Tibradden Wood is a densely forested mountain region, on the border between Dublin and Wicklow. Myself and 
took a trip up there on Saturday, to get some fresh air, take some photos, and hug some trees..
After a chilly Spring, summer is finally upon us here in Ireland. Saturday being especially warm, myself and my good friend Erika took the opportunity to spend the day up in the mountains. Actually, she thought we were going to the beach, hence the skirt, but I convinced her otherwise. Kudos, she braved a fierce attack on her legs by nettles, briars and all the other wonderful hazards of the forest.
A gravelly path winds its way up the mountain side, past picnic tables, stacks of logs, and occasional streams. After a wet April, now the sun is shining and the forest is teaming with life. Further up, the picnic tables make way for vast forest and the path branches off into wild trails.
Dragging our camera equipment and bottles of water up the mountain gets exhausting but is worth the effort. We're both city people. The novelty of escaping to these rural places never wears off. The air is incredibly fresh up here and the views are wonderful.
Clearings in the forest provide interesting pockets of light and we found inspiration in every direction ...
Looking up ...
or down ...
Erika took a bunch of shots with her Nikon D700. I only wish I was as compelling a subject as her. Nevertheless, we got creative and experimented with some props and concepts. Speaking of which, there is a reason for the tree-hugging, and it's not (just) because we love nature and the great outdoors. All will be revealed in a later post!
Tibradden is a stones throw from the South edge of Dublin. The drive took us less than an hour from the city centre. If you ever visit Dublin, be sure to visit the mountains!