Winter Silhouettes

Winter light hits differently. Because the sun stays so low in the Irish sky, you get this permanent "golden hour" effect that lasts seemingly all day. At Johnstown Castle, I saw these fallen branches in the lake and decided to shoot directly towards the light rather than away from it. This backlighting technique highlights the intricate chaotic web of the bare branches and creates a rim-light effect on the mossy trunk. It turns the water into a dark mirror, doubling the complexity of the scene. If you try this, just tap on the darkest part of your screen to tell your camera to expose for the shadows—you might lose a bit of sky, but the mood you gain is worth it.