Its the weekend so……
Nikon F90x, 35mm lens, Kodak film
Lake Windermere, Lake district national park, United Kingdom
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Its the weekend so why not find somewhere new to yourself and explore ……
Flowers on the river bank
Yesterday’s weather here in Kilkenny was just wonderful and all the flowers along the river Nore are coming to life, It was just brilliant to be able to capture the two images below.
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens, iso 200
Flowers on the banks of the river Nore kilkenny
Nigel Borrington
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens, iso 200
Flowers on the banks of the river Nore kilkenny
Nigel Borrington
Depth, in the flower bed
These two images are another example of using lens depth of field to good effect using a wonderful flower bed on our local river bank. The first image is using F8 and the Second image is using F1.8 as a lens aperture setting.
Nikon D200, 50mm lens at f8, iso 200
Flowers on the banks of the river Nore, country Kilkenny
Kilkenny based Photographer : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D200, 50mm lens at f1.8, iso 200
Flowers on the banks of the river Nore, country Kilkenny
Kilkenny based Photographer : Nigel Borrington
Flowers on the river bank
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens, iso200
Flowers on the River Nore, county kilkenny
Kilkenny photographer : Nigel Borrington
Flowers an in depth look.
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens
This afternoon has turned into a wonderful day :), the weather here in Ireland has gone from spring to almost summer like in one week and everything is coming to life. I went out with Molly our Golden retriever after lunch for a walk along the river bank and there are flowers coming out every step you take.
As always I had a camera with me and took lots of images, its always fun with flower beds to play with lens depth of field and the panel of images below shows the effects of Lens apertures f8 upto f1.8 on image depth.
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens
More images from this walk to follow….
Windermere boat Museum
Nikon F90x, Ilford XP2. Iso 400
These images were taken during a visit to the Lake district boat museum some years back, I have been scanning a lot of my old films and came across these as part of a set that I will use in full at some point, For the moment however these two images show one of histories great boats used to set world water speed records….
Nikon F90x, Ilford XP2. Iso 400
I just love the contrast of Ilford xp2 film….
Irish clean water standards – ( EPA 2012 )
In May 2012 I received a call from the Irish EPA in Cork, they were looking for some images in order to help finish the publication of some brochures, before the launch of new European clean water standards.
In the end I got both the front cover and many of the internal images, these are just some of the work submitted, this project was a great chance to publish some of my landscape photography.
I also completed the design of the from cover as below….
Coolagh old church, county kilkenny
Nikon D200, 35mm focus length, iso 200
The old church at coolagh
Kilkenny photographer : nigel borrington
When we first came to live in Kilkenny back in 2003, we lived right next to these old church ruins at coolagh county kilkenny. Early each morning I would walk our then 6 month old golden retriever puppy, molly into the fields and up-to this spring below the tree.
These old church remains date back from around (1171-72) being constructed by the Anglo-Normans. The old church on coolaghmore hill, was replaced with a new church in about 1880. These old remains of the original church have stood unused ever since.
The wonderful Kilkenny landscape.
River Nore Kilkenny
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens, iso 400
River Nore, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The river Nore, as it flows through Thomastown, county Kilkenny ….
Morning meditations, in a foggy kilkenny landscape
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.4 lens, iso 1600
Fog over a Kilkenny Farm
Kilkenny Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Morning meditation
I find nothing to fill the emptiness,
Of a very cold grey moment
In the endless time of my waking up attempts,
When feeling is painful and the morning is fogged,
Time comes and goes as I try to understand,
Understanding becomes big, huge as a true thing can be,
Truth is relative they say,
Points of view and ways to see,
Interacting is so self defined,
Perceptions float when empty seems deathlike,
Silence in and out is not necessarily peace,
Nothing is rational in a sleepy fogged mind,
But the sun has no fault for this,
So,
I decide to get up from my warm bed,
In a fogged, cold, grey and empty morning,
Carry on my sleepy, fogged mind,
With the conviction this certainly is a different day.
By : Mirela Kapaj
Cuckoo flowers, on the kings river
Canon G1 x, iso 100, f2.8
Cuckoo flowers
landscape photography
Nigel Borrington
Cuckoo flowers on the banks of the Kings river, Kells, County kilkenny…..
Kilkenny photography
Kilkenny wildlife
Nikon D7000
Kilkenny photography – Wildlife
Kilkenny photographer : Nigel Borrington
I was out early this Monday morning looking for a good start to the week along with having a hunt for a young Heron that I spotted at the weekend.
Each year we get these wonderful birds along the Kings river, county Kilkenny and its also wonderful to stop and photograph each years youngsters….
Sunday evenings….
Nikon D700
Kilkenny Landscape
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Sunday evenings are my favourite time of the week, hopefully your mind has been stripped down, cleared out and ready go into the new week ahead!
Its the weekend so…..
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.4 lens,iso 100
Kilkenny landscape view
Nigel Borrington
Its the weekend so take a country walk and stop for the views………..
Great black backed gulls – Saltee Islands, wexford
Nikon D700, Nikon 300mm f2.8 vr lens
Gulls an the Saltee Islands
Wildlife photography by,
Kilkenny based Photographer : Nigel Borrington
Two young Gulls taking a rest on a cliff top, on the Saltee islands, county Wexford…
Rosebuds of May
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens
White rosebuds and flowers
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
I love this time of year, our hedgerow is coming alive with all kinds of life, these white wild roses are just one wonderful example.
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens
White rosebuds and flowers
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
When these Roses come out each year they are always wonderful to look at but they last such a short time, I would love it if they flowered all summer…
A Poem by :Robert Herrick
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,
The higher he’s a-getting
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer:
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.
Then, be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens
White rosebuds and flowers
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens
White rosebuds and flowers
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Mystery of a place – Castlemorris house and gardens
Fujifilm X100
The Green door
Irish landscape photography: Nigel Borrington
This old door and the stone shed it is attached to is all that remains of one of Ireland greatest ever country houses, The house had some 356 windows and belonged to the Montmorency family.
In its day in the mid-19th century, it was one of the finest (and largest) houses in Ireland at that time and compared well with Bessborough in Piltown.
Built around 1751 in the parish of Aghaviller, the Castlemorris estate was previously known as “Diore Lia” (a grey wood). Formerly home to the Morres and de Montmorency families, the family vault can still be seen in the local churchyard.
The churchyard also contains the remains of an ancient round tower. Built to protect the occupants and valuables of monastic settlements from Viking raids, these towers dot the Nore valley.
In 1924 the house was sold to the Land Commission. In the early 1930s it was unroofed and a demolition sale took place. Many parts of the house can be found in houses around the country.
The house itself was finally demolished in 1978. The grounds now merge with other Coillte woods, totalling approximately 2,000 acres in the district. Ms de Montmorency-Wright gave an excellent talk and should be complimented for her extensive research into her family and their association with Castlemorris.
Simple things
Nikon D7000, 200mm Focus lenght
Seed heads
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
When I am out and about with my camera, it is often the simplest of natures things that attract my attention…
Thank you
Fujifilm X100
Since I started posting on my Blog again at the start of February this year, I have received just over five thousand likes, over one thousand comments and 350 followings.
I just wanted to take the time to say thank you, so much to everyone.
You have all been so kind and lifted my spirits so much, I have also greatly enjoyed finding so many great artists on the word-press system. Wonderful art work and images from all around the world!!
THANK YOU !
This old red door – Goresbridge, Kilkenny
Fujifilm X100
KIlkenny photograher, Nigel Borrington
The old Mill at Goresbridge
When I was considering posting these images, I was wondering if I should show the setting of this old and wonderful red mill door. Its located on the site of on old mill sitting on the river Barrow as it runs through Goresbridge, county Kilkenny.
Sometimes just displaying something like a door just by itself can create a Mystery.
On this occasion, I will show the door in its location, I am however thinking of creating a series of images that do separate these kind of subject’s from their surroundings.
Fujifilm X100
KIlkenny photograher, Nigel Borrington
The old Mill at Goresbridge
Fujifilm X100
KIlkenny photograher, Nigel Borrington
The old Mill at Goresbridge
In ancient woodlands, bluebells and wild garlic grow
Fujifil X100
Kilkenny Ireland
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
In Ancient Woodlands
We walked within an ancient wood
Beside the path
Where oak and beech and hazel stood,
Their leaves the pale shades of May.
By bole and bough, still black with rain,
The sunlight filtered where it would
Across a glowing, radiant stain—
We stood within a bluebell wood!
And stood and stood, both lost for words,
As all around the woodland rang
And echoed with the cries of birds
Who sang and sang …
My mind has marked that afternoon
To hoard against life’s stone and sling;
Should I go late, or I go soon,
The bluebells glow where wild garlic grows— the birds still sing.
Fujifilm X100
Kilkenny Ireland
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Family of swans
Nikon D200, 200mm focus length, iso 400
Swan family at Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill, Co. Laois
Irish wildlife photography : Nigel Borrington
I took this images on a visit to Heywood Gardens, County Laois, two years ago and then place some of the photographs into an exhibition held in Callan, Co. Kilkenny the same year.
Heywood Gardens are not vast, but they offer one of Ireland’s most private wildlife locations.
St Patrick well
St Patrick’s well is located In Clonmel, County Tipperary.
The Well pre-dates Christian times by a considerable period, clearly only being referred to as belonging to St Patrick since he or the local church converted the local people to Christianity.
“The Celtic pre-Christian period.
There is a lot of evidence to show that in ancient Ireland well worship was widely practised. Many if not all of Ireland’s holy wells of later Christian times had been objects of pagan veneration, and regarded as sacred, centuries before the advent of Christianity. In fact many Irish place names which have their origins dating from pre-Christian times are derived from wells. One of those sacred springs Tipra Arann in the present Barony of Clanwilliam around Tipperary Town, gave its name to County Tipperary. In the Bronze Age there seems to have been no temples constructed for the purposes of worship. Pagan rites were performed in the open air. Those were places of popular assembly as well as centres for pagan worship and sacrifices.”
Sacrifices ? There is no evidence of this so I think the writer of the page is talking about offerings. Items of personal value placed into the well as a thank you to the water gods.
“St Patrick and his disciples on their travels throughout the country took advantage of those assemblies to preach the Gospel and to baptise the new converts. To St. Patrick coming from lands within the former Roman Empire some of those Celtic customs must have appeared strange. Well worship was re-orientated and transformed into a Christian context. In due course, from being places where pagan rites had been performed, the wells became places of Christian worship. There was a tradition which has died out that people visited St Patrick’s Well before sunrise on the first day of May – a date which coincides with the Celtic Festival of Bealtaine.”
I find the idea of Holy wells in the early Christian period to be fascinating, It appears, as covered above to be a clear attempt by the church to override the previous worship of water gods and to move this worship over to the new God that the modern christian church now worships.
Nigel Borrington 
Pentax Super A
Pentax Super A, a 1983 manual focus camera
Reclaiming found things
Well, well – Hello! I didn’t even know you were still around….
Going through some old box’s of things from the old loft last week I found this camera and it must be one of the first SLR Camera’s I ever owned. Back in 1985, I moved from Altrincham near Manchester to live and work for Chase Manhattan bank as an IBM programmer.
I don’t remember at which point I didn’t use this Pentax any more, I think it is when I started getting into Nikon Cameras with an FM2n body which I thought was my first SLR film camera.
I just love finding old things and believe me I will use this camera again now its re-found. I am attempting to get some processing chemicals to do a post on black and white negative processing, the shop I was hoping to get it from however let me down so I am having to get it imported from Birmingham in the UK.
Here are some Sample images that I took first time around with this Pentax Super A.
Share this:
May 24, 2013 | Categories: About Nigel Borrington, Camera reviews, Comment, Gallery | Tags: film cameras, film processing, london, Nigel Borrington, North London, Old Cameras, Pentax Super A | 14 Comments