After reading this article by Emily, the blogger behind From China Village, I thought I ought to see those magnificent rhododendrons trees for myself. Yesterday, seeing that a strange yellow thing was shining strongly in the sky (the sun!!), I decided to make my way to Howth and take a walk in Deer Park.
I strolled along the patches of wild garlic and the golf course and finally arrived among the rhododendron trees. I have to say it was just stunning, it felt like being in a magical world where everything that surrounds you is bright red, pink, fuschia, pale pink, mauve and purple.
It was really worth going completely out of my way to see this enchanting landscape.

Photos taken with an SLR Canon 40D - 17-85mm lens - Rhododendron Trees in Deer Park, Howth, Ireland, May 2013.

There is something really enchanting about the morning sun light and such was the case when I walked among a beautiful field of flowers in Portugal last month.

Photo taken with an SLR Canon 40D - ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500, 17-85mm lens - Vilamoura, Portugal, 2013.
This print is for sale in my little print shop.

There is so much colourful beauty in nature. I love the contrasts it offers, like this vibrant yellow with a great blue sky.

Photo taken with an SLR Canon 40D - ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500, 17-85mm lens - Vilamoura, Portugal, 2013.
This print is for sale in my little online shop.

Photo taken with a Canon SLR 40D - ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/30, 17-85mm lens - Vilamoura, Portugal, 2013.

Photo taken with a Canon SLR 40D - ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/250, 17-85mm lens - Vilamoura, Portugal, 2013.
This print is for sale in my little shop on Society 6.

The smell of lavender and its soft pastel colours remind me of Summer, of walking barefoot in the grass and long childhood holidays spent at my grandparents' house playing hide and seek in their flowery garden and evening strolls through the wheat fields. I cannot wait for the Summer and days of sunshine...

This photo was taken with an SLR Canon 40D - ISO 200, f/1.8, 1/125, 50mm lens - Honest 2 Goodness Market, Glasnevin, County Dublin, Ireland.
This image is for sale as prints in my little virtual shop.

Last night, a really lovely time was had in the company of bloggers at an event organised by Emily of the blog From China Village. The location was the beautiful Avoca Malahide in County Dublin, Ireland.
It felt wonderful having talks with people full of creativity and ideas. I found it very inspirational.
So thank you again Emily and the wonderful team of Avoca Malahide. And thanks for the lovely talks to: Caitriona, Hillary, Julie, Kristin, Michelle, Nathalie, Rebekah, Ruth and Trish.

Here is to one year of photography blog and a second one starting!
I love taking landscape photos when the sky is dark about to burst with all its rain but a few rays of sunshine are still piercing through it. It renders some absolutely fantastic light and colour contrast.
As I said in an earlier post, it is also sometimes worth getting up early on holidays to avail of the light and get some great shots.

Photo taken with an SLR Canon 40D - ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500, 17-85mm lens - Roundstone, Connemara, Ireland.
This image is for sale here in my little virtual shop on Society6.

I only just realised I started this photography blog exactly one year ago. I do not know if I am supposed to call it a bloggiversary... Is that a word?
A lot has happened since this day last year. I finally settled back nicely in Dublin, worked on my photography portfolio, did a few photo shoots for small families, a theatre company and for businesses involved in the food and lifestyle industry. I also started a food blog called 'Crème de Citron' where I share recipes and my food and lifestyle photography. And I worked hard on redesigning both my professional photography website and said food blog.
I am really looking forward to what this next year will bring to me.

Photo taken with an SLR Canon 40D - ISO 400, f/4, 1/125 - 50mm lens

Do apples remind you of Autumn? Well, this is exactly what the current weather is reminding me of in Ireland.

Photo taken with a Canon 40D - f/4, ISO 200, 50mm lens.
This image is also for sale in my little print shop.