The Cliffs of Moher

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted September 7, 20063,031 views31 comments

Sounding like something out of LotRings, these gigantic cliffs are in western Ireland. They have a maximum height of 200 meters (650 feet) and stretch over 8 kilometers (5 miles), but this one section is looking towards the first set of cliffs and O'Briens Tower is a magnificent site indeed.

This shot is taken from the opposite cliff path with my tripod perched on the edge. I spend fifteen minutes kneeling down holding on so as not to lose the lot! High winds winds battered the coast, I had small stones bouncing of my hood, grit hitting my sunglasses and around 10 minutes of fantastic light before the sun sank into grey. Heavy rain clouds coming straight in from the Atlantic caused intermittent lighting and rich blues were pulled up by my polariser which blackened the sea. To get this shot of the cliff and the foreground well lit is no computer blend.

If you like the power of the oceans and revel in the danger of height then stick your head over the Cliffs of Moher and feel what it is like to be a fulmar for a minute.

EOS 5D, 17-40 f4L f6.3 at 28mm 1/13th ISO100

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Luigi Bianchi on September 7, 2006 at 6:38 AM

A NICE composition, David.

Great idea waiting for the light on the rocks in the background, it gives an extremely clean perspective. CONGRATULATIONS

Registered on August 24, 2006, 16 Posts, 81 Comments

Comment posted by Malcolm MacGregor on September 7, 2006 at 7:35 AM

I like the luminous feel to this. Quite a contrast to my recent visit ( so many people crowding the edges and walking on the limestone "pavement" ) , got very frustrated by the huge excavations for what I presumed is going to be a new visitor centre - I much prefer looking at this version.

Malcolm

Registered on March 20, 2006, 15 Posts, 140 Comments

Comment posted by David Clapp on September 7, 2006 at 7:43 AM

Yes I was rather annoyed they are turning it all into 'Moher World' it is really unnecessary. What also wound me up is that you cant get out of the car park without paying 5euros which they dont tell you until you are just going in, even if you just turn into it by accident like I did. I had a 15 minute battle with management just to get my car back through the barrier.

Registered on November 28, 2005, 137 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Stacy Egan on September 7, 2006 at 10:38 AM

Wow, what light! Awesome! Beautiful!

Registered on April 24, 2006, 52 Posts, 446 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Carroll on September 7, 2006 at 11:33 AM

Sweeeet! Having been to the area myself I can honestly say that you have done a super job in capturing the essence of the place. The wonderful ominous sky is a perfect cover for the harsh landscape of the cliffs. The light in the lower right on the blowing grass is wonderful. Did you really not have a GND on this shot? Nice job working the scene for depth given the 6.3.

Registered on August 19, 2005, 132 Posts, 983 Comments

Comment posted by David Clapp on September 7, 2006 at 11:58 AM

No, I can pull most of the info out of the shot with multiple RAW conversions as long as the dynamic range isnt too extreme. The patch of bright light on the left is blown out. I dont use grads at all any more since my transition to digital.

Registered on November 28, 2005, 137 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by beth summer on September 7, 2006 at 12:14 PM

WOW

This is awesome, David. I have a fear of heights so I would not be standing there (I don't think). I'll just enjoy your image which I do. The lighting is great and love the ominous clouds.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 437 Posts, 5220 Comments

Comment posted by William Vrolyk on September 7, 2006 at 12:29 PM

David, this is absolutely superb. Very dramatic and a great sense of height and depth.

Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

Registered on November 1, 2003, 278 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Leann Greene on September 7, 2006 at 2:14 PM

Spectacular from top to bottom. I scrolled down when it opened and the grass is a delightful accent.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Showalter` on September 7, 2006 at 2:57 PM

A very powerful image! The light and clouds are gorgeous and I love the strip of grasses at the bottom of the frame.

Registered on September 19, 2005, 23 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on September 7, 2006 at 4:31 PM

Cool image, the wait was worth it in my book. Glad you held on and stayed safe

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Hansen on September 7, 2006 at 10:42 PM

This is so wonderful, just gorgeous. I could look at this forever.

Registered on May 16, 2005, 380 Posts, 5157 Comments

Comment posted by David Weber on September 7, 2006 at 11:15 PM

WOW! This is a fantastic photo, David!

The lighting, the details in the rocks and water, and the sense of being way-way-way up high really great.

Registered on February 7, 2005, 296 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by F Timothy Kingst on September 7, 2006 at 11:43 PM

Beautiful work, it really relates the power of the North Atlantic. Great texture displayed by the sidelit rocks and I really like the way the clouds have "touched down " at the horizon. The grass is a nice foreground, well lit and really shows the effect of the wind too.

Tim

Registered on November 1, 2003, 401 Posts, 1393 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Flindt on September 8, 2006 at 4:08 AM

A magnificent image, David - awe-inspiring in every way, The light on the foreground grass is a wonderful element, the detail and clarity in the rock strata, the rays of light sweeping into the frame. So much to enjoy and inspire in this exceptional landscape.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 15 Posts, 212 Comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on September 8, 2006 at 4:49 AM

Stunning for sure

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Tim McIntyre on September 8, 2006 at 9:44 AM

Absolutely breathtaking . I like the composition and the fine depth of scale the image portrays

Tim

Registered on August 19, 2006, 85 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Mary Dennis on September 8, 2006 at 3:01 PM

Oh my....!!! That roiling sky works beautifully with the semi-choppy looking water. Actually that sky is a show unto itself!!

Amazing.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 290 Posts, 2897 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 8, 2006 at 8:12 PM

David: I just looked at your other post in ES&S and was awestruck by it but this is even better. Broke my

meter clean off

BRAVO! >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by David Clapp on September 9, 2006 at 8:41 AM

Thanks very much everyone, I hope one day you can all go there it is particularly incredible, I struck it very lucky with the conditions.

Registered on November 28, 2005, 137 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 9, 2006 at 2:02 PM

What a photo! WOW! One of my favorite places on Earth is Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher, and this is such a spectacular visual essay on the magic of the coincidence of the elements there: the light, the weather, the cliffs, the sea.

Yes, David, I did crawl carefully, and lying on my stomach, put my head over the edge! It was wonderful! I am so very, very disappointed to hear about the car park and the plans for a visitor's center.

One thing Ireland does NOT need is USA style commercialism and consumerism! Gad! But let my brief rant not detract from this marvelous vista. I could look at this image forever!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostock on September 9, 2006 at 8:22 PM

Congratulations on a sensational image, David.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 11, 2006 at 10:17 AM

Beautiful shot David. I would love to see a larger version of this - the detail must be fantastic. Congrats on the EP. Well deserved.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 11, 2006 at 10:56 AM

Stunning work David! Amazingly powerful image with dramatic light.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 11, 2006 at 12:11 PM

A well deserved EP. Congratulations!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan DesJardins on September 11, 2006 at 12:22 PM

Outstanding image. Bravo! Congrats on your EP.

Registered on September 11, 2005, 170 Posts, 276 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on September 11, 2006 at 12:47 PM

Oh David, your shot brings back such good memories of my family's trip to Ireland and the cliffs of Moher in 2001. This was my favorite place - in part because it was so un-commercial and unprotected - so un-USA. People were free to live dangerously and look over the edge. But the best part was the amazing cliffs themselves and the absolute fear I felt at the edge. I recall how my heart felt for a full 20 minutes like it was going to pound its way out of my chest as I looked over the edge of that flat ledge visible along right side of the cliff. The young seabirds were learning to navigate the strong winds. So Amazing! You have captured this beautifully. And I'm glad to hear you didn't go over!

Thanks for sharing this great photo.
Julie

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Goldstein on September 11, 2006 at 6:55 PM

Amazing and exceptionally beautiful. The scale from the tower and cars is incredible.

Registered on March 18, 2006, 119 Posts, 878 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on September 16, 2006 at 12:42 PM

Dramatic light and scenery!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on September 16, 2006 at 9:39 PM

This is an outstanding image in every sense of the word. Incredible light and the perfect composition. Very well done! I have wondered about your signature :) - definitely not David - what does it say?

Best,

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Marlow on October 31, 2008 at 10:11 PM

lol nice explanation I think this image and the one where people are about to be smashed by a wave are my favorites.. great work

Registered on October 15, 2008, 158 Posts, 531 Comments