In the last number of years there hasn’t been a month when I haven’t climbed one of Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains. 2020 is already a historic year for everyone, the threat of Covid19 and the pandemic induced lockdown have changed the lives of everyone worldwide.
Obeying the rules on lockdown meant it wasn’t possible to get out beyond our local area, this most certainly not a complaint. Obeying the rules of lockdown respected those trying to look after us and certainly ultimately saved lives. What we can cautiously celebrate is the start of the easing of restrictions. After twelve weeks I was finally able to return to the Mourne Mountains.
An evening walk before sundown meant just enough time to climb Slieve Doan in the central Mournes. At 562m it’s a great walk with some semi-challenging sections and the views from the top are always rewarding.
Everything felt new, I probably should have packed a camera I was used to but the arrival of the new Fujifilm X100V this week meant it was a focal part of the trip. At 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent) it is maybe a little tight for mountain vistas but I was undeterred.
To capture the vistas I used the trusty sweep panorama mode that is featured on all the Fujifilm X100 cameras. I have always loved this option on most of the X cameras, literally sweep the vista and the camera will stitch a full jpg image.
It was a bit of a struggle getting used to the X100V and taking landscape photos after so many months. I had adjusted the colour and dynamic range in camera and hadn’t set up my usual film simulation settings but I have no doubt I will get to know the camera quickly.
I am still getting used to the X100V so I won’t comment on performance, handling, detail etc until I have used it a little more. My first impressions is that the new lens is sharp, even shooting at a shallow depth of field (f/2), just one feature that excites me about my favourite Fujifilm camera since my X100 way back in 2011.
Slieve Doan : The Mournes
The evening Mourne sunset was spectacular, the sea and sky were particularly vivid and it was just great to sit at the top of Doan and look out toward the Irish Sea and Kilkeel. It is great to be back.
Relive : Post Lockdown Doan
Links
100 Photographs taken with the Fujifilm X100 Camera
Doan Mountain
Photographs of The Mournes
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