Just a short distance from Cologne Cathedral is the Alte Markt, and on the way there are some photogenic “half-timbered” houses and hotels bedecked with flowers. The Alte Markt is undergoing some renovation work on one side, but the square is still worth visiting. The old Rathaus (town hall) has just been spectacularly renovated with all the statues, row upon row of them, having been replaced. Each character is named, and they’re a really eclectic bunch, all having a connection with the city, from various saints and the Romans Augustus and Agrippa to more modern personalities. Take a telephoto and zoom in on your favourites. You may also be lucky enough to catch a wedding couple outside the Rathaus itself, as it’s a popular place for tying the knot.

Around the corner from the Cathedral as well is the renowned “Früh” brewery pub. We had bad light there in the afternoon, but shooting the scene at the tables outside was OK if you kept everything in the shadow and warmed it up (in my case, later in Photoshop), try the “cloudy” white balance setting.

The large “Heinzelmännchenbrunnen” (fountain) in front of the “Früh” is a popular and photogenic subject, but difficult to shoot effectively because of the busy background. We had poor light which didn’t help matters. You might like to concentrate on some of the invididual figures rather than try to get it all in one shot. Using the people sitting at the table drinking in your composition might also help. Heinzelmännchen are apparently kind brownie-like little people who do all the work of the lazy ones during the night. Hmm, wish I knew some…

Walk round the Cathedral outside and pick out elements of the architecture you find appealing, there’s plenty to choose from !  On your way, check out the Hauptbahnhof (main station) – it’s quite impressive.

Inside the Cathedral, it’s huge size makes it spectacular, but of course being Protestant it is not so richly decorated as many Roman Catholic churches.

When I was there, you could shoot from the back of the Nave but the actual body of the Nave was closed off, as were the side aisles.  Use the pews or columns to support your camera during the slow exposures.

To get to the  Shrine of the Three Kings you have to exit the Cathedral and enter at the South Transept (halfway down the square side) at the Pilgrimage entrance.  More low light here, so you’ll need to find some support for your shots again.  The large silver candlesticks are worth a shot as well.

As this was a morning cruise, the sun was behind us, usually to the right, as we travelled up river.  In this situation your best bet is to get to the front outside observation deck and if possible get yourself a seat next to the rail.  This means you get a clear shot forward and really to either side as well as your subjects approach.  Of course, if you’re sailing the other way into the sun, you should choose the stern observation deck which would give you better light (although occasionally a contra-light for your shot can be very effective).

You definitely want a zoom lens here, as your subjects – riverside villages, castles, vineyards, etc. – will be at varying distances.  When using a longer focal length, be especially careful of vibration from the ship’s engines. I find that standing and using a faster shutter speed is the best way to go (at least 1/focal length).

We had lunch in Boppard, a pleasant, rustic town with some interesting half-timbered buildings, a photogenic small main square and a single main street.  The wine merchants’ shops/cellars are interesting.

Apart from the Castle itself. don’t miss the “Medieval Garden of Poison Plants” next to the tower entrance, not so much for the actual plants but the iron cages shrouding some of them (including a Cannabis Sativa!)  If you ever wanted to see what the Hemlock looks like, this is the place.

The Blarney Castle Gardens are sure to get you snapping.  The Rock Close walk brings you to a large stone Dolmen, the Witch’s Stone, Witch’s Kitchen, Druid Sacrificial altar, Hermit’s Cave, Fairy Circle, not to mention small waterfalls and giant gunnera leaves. There are some good shots amongst the trees in the arboretum, too.

Next to the Castle Gardens is the renowned Blarney Woollen Mills shopping and restaurant complex.  Good to “refuel” but we don’t think they stock the same wide range of Irish goods and souvenirs as they used to.  Photographically, fergeddaboudit….

At the far end of the “village” is a small enclosure where you can see some of the remaining Irish Bog ponies, a distinct breed that were used to help transport the cut peat.

The Ring of Kerry is famed for its landscapes, but we’re talking wide, sweeping views here, and finding good foregrounds or even middle grounds can occassionally be problematical.  I’ve done this trip in both poor and reasonably good weather, and if the rain and mist come down, you’ll get the atmosphere but find it difficult to capture those big views. On the other hand, in good weather, you’ll see panoramas which are visually striking when youre there, but can be disappointing when you look at your shots later if you don’t take care with your composition:  build in those foregrounds!  The three lakes view towards the end of the Ring as you approach Killarney is a definite winner, don’t miss it.

Sneem Village, about half way around the Ring journey, is a good place for lunch stop, and provides some excellent photo opportunities.  The striking thing from the photographer’s viewpoint is the way the houses are painted in bright, saturated colours.  Obviously this is best in bright sunlight (polarizers out!) but even when it is raining you’ll find some worthwhile images.

Back in Killarney, street images are the best way to go, no real monuments or cathedrals to shoot.  Your main problem is the old “one-side-of-the-street-in-shadow” one, but stick to the “follow the light and shoot what’s in it” maxim and you’ll be fine.  Often the brightly coloured shops look good even in shadow. Where the reflections in shop windows get too difficult, use a camera flash to shoot at an angle, you’ll be surprised how good a result you can get.

Start with the castle, but be prepared to climb several floors by narrow spiral staircases.  You may find fill-in or indirect flash useful in some places, or go with a slower exposure if you’ve got a steady hand (or a tripod/minipod).  Only the two main halls are large (and high!), the rest are relatively smaller.  You can climb up onto the main level of the castle and get a 360 panorama, if you’re careful with the overlaps between images.  I did at least three shots for each of the four available sides of the tower.

A lunch stop at Adare (the Visitors Centre’s Dove restaurant is OK) gives you the chance to shoot the well-known thatched cottages and church interior at the beginning of the village coming from Limerick.  Most of these have been converted into businesses, but still remain colourful and picturesque.  The main part of the town is beyond the church, best there isn’t too much to photograph, although the “Garda” station can make a shot.

Travelling through Connemara to Galway provides the opportunity for landscape shots, but to be honest I didn’t find it particularly striking.  Sweeping views but expanses of green don’t make for dramatic images.

Galway proved unexpectedly fascinating, both from a photographic and touristic perspective.  The pedestrianised Shop Street and the so-called “Latin Quarter” area that stretches down to the Spanish Arch by the river was packed with restaurants, bars, shops and people.  Of course, the fact that the sun came out helped!  The relatively new Galway Cathedral was huge and the interior, especially the stained glass windows, impressive – again slow exposures but plenty of handy supports to steady your hand.

Bunratty Castle just outside Limerick was the scene for an evening “Medieval Banquet”, one of three castle locations offered by the organizing company.  This is a popular group option, and the costumed staff provide amiable and colourful photo opportunities.  Go up onto the minstrel gallery overlooking the banqueting hall for an interesting viewpoint.  I actually used bounce flash (SB800) off the high arched ceiling and had to use negative compensation as it was a bit to bright.

If you just want to photograph the castle, come during the day when you can tour it and the “Folk Park” (see next post).

One of the best ways to shoot these huge wall posters is to walk around the city walls (on the battlements) and use a long lens to bring the paintings in.  It’s also a great way to explore Derry.  A mid-morning shoot provided good light and the central area within the walls is quite small, so orienting yourself is relatively easy.

Don’t miss the stained glass windows in the Guildhall (just outside Shipquay Gate).  Go inside and be careful not to overexpose – I used a -1 EV compensation but YMMV.

I had relatively limited time in Derry, but you could easily spend a day there and find plenty to shoot, even on a superficial level.

Donegal is a pleasant place for a brief stop, around lunch, as there are plenty of places to eat (try the Abbey Hotel coffee shop and the Donegal special sandwich, with prawns and smoked salmon).  You can visit the castle, but be sure to walk down by the river behind the castle for some interesting shots (and a bit of peace and quiet!).

The grave of the renowned Irish poet, W.B. Yeats, is a simple and somewhat unspectacular grave next to the church in Drumcliff.  Yeats wanted to be buried “under Ben Bulben….”, but actually this bulky, flat-topped mounain looks better before you get to Drumcliff, if you’re coming from Donegal;  its great green upward sweeps are specially impressive.  Outside the churchyard is a statue of a squatting man, crouching over an inscription from a poem by Yeats, “…tread quietly, for you tread on my dreams”.  Tricky shot, I stood on a bench and used an ultra-wide angle, maybe a partial would be better.

At first sight, the rock formation doesn’t look as impressive as you might expect, but walk through the gap to see the high pillars, then climb up onto the Causeway and go down towards the sea until you get to the black section; that’s when you realize how spectacular it is.  A wide-angle lens is good for giving you that expansive close-up to distance look.  Lots of different shooting options, even if you’ve not been there in good light.

BTW, take the shuttle bus back, only GBP1.00 and well worth it.

Just outside Fort William, with Ben Nevis in the background, you can get a shot of the Commando Memorial.  If the weather is poor, you won’t see the mountains, but the statue of the three commandoes looking suitably rugged lends itself to different interpretations, so your trip won’t be wasted.

Fort William, just a short distance away, is in effect a one-street (although long) town, but it’s enjoyable and you’ll get a few shots of pubs, shops, etc.  Good place to find something to eat, too. The quayside was unremarkable When I was there, so I’d stick to the main street if your time is limited. The end of the West Highland Way walking track is at the other end of the street from the church, there’s a bronze sculpture of a man sitting down, looking happy, and a big map of the Highland Way inscribed into the paving in front of him.  Again, a wide angle is necessary to get the whole map in, but in bright sunlight the grey on dark grey is difficult to capture legibly.  Maybe a few tweaks in Photoshop will be required.

After Fort William, on the road south, you come to the Valley of Glencoe, of massacre fame.  It’s a sombre kind of place with sweeping vistas.  This time it was sunny for me (early afternoon), but actually I preferred it the previous time I was there, with rain and greyness and a little mist.  More fitting, somehow.  It has a feeling of emptiness, even with tourists about, so that’s what I’d go for in my shots.