Cork, the coast with the most
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William Murphy: 'Sunset at Fastnet Lighthouse', Fastnet Lighthouse, Co. Cork.Image 2 of 5
Krastyu Valisev: ‘U Turn’, Cobh, Co. Cork.Image 3 of 5
Sally O'Reilly, 'Still Standing', Rostellan Woods, East Cork.Image 4 of 5
Nicolas Malterre: 'Ocean's Dance', Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.Image 5 of 5
Derek Bolton: ‘DonMcCarthy at Greenane Caves West Entrance’, Bere Island, Co. Cork.Six stunning images captured in Cork have been shortlisted in a photography competition celebrating the extraordinary beauty of Ireland’s coastline.
The six images were selected across five categories in the Love Your Coast photography competition which is run by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme.
This year marked the 15th edition of the competition which offers a €5,000 to the overall winner.
Nicolas Malterre placed third in the Wildlife and the Coast category with ‘Ocean's Dance’ with captures a dolphin leaping from the ocean off the coast of Courtmacsherry.
“On a sunny day, during a boat trip off the coast of Cork, I wanted to immortalise the moment when dolphins came to play with us and dance around the boat,” he said.
“It took several shots to get this composition of the dolphin’s leap, full of life, playfulness, and curiosity, along with the calmness and depth of the ocean. The fast shutter speed froze the droplets and movement, leaving this moment of wonder shared with the wildlife suspended in time forever,” added Mr Malterre.
Images also shortlisted from Cork were: in the Coastal Landscape Category, William Murphy’s ‘Sunset at Fastnet Lighthouse’, featuring Fastnet Lighthouse; in the Heritage on the Coast category, Krastyu Valisev’s ‘U Turn’, taken in Cobh, and Sally O'Reilly’s ‘Still Standing’ taken in Rostellan Woods; in the People and the Coast category, Christine Taylor’s ‘Dreaming of home while mending the nets’, taken in Union Hall; and in the Underwater category, Derek Bolton’s ‘Don McCarthy at Greenane Caves West Entrance’, captured at Bere Island.
William Murphy won the overall Photographer of the Year title as well as 1st place in the People and the Coast category with his photo ‘An Fear Marbh agus an Fear ag eitilt’, taken at Slea Head Drive, Dingle.
The shortlisted photographers were announced by the Clean Coasts Programme at an event in Richmond Barracks, Dublin last Friday.
The competition attracted hundreds of amateur photographers from all around Ireland this year.
An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme Manager, Bronagh Moore, said: “Seeing the beauty of our coastline captured in these photographs, you can’t help but feel inspired and driven to do everything you possibly can to protect and care for our marine environment.
“Knowing we are supporting over 2,000 volunteer groups who dedicate their time to keeping our coastline and ocean litter free is hugely rewarding for our team on the ground.
“We’d encourage everyone to take the time to really enjoy all of these wonderful photos, be inspired by their beauty, and consider volunteering with a local Clean Coast Group,” he added.