THE SOUTH KERRY CAMERA CLUBS VISIT TO THE SKELLIGS

The South Kerry Camera Club visited the Skelligs on Wednesday 13th July 2011, and was rewarded with the best weather, and the calmest waters seen by the boatmen for many years. This was a trip I had always wanted to make after seeing the audio visual show at the Skellig Centre, but being afraid of heights, I always wondered if I would be brave enough to make the climb, that has 600 steps to reach the Monastery and beehive houses at the summit, with very poor steps, and no handrails throughout the climb. For those that have not visited the Skelligs, I can say that it should rate as one of the wonders of the world, and is a not to be missed place. The club members were extra fortunate to have a club member with us that looks after the lighthouse on the Skellig, and as a bonus, he organised and gave a conducted and informative tour of the existing lighthouse, as well as the opportunity to visit the old lighthouse, several hundred feet above the current one. We were also fortunate that at this time of the year, the Skelligs is inhabited by Puffins, who are very tame, which allowed us to photograph them at close quarters. During the trip I personally took 475 photos, of course they were not all good, but the following 272, are the best of the bunch. When running these photos through Photoshop, I was almost reduced to tears by the sheer beauty of this very special place, and I hope that my photos will reflect this beauty. For those that have not visited the Skelligs, I hope my photos will inspire you to make the trip! I know I speak for all club members when I  say a big thank you to Michael Herrmann, for organising the trip, and for his technical input, and Richard Foran for his guided visit of the lighthouses, his knowledge on the Skelligs and the lights is vast.

Club members on the boat ready to go

No you can't take animals, this is the skippers dog.

The roughest water was the whale tail created by the boat.

The Skelligs in sight, it's about an hours boat ride out.

A passing Sun fish seen on route

Skellig Michael on the right, Little Skellig left.

Little Skellig , white with birds

The flat calm of the waters can easily be seen here, the skipper said he
can't remember it ever being so calm, it helps us photographers to start
the trip the trip in a relaxed mood.

The girls chinwagging, as always exchanging gossip....Lol

The Famous Skellig Michael, scares me, and excites me just looking at it.

The winding steps just visible on the green section of 
the photo,  now I'm really scared.

The closer you get the steeper the climb looks.

Nearly ready to land

Little Skellig, (background), from the landing pier on Skellig Michael.

The landing pier.

Boats leaving, no going back now!!

The walkway to the start point of the climb, this is the only part that
 has a wall, as can be seen work is being done to maintain it.

This is easy walking, but I guess it will shortly change!

The first Puffins of the day.

These Puffins are so tame, you can get within a few feet of
them to take photos.

On the left is Michael Herrmann, our professional photographer who
organised the trip. Michael is extremely fit, and was always waiting for us.

Cliff face heavy with nesting gulls.

UUmm don't look down dummy, you know you hate heights!!!

The cliff faces are covered in nesting sea birds.

Last look at the easy walking path, now its steeply upwards, heart rate
now racing, as a diabetic its time for some glucose tablets!! need the sugar for the climb!

The Puffings beside the steps on the climb, help to concentrate
the mind away from the height

I have this thing with my photography, its to keep looking over my shoulder,
as a good photo can usually be seen from a different perspective, Oooppss
your looking down again dummy, perhaps I shouldn't look back on the Skelligs.

The Puffins live in small burrows, and pop out through the
lush covering to say hello! as you pass.

The steps at the lower right, is the starting point for the climb, 
see what I mean by looking back, its worth a photo, but my 
heart is racing again! no hand rails up here!!!

The steps are made from stacked, flat sided rocks,
but are very uneven, it is easy to trip, so extreme
care is necessary when climbing.

Back to the birds to slow the heart rate again, and a few swigs of
water to quell the sweating..Lol

Almost the final staircase to the monastery. 

The steps are at their steepest near the top of the
climb, heart racing again, but saying to myself
don't be a wuss, keep going!!!

Never been this high before without being in an airplane!!  Now I
want my mum!!

At last some flat ground, and my first feeling of safety as we
 approach the monastery. 

This view is well worth the climb, a view of little Skellig from above.

In amoungst the Beehive dwellings built by the Monks.

What a view of little Skellig from the monastery.

The Monks graveyard.

A typical Beehive dwelling, with its unique shape
has stood the test of time.

Small boats approaching the Skelligs with
 tourists aboard.

Hi Trish!! where have you been???
Michael is back at the bottom already...Lol

Time to make the trip back down, and photograph
some more Puffins.

The most frightening part of the decent for me near the top, as can be
 seen, a fall here would be fatal, my heart rate was very high here!

Down at last and heading for the lighthouse.
Visitors don't get this opportunity, but Richard
one of our club members looks after the light,
so we got extras!

More Puffins on the way.

The lighthouse battery banks.

Two diesel powered backup generators.

View from tower window.

Lower light area, with the ladder to the light.

A view from under the lamp assembly showing the reflector mirrors.

Richard Foran, a keen club member, and our
 host for the lighthouse tour.

The light assembly is constantly turning even when unlit, if it
stopped on a sunny day it would burn the lighthouse down, like 
holding a magnifying glass over paper in the sun, remember
those kids tricks we used to do???

Details of the lighthouse history.

Basking seals on the rocks below the lighthouse.

Richard often spends several days here when doing maintenance.

On the walk up to the old lighthouse,  a
look back over the shoulder at the current lighthouse.

The grassy climb to the old lighthouse, now dilapidated.

I keep looking over my shoulder for new views of the 
current Lighthouse, looking back, is a useful habit to get into 
when out with your camera!

Still looking over my shoulder, often the best
photos are taken this way.

In the centre of the rock face can be seen the
remains of the borehole where the dynamite was.
placed to blast the rock away

Richard telling the history to some members during the climb,
his knowledge is amazing!

The old concrete whistle pipe, once used to send a warning signal
from the old lighthouse to people below.

Trish negotiating the final part of the climb to
the old lighthouse. 

Almost there! the current lighthouse is now way below.

The remains of the old lighthouse.

Old ruins of lighthouse accommodation.

Getting used to the heights now, must take up climbing...Joke!!!!!

Precariously perched on a ledge where rock
was blasted away to accommodate the light.

UUmmm don't turn over in bed, the sea is a long way down.

Inside the ruins of the old light

Remains of the stairway to the old light.

Up by the old light, and feeling very close to heaven!

So high, can nearly see the curvature of the Earth, or is it just
my wonky horizon..lol

Beautiful construction, shows the care taken so many years ago.

What happened to my bedroom wall!!! its a
 sheer drop to the sea. 

Wow!!!! the new lighthouse is  long way down.

Photo opportunities on the Skelligs are so
numerous, you end up smoking the tyres
on your camera..Lol

Time to go back down, the winding path
 back to the lower light.

This growth on the rock face, looked light some
long necked gargoyle watching us!! 

The following sequence of photos are mainly birds
taken during the decent back to the new light.

Getting sharp photos of birds in flight is the hardest photo technique
to learn, and as can be seen from mine I still have a long way to go!
but practice, practice, practice.

After eating our lunches at the current lighthouse, the
faithful Puffins were waiting on the wall outside.

Back to the pier, and waiting for our boat. An emotional moment
to leave the Skelligs.

With a tear in our eyes, and a lump in our throats, its Good bye Skelligs!!!
I defy anybody not to be a little teary after such an experience.

On our way home the skipper takes the boat in close to Little
Skellig so we can photograph the Gannets nesting here, Richard told
us that there is about 22,000 pairs on the island, he should know,
he counted them all....Lo

A rockfall on little Skellig occurred last year after a storm.

Final views of Skellig Michael through the gaps in Little Skellig,
 it almost looks like a mini Skellig Michael formed within little Skellig.

My last photo, my 16gig card is now full, so home with memories
of a fantastic trip, shared with good fiends, on the most beautiful day of the year.

Thanks Michael & Richard, and most of all thanks to the Skelligs for being there!

Photos taken with Pentax K10d 18-55mm & 28-200mm lenses