You went to Dublin for one day of photographing?
Well, YEAH!
And l♥ved every minute of it
Sometimes you need to drag yourself out of your comfort zone, into a new zone to gain some much needed fresh air and inspiration. And that is exactly what I did last week.
I've done one hell of a job saving on my gas-bill and decided to spent some of the money on a mini-trip to Ireland. On an impulse I booked my flights and hostel, which meant I really had to go (thankfully!).
2016 had been a busy year for me. I've done several weddings, portrait shoots and some corporate shoots. And when you're busy with photographing for others, there's little to no time to experiment with personal stuff. Because let's be honest here, the fine art images are incredibly satisfying to shoot, but sadly don't pay the bills (yet!).
That's why I decided to join some of my friends (Brooke Shaden and the awesome Fromagi's whom I met almost three years ago now) in a self-portrait a day challenge for the month of December. In case you're interested, those can all be found HERE.
That was the start of regaining my love for photography, art and creating again.
To continue that 'buzz' I really wanted to 'get out' and explore more. And that's when I decided that a mini-trip somewhere would be the perfect way to do so.
I only had the funds to go for a short amount of time and that meant I had to travel somewhere close. That's when I thought of Howth.
Howth is a small fishermans town just outside of Dublin. The town is surrounded by incredible nature and is a paradise for the landscape photographer.
I know Howth, because I lived and studied in Dublin seven years ago and went there a couple of times. To breathe in the salty air that reminded me of home, to go for a long walk on the cliffs and to spot the ugly seals in the harbor.
I've done one hell of a job saving on my gas-bill and decided to spent some of the money on a mini-trip to Ireland. On an impulse I booked my flights and hostel, which meant I really had to go (thankfully!).
2016 had been a busy year for me. I've done several weddings, portrait shoots and some corporate shoots. And when you're busy with photographing for others, there's little to no time to experiment with personal stuff. Because let's be honest here, the fine art images are incredibly satisfying to shoot, but sadly don't pay the bills (yet!).
That's why I decided to join some of my friends (Brooke Shaden and the awesome Fromagi's whom I met almost three years ago now) in a self-portrait a day challenge for the month of December. In case you're interested, those can all be found HERE.
That was the start of regaining my love for photography, art and creating again.
To continue that 'buzz' I really wanted to 'get out' and explore more. And that's when I decided that a mini-trip somewhere would be the perfect way to do so.
I only had the funds to go for a short amount of time and that meant I had to travel somewhere close. That's when I thought of Howth.
Howth is a small fishermans town just outside of Dublin. The town is surrounded by incredible nature and is a paradise for the landscape photographer.
I know Howth, because I lived and studied in Dublin seven years ago and went there a couple of times. To breathe in the salty air that reminded me of home, to go for a long walk on the cliffs and to spot the ugly seals in the harbor.
Dublin is only a 1,5 hour flight from Eindhoven and that is just perfect if you want to go for a small trip, like I did.
I stayed in the Abigail's Hostel, which is located by the Liffey, just outside of the main street O'Connell. So it's nice and centered.
Tip from me. Take the Dublin Bus (the yellow and blue one) 16 into the city centre. It'll save you a few euros, you get a prettier view of the city and it takes you straight into the heart of the city. Once you get to the city, you can (almost) travel to every sight by foot. That way, you really get a feel for the city as well. And you're out and about burning calories (in the sun, if you're extremely lucky like I was).
If you want to see a few of the sights that I walked to, you can view my VLOG about my trip right here!
I stayed in the Abigail's Hostel, which is located by the Liffey, just outside of the main street O'Connell. So it's nice and centered.
Tip from me. Take the Dublin Bus (the yellow and blue one) 16 into the city centre. It'll save you a few euros, you get a prettier view of the city and it takes you straight into the heart of the city. Once you get to the city, you can (almost) travel to every sight by foot. That way, you really get a feel for the city as well. And you're out and about burning calories (in the sun, if you're extremely lucky like I was).
If you want to see a few of the sights that I walked to, you can view my VLOG about my trip right here!
So what did you do there?
My flight arrived at about 11 in the morning and so I had half a day of sightseeing, walking around and getting familiar with the city again. Funny thing is, that it's been several years since I'd been in the city, but it instantly felt like 'my city' again. I knew my way around, understood the accent, the only thing I had trouble with, was the direction of looking when you're crossing the road. (It's a good thing I wasn't driving in the city, that's for sure)
That evening was the first evening that I took myself out to dinner. Of course I've had meals by myself before, but those were mostly quick meals, like a sandwich somewhere, a burger, you know the drill.
This time I was REALLY in the mood for some sushi. And you just don't get those from a grocery store to eat alone in the hostel now do you? That afternoon I passed this supercute little Japanese Sushi restaurant and so I thought, why not? I'll treat myself to a nice dinner.
At first you feel a little uncomfortable sitting by yourself. It feels like everybody's watching you, sit there, by yourself, being pathetic. When in fact it's more you, projecting those feelings onto the people surrounding you. Nobody truly cares that you're sitting there alone.
To keep myself busy during dinner, I bought a magazine. Because I didn't want to spent the entire dinner on my phone and I really wanted to experience eating by myself.
I'm reading an article about the lifestory of Sinéad O'Connor (fun to know that I have a tattoo of her song 'Nothing compares to you' on my left forearm). When suddenly I hear the song 'the Rose' in the restaurant, a song that always makes me cry, and for a moment it seems like I'll break down in tears in the middle of the restaurant, but I'm just touched. Not sad.
I am who I am, and currently I am someone who's having dinner by herself. Enjoying her sushi in a pretty city. Life ain't that bad after all.
This time I was REALLY in the mood for some sushi. And you just don't get those from a grocery store to eat alone in the hostel now do you? That afternoon I passed this supercute little Japanese Sushi restaurant and so I thought, why not? I'll treat myself to a nice dinner.
At first you feel a little uncomfortable sitting by yourself. It feels like everybody's watching you, sit there, by yourself, being pathetic. When in fact it's more you, projecting those feelings onto the people surrounding you. Nobody truly cares that you're sitting there alone.
To keep myself busy during dinner, I bought a magazine. Because I didn't want to spent the entire dinner on my phone and I really wanted to experience eating by myself.
I'm reading an article about the lifestory of Sinéad O'Connor (fun to know that I have a tattoo of her song 'Nothing compares to you' on my left forearm). When suddenly I hear the song 'the Rose' in the restaurant, a song that always makes me cry, and for a moment it seems like I'll break down in tears in the middle of the restaurant, but I'm just touched. Not sad.
I am who I am, and currently I am someone who's having dinner by herself. Enjoying her sushi in a pretty city. Life ain't that bad after all.
Howth
| The next day I was supposed to meet my friend Aislinn. As stated before I lived in Dublin seven years ago. I was there on for my 'minor' as we call it here in the Netherlands. I studied Visual Communication and Documentary photography at D.I.T. There I met Aislinn! We were in the same photography class. Unfortunately, she became sick exactly the day that I arrived and so our plan of venturing off to Howth together was no longer an option. And so I got up early to go there by myself. ------------------------> Are two images of a small group of our photography class. This image was taken 6 years ago when I visited Dublin again. Wow have I changed! |  |
Howth is a small fisherman's town that reminds me of home.
I've visited the site a couple of times when I lived in Dublin and just knew that I wanted to go there to create some new images.
No pressure. No minimum amount of images I wanted to create. Just a day of getting out there. Falling in love with being outdoors and photographing again. That was, what this trip was all about for me.
I am so good at setting standards way too high for myself, so I sometimes need to take a step back and just go out and shoot for fun again.
I've visited the site a couple of times when I lived in Dublin and just knew that I wanted to go there to create some new images.
No pressure. No minimum amount of images I wanted to create. Just a day of getting out there. Falling in love with being outdoors and photographing again. That was, what this trip was all about for me.
I am so good at setting standards way too high for myself, so I sometimes need to take a step back and just go out and shoot for fun again.
The image below is the first edit from my selfportraits that I took over there. I'm currently working on a few other images. I hope to release those soon ♥
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