Highlights 2019
Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) over Rathlin Island
I can’t believe another year has passed. Once again, I didn’t manage to get out exploring as much as I hoped—but toward the end, I really began to find my rhythm, and I’m determined to carry that momentum forward. I finally made it to a few locations that have been sitting on my list for years, shot more film than ever (and will continue to), and in June, I added a drone to my kit, opening up perspectives I’ve long been missing.
After spending Christmas and New Year with my sister in England, my mother and I headed back home. On the way, I finally stopped at a few long-awaited locations—places that had been sitting on my list for years. It felt good to squeeze in those visits, capturing them while I had the chance and turning the journey home into part of the adventure.
January offered only a handful of outings—light and weather were very much against us. Still, I managed a few short days exploring cottages and an old corn mill, a place I would return to several times throughout the year as it continued to reveal new details and moods with each visit.
In February, I attempted Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland. I made it about three-quarters of the way up the Devil’s Ladder before having to turn back due to the fading light and incoming bad weather, which was against me. It’s one challenge I will absolutely return to and conquer. While we were in the area, I also visited a few locations, including the impressive Cahercon House, which had been on my list for quite some time.
Throughout the year, I made a point of getting out for a few peak-bagging outings, as they say. After the Carrauntoohil attempt, I thought it best to start with a few mountains closer to home. Each one was rewarding in its own way—great for both my physical and mental health, and a reminder of how grounding it is just to get out in the hills. And of course, there’s nothing quite like a snack or a sandwich at the summit to make the effort worthwhile.
Early April brought the first tent-camping trip of the year. I spent three days on the road, stopping at various locations on the way to Lough Key and back. It was a great trip overall, but I quickly rediscovered just how cold sleeping on the ground can be at that time of year. Still—worth it for the adventure and the photographs.
I also met up with a group of film photographers for a photowalk — always inspiring to spend time with others shooting analogue. We gathered at Island Hill just outside Comber and walked across the causeway to Rough Island while the tide was out, before heading into Comber for a coffee and a warm-up. Afterwards, we made our way over to Donaghadee Harbour to finish the day. It was a brilliant outing—good company, fresh air, and also a chance to see the range of film cameras everyone had brought along.
Near the end of April, I spent a day out with a mate whose house and pets I’d be looking after for a week in May, so we decided to squeeze in a day out beforehand. One of our stops was St. Peter's Church, the “Tin Tabernacle” in Laragh, County Monaghan. When I first pinned it, it was abandoned—but by the time I finally made it down to see it, it had been restored and was back in use by the community. A nice surprise, even if it meant a different kind of visit than I expected. We managed to tick off quite a few places on my list that day, including a small cottage filled with personal belongings still left behind—a quiet reminder of a life once lived there.
During my house-sitting week in May, I used the time to explore the surrounding area and also met up with Forgotten Places NI for a day out. We covered quite a few new and old locations, with plenty of craic and laughter along the way. It was a great mix of exploring, catching up, and adding more memories to the map.
June through September turned out to be a busy stretch with markets and work, so trips were few and far between. I did manage to pick up a second-hand DJI Mavic Pro, and any spare time I could find went into learning to fly it and building confidence in the air. The rest of the summer became a mix of landscape shoots and drone practice whenever I could squeeze it in.
Unfortunately, my computer finally gave up the ghost—properly this time—so a good chunk of the season was spent getting a new one built and, at long last, setting up a proper backup system. I now have a QNAP and cloud storage in place, and it’s honestly a huge relief knowing everything is finally protected and organised the way it should be.
In October and November, I started getting back out exploring again, focusing on both landscapes and dereliction. Most outings were day trips—one down to Tollymore Forest to soak in the autumn colours, another over to Donegal to visit the Óstán Gweedore Hotel and the Bad Eddie boat, with a few scenic stops along the way, and a quick trip over to Glenariff Forest too. It felt great to be back behind the camera, breathing in fresh air, taking in the views, and finally ticking a few long-awaited locations off the list.
One unexpected highlight this year was the number of abandoned vehicles I stumbled across—each one carrying its own story, quietly frozen in rust and dust.
Thank you all for the comments, likes, sales, and continued support throughout such a challenging year. It truly means the world. I’m excited to share what comes next, and I’m deeply grateful for the past 13 years of support as you’ve followed me on this journey of capturing the lives we've left behind before they disappear.
