Highlights 2024
Best Trips, Photography & Wilder Ireland
Pine island on Lough Derryclare with The Twelve Bens behind
I’m really happy with everything I achieved this year, especially when it comes to trips, exploring new locations, and my film photography projects.
Long may it continue!
This is the shortest overview I could provide of what I got up to during the year.
The Town Of Ballycastle with a sprinking of snow
January - February
At the start of the year, during January and early February, I focused mostly on catching up with admin tasks and squeezing in some short day trips, as I do every year. We even had a day of snow, which gave me the chance to capture Ballycastle in its frosty beauty. That was also the last time I used my Mavic Pro drone before deciding to sell it. It wasn’t getting as much use as I had hoped, and honestly, it was just too heavy to lug around alongside my digital camera and film camera in the same bag.
In February, with the days still short, I planned a three-day trip around the Mournes, even though there was still snow on the ground. This trip was special because it was Hassie’s first time coming along in the van with me. I wanted to see how she’d handle being away and sleeping in the van for a few days before attempting longer trips together. It was a bit of a challenge for me to settle into solo wild camping on that trip. I think I was mostly worried about Hassie—she didn’t eat much the first night, and neither of us slept very well. Despite that, I stopped at a few locations on my list, some riskier than others (solo exploring always ups the stakes). I visited an old hospital building that was in pretty rotten shape, which was also covered in pigeon poo, and even an old Freemasons hall, which I later found out my father had once attended. Along the way, I also checked out a few national schools, cottages, and farmhouses scattered across the countryside.
A lot of the time on this trip was spent walking with Hassie, which eventually became the norm on our longer adventures—less photography, more just enjoying the outdoors. It felt good to be out and have some downtime.
March - April
After selling the Mavic Pro, I decided to invest in the smaller Mini 3 Pro. It’s been a game-changer for me this year, fitting easily into my bag and always ready to go when I need it. I’ve used it in some pretty dodgy weather too! It took a bit of getting used to since it’s lighter and harder to manage in windy conditions, but it’s been worth the effort.
One of the highlights in March was making one final trip to Edendork Dance Hall before it was demolished later on in the year and also because it was getting more vandalised. I also went on another four-day road trip, with Hassie now a regular travel companion. She settled in much more quickly this time, and I even brought her along while exploring places that were safe for her. I still found some wild camping spots a bit nerve-wracking, but I think that was just my anxiety. The spots were probably fine. During this trip, I covered a lot of ground: more national schools, abandoned petrol pumps (I’ve been building quite the collection of these), and, of course, more cottages.
May - June
May was quiet as the market season kicked into gear, leaving me with little time for trips. But by June, I was back at it with my French buddy, Romain. We went on a three-day adventure, but this time, I left Hassie at home since we’d be covering big distances and exploring multiple locations. One night, we camped at Lough Key, and the next morning, I flew my drone over McDermott’s Castle. The water was so still that it reflected the sky perfectly—it was a shot I’d been dreaming of capturing for years. That was definitely a highlight of the trip.
July - August
July was when I finally tackled a long solo trip, packing Hassie and all my gear into the van for an eight-day journey. We made it as far as Clifden Castle, passing through Connemara along the way, and were lucky to get a week of good weather. I covered many locations on my list and walked countless miles with Hassie. The wild camps were peaceful, and I even stayed at one spot twice—once on the way there and again on the way back. Unfortunately, the leisure battery in my van stopped charging, leaving me without power for my gear. I later discovered it was a faulty relay fuse, which I replaced after returning home. Despite that hiccup, I managed to tick off some long-awaited locations.
August was busy with markets again, so I didn’t get out much. However, I did finally tackle a backlog of 22 rolls of colour film, processing them myself. It was a learning experience—I made a few mistakes with temperatures and drying, but I’m improving. I also promised myself I wouldn’t let rolls pile up like that again!
I did manage a day out with Martin, as some of the weekend markets were cancelled due to windy weather, giving us a chance to explore together.
One highlight of the month was when a student from Queen's University reached out to discuss why I focus on dereliction photography and asked if I’d be willing to be filmed in the process. I agreed, and we visited an old mill where he recorded me rambling on about the subject. I really enjoyed the experience, sharing my thoughts on my craft and discussing the pressing issue of why so many of our historical buildings are not being preserved. Since the recording, I’ve seen the final output, and I hope to share it with all of you in the near future.
Just thought I’d share a few moments of Hassie and her adventures throughout the year. She has been an amazing companion on all the trips. Watching her grow more confident has been a joy—she’s getting much better at being off-lead, exploring at her own pace, and staying close when she needs to.
Whether it’s wandering around old ruins, strolling through the countryside, or just enjoying the fresh air at our wild camping spots, Hassie has made every moment feel a little more special. These trips wouldn’t be the same without her by my side. The last image of the cockapoo is my mum’s dog, Kimmie.
September - October
As summer wound down, I planned a trip to Martin’s static caravan for one last stay before he gave up the pitch. We spent two nights there, giving us a full day to explore Donegal. We visited a mix of new and familiar spots, with Hassie joining us for most stops. I’m getting better at judging when it’s safe for her to roam freely, but I always keep her lead handy just in case. One morning, We even got up early for a sunrise shoot at an old boatyard I hadn’t visited in years. It was great to see how the place had changed.
Near the end of September, I had a market near Carrickfergus and, out of the blue, ran into one of my old primary school teachers. Even though she didn’t teach me, I recognized her right away—Miss Bell, as she was known back then.
Markets can be slow at times, so traders often play pranks to pass the time. One trader had been messing with my stall—leaving coffee cups everywhere and even cable-tying them to my van. For payback, I filled the back of his van with 450 balloons! He thought he was off pranking someone else, but we used that opportunity to set up our plan. When he opened the van doors, the balloons spilled out, much to the delight of the kids nearby. Money well spent!
Later in the month, I went on a five-day trip with Hassie and Janine. We wild-camped, covering cottages, national schools, old shops, petrol pumps, and mansions. One highlight was capturing the aurora, even though it was a freezing night. The van gave me some trouble during that trip, and I thought we’d have to cut it short. Luckily, I managed to fix the issue on the roadside and continue, though we missed a few planned locations.
Sundaylife Features Section
I was also featured in the Belfast Telegraph Sunday Life and their online platform, which was a nice recognition of my work.
November - December
These months were quiet, with only a couple of outings due to the busy Christmas market season and poor weather. I managed a day out with Martin over the festive period to close the year of exploring.
This year, I’ve shot about the same amount of film as before but now developed it all myself. I’ve invested in better processing equipment for both black-and-white and colour, and I’m working on a faster way to scan my negatives. My current setup is slow—it took three days to scan those 22 rolls—but the new method should cut that time significantly, allowing me to focus more on shooting.
Here’s a glimpse at some of my camp dinners from trips over this year. The meals have ranged from toasties, steak with mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and omelettes to salmon and the occasional freeze-dried meal. A special shout-out to the person who sent me one of those meals many years ago—it was long past its best-before date but still hit the spot after a particularly long day!
My culinary creativity has definitely improved with each trip, and cooking has become something I genuinely look forward to now. There’s something so satisfying about making the most of my little camp kitchen, experimenting with new ideas, and enjoying a good meal in the middle of nature. It’s a small but meaningful part of the experience, and I’m always excited to see what I can whip up next!
Plans for 2025
I’m looking forward to taking more trips, whether solo or with friends, making the most of my time by exploring new locations and revisiting old favourites. There’s also a major project that’s been in the works for quite some time, and I’m determined to finally bring it to life this year. One of my goals is to improve my social media presence by sharing more consistent and cohesive sets of images, rather than just the occasional single post. It’s been a challenge in the past, but I’m committed to making progress. I also plan to upgrade the setup in my van, making a few adjustments to ensure future trips are more comfortable and efficient. Another priority for the year is to get back into hill walking. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages, and 2025 feels like the right time to finally make it happen. This year is shaping up to be one of growth, adventure, and creativity. Of course, managing my time better remains an ongoing challenge. Every year, I do my best to stay on top of everything, but it’s something I know I need to keep working on.
For now, though, I just want to take a moment to say how much I appreciate every single one of you who follows, comments, likes, shares, leaves Google reviews and supports me, whether through words of encouragement or purchases of my work in 2024. I also want to thank you all for sticking with me for 18 years as I’ve been on this journey of Capturing The Lives We've Left Behind Before They Disappear. Your support means the world to me.
Lough Salt 360
