If there is one lesson I have learned in creating images is the simple act of showing up. Sometimes, showing up is easy, other times it borders on a sheer act of will against everything going against you!

I had one morning opportunity to visit the beautiful lakes region of Killarney in Ireland on my own such that I was free to go where I wanted and spend as much time as I liked. The weather had not looked good the days leading up and the forecast was not much better. Still I dragged myself out into the car in the rain, the wind and the pitch black winter’s morning and set out on the hour long drive from were we were staying.

When I arrived at the shore of Lake Killarney it was still pitch black, raining and blowing a gale and I nearly drove into the lake thinking I was crossing a ford, that’s how miserable it was. It was then I realised I was still on continental Europe time and it would be a long wait before there would any light at all.

To cut a long story short it eventually stopped raining, the wind started to ease off and then well into the morning light the clouds miraculously thinned away and then the sun rose over Lake Killarney.

I’m glad I showed up for this one.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Killarney Dawn’, 1/320s f/16 ISO160 29mm