Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Dark_Hedges

Another look at the ‘Dark Hedges’ of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. After being reminded of this scene by photos in that esteemed publication ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ my comparison photos taken last June (22) still seemed to lack something that made it extra special. Of course my limited two visits during specific times and one of those with lots of tourist dictated my output. I guess the thing that was missing in mine was the lack of trees that used to be there but have been blown over by severe storms during the last few years leaving big gaps in places akin to missing teeth. Here is my attempt at showing the density and encapsulating feeing of this lane by using a long lens, and monotones. Ideally I would have liked the road to be more centralised but… we have what we have :) See Pips. Nice full screen Have a great day.

Way back in August I posted a photo of the Dark Hedges on here (See Pip), and promised another look at some time. Well the photo I posted then was taken in the morning and I got another chance to see it just as the sun was setting. Here is the result of that trip and the main point is the absence of any people at this late hour. (all the busses long gone!). A different format too and so I hope you enjoy this rendition as much as the first. (Take a trip to that photo for a fuller account of this famous lane.) Enjoy this Christmas Monday (Boxing Day)

Well we are now in our second location of this Ireland trip. Our first day takes us just a few short miles inland to this iconic location. I have always been a lover of such trees and had some luck once before with some similar in England but this wonderful avenue had a very special feeling to it. I did expect there to be some tourist but was astounded by the amount that we encountered just minutes after taking this, many coming by bus from as far away as Dublin on Cruise Ship tours. Fortunately an early start made us miss most of the hordes and another trip later in the early evening gave me another view. This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. In fact, the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO's epic series Game of Thrones, representing the Kingsroad. Featured Scenes: Season 2, Episode 1: The North Remembers - On the King's Road, Arya Stark has escaped from King’s Landing, disguised as a boy. She is with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and others who are to join the Night’s Watch, in a cart, travelling north on the Kingsroad. discovernorthernireland.com Essential full screen. See PiP for another view without people. The second pip shows my 2014 Cathedral of Trees in Devon. Enjoy the weekend.

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