Hallo to wild and snowy West Cork

More and many changes since the last blog. I've now moved to blissful Courtmacsherry, where in order to take great shots I only have to hang out my balcony window to capture almost all of Courtmacsherry Bay. Now if only it were that easy!!
Despite being told by all and sundry that I would be "out in the sticks" in the Winter, nothing could be further from the truth. OK, so we have been snowed in for the last 10 days, but the postman has delivered every day. I've being going to the pub daily after a brisk slippery winter's walk(for coffee and company of course!) and have been invited to join:
a) the local book club
b) the local boat club
c) catch the Winter solistice
d) celebrate New Year's Eve and
e) go to a F.T.R ...(yes, a "F....the recession" party on Budget night!)

Not a lot happening in Courtmac in the Winter so!!!

Am still getting the hang of my new Canon 7D camera which was made possible by the wonderful generosity of my family on my recent birthday, for which I am profoundly grateful as my photos have taken a big jump up.

I'm now exhibiting regularly in the Temperance Hall Kinsale as part of the "10 Artists monthly exhibition" and my work is also on display in Costelloe's Malt House Restaurant in Clonakilty and also in the Tourist Office across the road.

Sailing wise, I competed in the EAORA Race week in Holland where our boat came 1st in it's class and 2nd overall. And best of all was competing in Cork week, in a class one boat no less "Interceptor". A hairy and exhausting week all round, but massive feeling of achievement at the end of it all.

Saidd lots of goodbyes, almost too many this year, to really good friends like Mathieu and Amelie. Dylan and Donna are en route back to Zimbabwe and Mozambique as we speak, with their sons Nathan and Joshua. Ah well, think of all the photo visits I can plan....
And in Courtmac, there's no shortage of boats for next season. Or even this Winter.......
Till soon. Website being worked on....promise....Go check out www.marloguephotography.com

A presto Martha x

Goodbye to "Ruth" - Hallo competitive sailing and photography

Well,I outgrew "Ruth" much more quickly than expected. Last Saturday saw myself, Amelia and Mathieu clean her, take her out of the water, strap her onto the trailer and wave her a very quick goodbye. The suddenness of her departure was due totally to the imminent arrival of the Clipper RTW boat "Cork" 48 hours ahead of schedule, and the potential crowds of thousands who were now anticipated to descend on Kinsale four days early!

It was a huge wrench to let go of her, but a very necessary one, as I've started competitive racing and the time simply wasn't there to do both types of sailing....

In the meantime, the photography is still in the research stage, the East Cork Camera Club are hugely supportive, and all the members are still holding their patience with my eternal questions regarding lens types....

Will be competing in Cork week, can't wait.... Will post more photos in the next week or so, after Cork week probably, they'll probably be someone else's photos though, as the one thing you can't really do while competitive racing is that and taking photos at the same time!
A presto Martha x

"Ruth" continues to hit the Winter Seas

Well, spent yesterday evening with Amelie and Mathieu in their lovely house in Kinsale. We had a fabulous meal, smoked salmon, crab, prawns, two desserts. I could so get used to this... Mathieu is kindly helping me get more comfortable with my camera, as well as Photoshop. And this is on top of our sailing lessons, with rope knots for additional homework....!

The three of us went out sailing today,(we were minus John who was much missed). Mathieu and Amelie raised the boom yesterday so we thoroughly enjoyed the novelty of being able to properly see each other for the first time! Clear blue skies, good wind, seas calm enough. All went well until,..... as we reached the harbour mouth ...suddenly... the waves swelled and we heard a loud crack. Took a while to figure what it was - a broken stay. So we headed back, after a break for coffee and Far Breton. It was decided that the sails need to be brought to Des McWilliams to have batons put in, and the stitching checked. Back in the harbour, we took all the stays off and Mathieu has the fun job of seeing what sort of a price Union Chandlery can give us to replace all four at the same time, as they are all quite badly twisted...and it's an unexpected expense...

The photography is going well, took loads more great shots during the week. May not have a studio to work from just yet, but so what? Lots of great advice and support from other professional photographers - won't name them without their permission.

Off now to study Photoshop. Might even get some rope knots homework in before I hit the sack!

By the way, comments and feedback greatly appreciated.I'm also now on Facebook, if you type in Martha Clarke Marlogue the right Martha will come up.

Check out photo of "Stavros" at the bottom of my blog - ahem! - this great photo is supposed to be beside today's entry...ah well...getting there... this time last year I turned up for my digital photography class and spent an hour in a web design class before realising my mistake. Now I'm a photographer!
Ciao a tutti Martha x

Snowstorm - what snowstorm?

Well, I think we're all glad to see the end of last year - what a year! Though I have to say it was an amazing one for me.
I've been using this supposedly appalling weather to get out and about and take some great shots of East Cork in the beautiful January light - when I figure out how, I'll be posting some on this blog. I've also been busy working out how to do all the things I should well by now know how to do - such as upload photos from camera to laptop, edit same photos on laptop, file and sort photos and delete the dud ones. This self-learning has become quite addictive, and I'm loving it.
I never used to jump out of bed to peel garlic for my food business the way I now jump out of bed to take photos!
And I have a local premises to work and exhibit from, will keep you posted.
And my first exhibition is in the lovely new "Waves" Cafe, Wine Bar and Gallery in Ballycotton. It's on in February, for the whole month, so do come along and see my photos for yourself.
That's all for now. I'm off to figure out how to upload photos here.
We're hoping to go sailing this weekend - temperatures, snow, ice, thunder and lightning notwithstanding..!
Till next time.....X