Shadows Of A Wicklow Forest

If you're ever near Rathdrum and need to escape the noise, Ballygannon Wood is the place to go. I took this shot on a particularly crisp afternoon when the sun was low, casting that beautiful, hazy glow through the treeline.

This image was a bit of a challenge for the phone sensor because of the extreme contrast. The temptation is always to brighten everything up, but I think the moodiness comes from letting the shadows be dark. In Snapseed, I actually added a slight vignette and warmth to the 'Ambiance' tool to emphasise that golden bracken at the bottom. It turns a chaotic mess of twigs into a layered, atmospheric scene. It’s a great reminder that you don't always need a sunny blue sky for a striking landscape shot!