Togs & Tales
Paul O’Brien
Paul O’Brien
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?
I was asked by a couple of friends if I would bring them out to try some astrophotography for the first time. It was in March and I had recently met up with Ian Carruthers and Anthony Lynch whilst out shooting sunrise in Phoenix Park. These guys are 2 of Irelands best astro-photographers so I was inspired to get out soon under the night sky. I arranged to car pool with my 2 friends and we headed up towards Glendalough for Glendasan mines at 3am to get the milky way core. We decided that we would head for home if we met anyone up the Wicklow hills at that time of night and got spooked. As soon as we parked the car and got out, 2 flashlights came on nearby and nearly scared me half to death. I was incredibly relieved to hear one the them say “is that you Paul?”. It was Ian and Anthony out trying to shoot the Milky Way, days after first meeting them in Phoenix Park. It was some coincidence that we were in the same place and meeting again so soon that night. My friends were mightily relieved too that they were friendly faces in the hills in the pitch black!
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?
I think a shot of Ballinskelligs McCarthy’s Castle under the Milky Way. It may not be my best shot, but I had the shot planned and arranged a trip to Killarney that weekend in May after checking PhotoPills. Unfortunately my aunt passed away suddenly earlier that week and was buried on the Saturday. After the funeral on Saturday morning, I decided to still drive to Kerry as the forecast was for clear skies and I may not get another chance that year to get down with the core of the Milky Way lining up with the castle. I went to Valentia Island for sunset and got a few shots of the lighthouse by drone before driving over to Ballinskelligs. I was early so took a nap in the car for 2 hours before heading onto the beach under the darkest clearest sky I have ever seen. The stars were popping out of the sky. I set up and spent an hour or so taking photos. Before leaving I realised there was another photographer on the beach as well and got chatting to him at 3am. He was over from Maine on holidays (@wanderlandphoto) with his wife and couldn’t believe how many great photos he had shot during his trip. It was my first real astroshoot and still makes me think about my aunt when I see the photo. RTE also featured the shot on its weather forecast background after the news at 1pm, 6pm and 9pm marking the 50th anniversary of the moon landing!
What equipment / Setup are you currently using?
I use a mirrorless Sony a7III. It is a fantastic camera for all types of photography. I don’t plan on upgrading it any time soon as it meets all my needs for now. Sony have just released an updated a7IV but I will try to keep the G.A.S. under control.
My favourite lenses are my wide-angle Sony16-35mm GM f2.8 and I also get good use out of my moon bazooka Sony 200-600mm G. I also have Sony 24-105mm G f4 and Sony 70-200mm G f4.
- Sony A7III
- Sony16-35mm GM f2.8
- Sony 200-600mm G
- Sony 24-105mm G f4
- Sony 70-200mm G f4
- DJI Air2S
Top Tip for anyone starting out?
Main tip is to go out and practice and be open to constructive criticism. Sites like Instagram and Youtube are invaluable sources of inspiration and advice. Try meet up with photographers that are much better than you and hope some of their creativity rubs off on you. I have been lucky enough to benefit from a few shoots with guys like Mark O’Brien and Robert Ziegenfuss down in the Kingdom of Kerry.
Best Advise you’ve personally been given?
Who is your favourite Irish photographer at the moment ?
There are so many talented photographers in Ireland that is hard to only mention one. My favourites tend to be landscape photographers like Mark O’Brien, who must now have one of the finest portfolios of amazing Kerry shots of any photographer. He also happens to be one of the most generous and helpful photographers that I have met. He seems to reach out to anyone that asks him for advice. Some of my other favourites include Sean O’Riordan who took one of my favourite images in the last few years ( a tree in fog in a forest), Orla Fleming is another top class landscape photographer with an enviable portfolio of images and Noel Campion also with a sensational collection of Dingle images.
