds illuminating the Mayo valleys from the saddle on Mweelrea, and waking to the sun rising over the silhouette of Carrauntoohil. But one memory from that adventure that vividly sticks out to me is lying on my back on the beach in the dead of night at Silver Strand in Mayo, staring up at the heavens, and nothing obstructing my full range of view (think iMax theatre), leaving me with a view of the most crystal clear night sky with zero light pollution. Coincidentally the Milky Way core was visible that evening and we just lay there watching billions of stars glistening, shooting stars whizz by, while the Milky Way formed a star filled rainbow spanning the entire sky directly above us, all with the soundtrack of the ocean crashing on the shore. Never experienced anything like it in my life. Pure bliss and talk about being teleported to another world.

What was your worst in-the-field experience as a landscape Photographer?
Sunrise or Sunset & Why?

Where is your favourite Location in Ireland to Photograph & Why?
What is your favourite photograph, that you’ve taken to date, & Why?
What equipment / Setup are you currently using?
- Canon 5D mk iii and mk ii
- 24-70 2.8 mk ii and 70-200 2.8
- Mavic Air 2
- Format Hitech Filters, Hahnel triggers, Canon Speedlites.
Top Tip for anyone starting out?
Best Advise you’ve personally been given?


Who is your biggest inspiration as a Landscape Photographer
I don’t really fanboy on people to be honest. I was asked on the Tripod who my favourite photographer was and I was stumped and who came to mind for me was a guy who we all know to be hugely talented, Mr Mark O Brien. Most importantly to me, not only does Mark have great photography skills, but he comes across as a seriously decent person from a moral perspective and he isn’t commercialised or doesn’t come across as being in it for financial gain. I suppose I like him because he reminds me of why I do it, which is for the genuine love and passion of the hobby (That’s not to say I’ll never change head space and decide to sell my own stuff one of these fine days). So Mark is someone who I greatly enjoy watching do his thing and he’s a pleasure to spend time with out in the field.
I suppose when I was getting in to photography I was inspired by the likes of Aaron Nace from Phlearn and his PS skills, Sean O’Riordan’s talent knows no bounds so he’s one to watch for the pure gifts he possesses in terms of composing shots and processing them, Also, his commitment to wild camping to get the perfect shot is fairly impressive. I suppose I don’t really have one biggest inspiration but rather take bits of inspiration from people I choose to interact with in the photography community.
Who is your favourite Irish photographer at the moment?
But if I can’t choose myself I’d have to say there’s a few. Sean and Mark as already mentioned are ridiculous talents. I like Max Molly’s stuff too and the guy Keith Walsh, who I’ve never actually met, takes some ridiculously stunning photos. Michael MacGillycuddy snaps some of the finest works of art you’ll ever see, his whole catalogue could form an independent art gallery. There’s loads to be fair. I have to say there’s an abundance of ridiculously talented Irish landscape photographers about today.
Where can we find you?
© All images are copyrighted to Photographer Mark McGuire