Peter Cox Photography

New Circle of Confusion Episode

2010-07-28 17:45:56

Episode 3 of the podcast on the business of photography that I host with Roger Overall is now live. Have a listen over on the Circle of Confusion website, and be sure to leave a comment!

Golf Course Photography

2010-07-23 14:41:52

I've been quietly working on a new arm of my business, which is photographing golf courses. To that end, I've created a new site - Irish Golf Course Photography. The idea is to combine superior technical image quality (using my 39 megapixel medium format system) with my artistic eye to create images of Irish golf courses that evoke a real emotional response from the viewer - to make them more likely to visit my clients' courses than anyone else. If you're a member or staff at a golf course, and would like to improve its image and attract more visitors/members - then head on over to the new site and have a look - then give me a call.

Watchtower & Rocks, Mizen Peninsula, Co. Cork

2010-07-09 15:11:36

A ruined coastal watchtower keeps vigil on the rocky coastline of the Mizen peninsula in this infra red image.

Poll Gorm, Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

2010-07-07 14:31:01

Made about half an hour after sunset, at Poll Gorm (Blue Hole) on Inis Meáin (Inishmaan).

This is the highest cliff on the island, reaching almost 50 meters above the sea. The long exposure (30 seconds) belies the roughness of the water - there were five meter swells crashing along the cliffs, sending spray up above the clifftops.

In this image, the motion has been smoothed out replacing it with tranquility.

Sunset Over Inis Mór from Poll an tSéideáin, Inis Meáin, Co. Galway

2010-07-06 18:36:41

Another image from Poll an tSéideáin (Hole of the Blowing Spray) on Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) on the Aran Islands.

This was made on evening with a slightly less energetic sea than the first image I posted, but there is still significant spray being generated by the swell. One of the 30 meter cliffs just north of my camera position is totally enshrouded in one such wave.

Inis Mór (Inishmore) is visible on the horizon to the left of frame, under the setting sun.

Poll an tSéideáin, Inis Meáin, Co. Galway

2010-07-05 09:28:12

Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) is the middle of the three Aran Islands which are strung across the mouth of Galway Bay.

This image was made at Poll an tSéideáin (Hole of the Blowing Spray) on the island's west coast. Oileán na Tuí (Straw Island) is visible on the horizon to the left of frame.

Poll an tSéideáin is so named because there is long but shallow cave at sea level that causes the sea to react dramatically in a swell, sending up massive curtains of spray. On this particular evening there was a five meter swell running with a fresh wind, resulting in some truly impressive seas.

The cliffs here are about 30 meters high at this point yet the spray from the incoming waves are easily reaching their tops.

The Circle of Confusion, Episode 2

2010-06-30 12:14:27

The second episode of the photography business podcast that I co-host with Roger Overall is now live over on the Circle of Confusion site. In this episode, we interview award-winning Irish wedding photographer Paul Callaghan and discuss how personal projects can lead to increased business. Check it out!

A Summer's Evening, the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, Co. Cork

2010-06-25 10:50:30

This image has to be seen large or in a print to be fully appreciated. Click here to see a higher resolution version. Bear in mind, no watermarks appear in either purchased prints or licensed images.

The finest lighthouse on the Irish coast, the Fastnet stands proud on an unusually calm fine Summer's evening.

A granite tower constructed of interlocking blocks, it's a virtual monolith which presents itself like the bow of a ship to the incoming Atlantic swells, dissipating their energy before they reach peak force.

So effective is the design and construction that it has survived the worst the Atlantic can throw at it for over a century with nary a scratch. In 1985, it was struck by a 48m rogue wave (the same height as the focal plane of the lantern). This stove in the glass of the lantern room and overturned the vat of mercury on which the lantern turns, but the structure took no other damage.

Evening, The Fastnet Lighthouse, Co. Cork

2010-06-25 09:34:04

Near the summer solstice 2010, I chartered a boat to go and photograph the Fastnet Lighthouse from the sea.

We set off from Baltimore under questionable skies, but by the time we got out to the rock things had cleared significantly. What's more, the fabled swell that always seems to exist around the rock even when elsewhere is calm was nowhere to be seen. Indeed, if we'd wanted to, we probably could have landed - something that's only possible eight or ten times per year.

This image was made on the approach and shows the rock off in peaceful splendour on a perfect evening.

New Qualification, Awards

2010-06-24 11:57:31

Its been a whirlwind couple of days. I was at the second quarterly IPPA judging this year on Monday where I received 2 diamond, 4 gold and 3 silver crests. As if that wasn't good enough, I also got word this weekend that my submission to obtain my QEP (Qualified European Photographer) was successful - so I can now put three more letters after my name. This year's judging saw only 35% of submissions making the grade, and I was the only successful Irish applicant. This makes me one of only 19 QEP photographers in Ireland, and one of just 2 in the Landscape discipline. Click on the small image below to see a larger version of my panel: Below you'll find my award winners from the IPPA. First, the diamonds: 1 - Erupting, Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland 2 - Angry Gannet, Bull Rock, Co. Cork Now the golds: 1 - Sunset, The Verdon Gorge, France 2 - Gannet in Flight, Bull Rock, Co. Cork 3 - Mère Eglise, le Gigon, Dévoluy Valley, Hautes-Alpes, France 4 - Illauncreeveen, Glengarriff, Co. Cork And finally, the silvers: 1 - Dursey Island, the Cow & the Calf, Co. Cork 2 - View to the Skelligs, Bull Rock, Co. Cork 3 - Gannets in Flight, Bull Rock, Co. Cork I feel honoured to have my work be judged so highly. Here's hoping I can keep the standard up for the rest of the year.

Angry Gannet, Bull Rock, Co. Cork

2010-06-24 09:36:03

A gannet hisses a warning at a rival.

Gannets in Flight, Bull Rock, Co. Cork

2010-06-24 09:31:19

There is no description for this image yet. Check back later!

Gannet in Flight, Bull Rock, Co. Cork

2010-06-24 09:21:48

A gannet hovers in the airflow over the cliff edge at the Bull Rock.

Mère Eglise, le Gigon, Dévoluy Valley, Hautes-Alpes, France

2010-06-23 22:31:55

The 11th century Mère Eglise with last light on le Gigon in the background.

New Workshop Video

2010-06-11 22:29:53

I recently had a film crew come down and record what happens on my workshops. They also interviewed me on what I love about photography and teaching. I just received the final cut of this film and am delighted to share it with you here.

Be sure and view it in HD (the little button that says '360p' at the bottom right - change that to '720p') if you have the bandwidth.

Related to this, my friend and colleague Roger Overall paid a visit on the same workshop and took some fantastic images of the workshop in progress.

New Article/Photo Essay

2010-06-10 12:22:39

I've just published an article/photo essay on my recent trip to the Bull Rock off the coast of Cork. You can read it here. As always, your comments are welcome,

Winner at the PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris

2010-06-10 09:58:54

I was delighted to discover this morning that my image Dún Briste, Downpatrick Head, Co. Mayo won third place in the Nature category at the highly respected Prix de la Photographie Paris competition. Not only that, but it also received an Honourable Mention in the Fine Art/Landscape category.

Last year I received an honorable mention for my image Waiting for the Spring. Next year, it's time to win a category!

The PX3 competition is one of Europe's most highly respected photography awards, juried by many of the premier names in photography globally - including the curator of photography at the Library of Congress and the picture editor for Time Magazine. It's definitely an honour to place in such a competition, let alone two years in a row.

Inspired by Iceland

2010-06-07 01:08:38

As most of you I'm sure are aware, I have a special place in my heart for Iceland. It's a great country with stunningly beautiful landscape and a fantastic people. I was approached by the Icelandic tourist board to see if I would support their new 'Inspired by Iceland' initiative. I think it's an excellent cause - Iceland is a relative unknown to many people, so anything that puts the word out about how great a place it is to visit is good. You can visit their website and see some cool videos as well as stories from other travelers. My own can be found here.

The Circle of Confusion

2010-05-26 09:29:58

Be sure and check out The Circle of Confusion, a new podcast by myself and Roger Overall.

In it, we'll be discussing the business of photography in Ireland, along with photographer interviews, comment and opinion.

The first episode is now live, and new ones will be released every month on the last Wednesday.

Feel free to comment on the entries - we'd love your feedback!

Irish Independent Article on my Eyjafjalljökull Images

2010-05-10 11:46:13

I forgot to post this earlier, but the Irish Independent ran an article on my photographs of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. You can read it online here: Independent Article. Also, you can catch my interview on the Tom Dunne show on Newstalk radio last week here: Radio Interview