Rymus {dot} Net » Sport

Strandhill Kite Surfing

Ryan — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:36:51 +0000

What better place to be on a cold and wet St. Patricks day than at the beach. After a handy tip off from she who knows about this kind of thing and given that I was going to be in Sligo over the festive weekend anyway, we headed down to the ever wild and windy Strandhill beach in the hope of catching some great kite surfing action. Only, we didn’t.

It seemed that the poor weather kept some people away, while others just setup their kit, stood around on the beach for a bit, then gave in and went home/to the pub. For what was billed as a kite surfing meetup, I think there was a total of 4 people in the water. So hugely disappointed was I that I only took about 500 photos…

Well, 500 isn’t alot really… Given that only about 20 or so of them made it onto flickr. We eventually got bored when it seemed the dire weather wasn’t going to make a move anytime soon, so climbed we back into the car and drove we away did. Such excitement at the prospect of a huge kite surfing meetup. Ah well. At least we got a nice lunch out of it. Few more on Flickr.

Surf School

Ryan — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:45:33 +0000

Possibly one of my favorite shots. Printed and framed a load of shots recently and for some reason I keep looking at this one. For some reason I love it. Such a lucky shot. Was taken leaving Inchidoney on a bitterly cold day; just about to get into the car and spotted this over my shoulder. Delving into the bowels of flickr to get to this one, a good sign that I’ll have to post some new photos soon.

Midleton Show

Ryan — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 20:59:39 +0000

It’s all a bit horsey (and poney..ey). From a few Sunday’s ago just outside Midleton in Cork. A few of the more select shots from the day.

Jiminy Jillickers, I just realised it’s been ages since I posted much. I put that down to the fact that I’ve been out taking photos for ages and am only now getting chance to sit down and process them. Until I get chance to post more, there are alot more of this event on flickr. Enjoy!

Kite Surfing

Ryan — Mon, 08 May 2006 22:05:05 +0000

Following some good advice, I spent a good portion of last Saturday at Garrettstown beach. The start of the day seemed rather uneventful. It was bitterly cold, hugely windy and the waves were very scrappy/patchy. Not conditions similar to other more eventful trips to Garrettstown. Nevertheless, I stuck around for a few hours; until my grumbling stomach finally got the better of me and I thought I’d retreat for some munchies. How and ever, as it sometimes does, things improved infinitely. On driving past the other end of the beach, I spotted a few lads unrolling and setting up various sails. Aha. Windsurfing! Not only that, kite surfing also! Jackpot…

I’ve wanted to try my hand at kite surfing photography for months. Possibly even longer. Last Saturday could not have presented any better an opportunity to do exactly that. It was a great buzz to photograph, I can only imagine what it’s actually like to be on the board! Thanks to all the lads, kite and wind surfers, that put on such a good show and didn’t once ask why exactly it was that I was standing on the beach pointing a lens towards them. As you’d expect, there are a few more on flickr.

Bikers… in drag

Ryan — Tue, 02 May 2006 22:30:15 +0000

Just before I’m unceremoniously ejected from the bloggie fraternity for lack of posting, I thought I’d stick this one in. It’s a few of the drag racing that took place in Oldchapel, Bandon a couple of weeks back. Typically enough, I arrived well into the event and as such stood no chance whatsoever of getting a decent spot from which to take photos. Add to that the fact I didn’t really feel like being “mr. pushy photojournalist man” and asking people to move so I could steal their spot. Well, that and I didn’t want to get laid out on my back after a slap from a biker after I took his spot. So here you are, make of these what you will..

Sadly, and it was bound to happen eventually, I have discovered the limits of my 5fps 20D. The frame rate just isn’t suitable for high speed motorcycle racing. Then again, what is? I really wanted to hang around and get more panning shots, but the crowd just wouldn’t allow it. Ah well. These shots are also on flickr.

Motocross

Ryan — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:04:01 +0000

It truly frightens me that it’s been a week since I posted a set of photos here… Thank God I have Glassey Alley to keep plugging away on so I don’t feel like a total photoless loser!

Anyway, finally got back to Vernon Mount last Saturday for some more high speed motocross action. I was in luck that it was juniors day (seniors on Sunday) as personally I find the junior races a hell of a lot more fun to watch. A fellow photographer echoed my own opinion that the young fella’s have no fear so they throw themselves around the course like motocross is going out of business. Makes for some big spills; but great thrills. Got some good ones, here are a few.

As you’ll no doubt spot, the few hours I spent up in Vernon Mount gave me ample opportunity to practice my panning technique. It’s coming along nicely, even without a hugely expensive image stabilised lens! There are a few more of this type of thing on flickr.