Author: MichaelStephenWills

My photographic style centers on the use of natural light to visualize emotion and evoke memory. The evolution of my style began early in the year 2002, with an imperative to capture personal and fleeting memories. My son and I traveled to New York City, to view the first Saint Patrick's Day parade after September 11, 2001. My work from that parade was so successful and satisfying (see "New York Fire Department, Saint Patrick's Day 2002") I just never stopped.

On the Ridge 1

Rock, Grass, Sky

February 12, 2021February 9, 2021 MichaelStephenWills

Healy Pass, R574, negotiating the ridge above the Adrigole River valley. At F5 the depth of field was not enough for sharp focus of the nearest rock. One of a series of five photographs.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Peaceful Retreat 3

Masters of the Domain

February 11, 2021February 6, 2021 MichaelStephenWills4 Comments

The third of three views of a pastured ridge on Healy Pass featuring graving sheep.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Peaceful Retreat 2

Peace and Light

February 10, 2021February 6, 2021 MichaelStephenWills6 Comments

The second of three views of a pastured ridge on Healy Pass featuring graving sheep.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Peaceful Retreat 1

Slow reveal

February 9, 2021August 26, 2022 MichaelStephenWills

The first of three views of a pastured ridge on Healy Pass featuring grazing sheep.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

American Irish Historical Society

February 8, 2021February 5, 2021 MichaelStephenWills

Here is the press release text: “The American Irish Historical Society is placing its present headquarters at 991 Fifth Avenue on the market. The building, which has been the society’s headquarters since 1940, was designed by James R. Turner and William G. Killian in 1901 as a private residence and has had three previous owners. Before moving to 991 Fifth Avenue, the Society was based first at the old Manhattan Hotel, then the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and then at 132 East 16th Street.

“The AIHS is a cultural and scholarly organization devoted to making better known the history of the Irish in the United States as well as celebrating the riches of Irish culture globally. The decision to place the building on the market has been made in order to best enable the society to pursue its cultural and scholarly mission in a sustainable manner. The society has selected the firm of Brown Harris Stevens (broker, Paula Del Nunzio) to represent the sale of the property.”

My son and I attended the 2002 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, taking a station outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here are some shots of 991 Fifth Avenue. The building is 25 feet wide with an elegant facade and interior. The VIPs on the balcony made a huge contribution for the honor according to the Society’s web page. There is a virtual tour of the interior as well.

Positional Negotiation

Hairpin turn coming up

February 7, 2021February 4, 2021 MichaelStephenWills

Healy Pass, R574, negotiating the ridge above the Adrigole River valley. The photographer’s vehicle and Pam are visible in a turnoff. Her red raincoat stands out among the green.

We took this dangerous road slow, the tight corner up ahead is suggested by the roadway, just visible on the ridge ahead. Here I climbed the rocks with a tripod mounted dslr for this an other photographs shared here.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Glacially Scoured

The Land Remembers

February 6, 2021August 18, 2022 MichaelStephenWills5 Comments

Negotiating the ridge above the Adrigole River valley with a distant glacial scoured peak of the Caha Mountains.

Clashduff townland, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Ridge View

Cropped close by hungry sheep

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 MichaelStephenWills3 Comments

Looking down Healy Pass toward Adrigole. Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Post script: digging out of the February 2/3 snow storm that hit upstate New York, a bit of the wild brushed by me as I finished up the drive way at twilight. A scraggly fox, travelling along the ploughed road, passed not 10 feet away making steady progress. I said, in a quiet voice,” its all right,” and it (he/she?) walked a bit faster. I watched as it stopped briefly to sniff a snow clump and continued.

Pasture Ridge

Far and Near

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 MichaelStephenWills2 Comments

A wonder of capturing a voyage through photography is the ability to look back and better understand what was experienced. On January 20th I published the following photograph from Healy Pass. The dramatic elements, the waterfall and distant glacially striated mountain, draw away from the distant ridge on the right.

The ridge marks the col used by the pass road: starting from the right follow the ridge down to the col.