I learned to read very early: the magic of putting the letters together opened the whole world to me. One of my first books was a photo anthology of European capitals. Very little text and a lot of pictures, but when you are four even very little text is too much, and architecture is not your idea of fun. The only worthy images in the book were those of Zoo animals.
I memorized their names. I hadn’t been taken to the Zoo yet, but living in the farm with my Grandparents, surrounded by forests and bogs and all sort of wildlife I appreciated the variety of species… I don’t remember seeing much of exotic animals on TV until the mid of the 60s, except some cartoons, so the photographs in that book were my only source of knowledge. The most beautiful of all the animals in the book was a peacock. In my imagination I pictured him walking in our back yard where my Granddad’s blue, green and brown beehives were sitting in the lush grass. My imagination painted the bird in pink, purple and gold: the pictures in that old book were black & white…
I want to share a few images from my recent visit of Johnstown Castle and Park, Co Wexford. If you want to go there some day, here you can find useful information about the tickets and directions.
As you can see, the weather was gradually getting better. Cranky grey morning turned into the perfect sunny afternoon. Photographers are wandering around the castle looking for a good composition.
Since the days I was four I learned to love architecture, but still I visit Johnstown castle mostly because of the peacocks.
Their beautiful plumage hasn’t fully grown yet at this time of the year, so I didn’t take any breathtaking images of a peacock in his full glory. I was simply happy to be close and watch them.
A bold one came to me to check out if I had any snacks.
After getting some pieces of French toast he settled in front of me.
I don’t remember when I found out that peacocks are not pink and purple, but I was right about the gold.
There are two images of the trees taken into the sun. I loved trees before I learned to read.
After that I went to the lake and took all the pictures I posted in REFLECTIONS. This is how the castle looks from the lake.
Thank you for visiting Johnstown Castle with me! Do you remember what animal or bird impressed your young mind? 🙂
Photography tip of the day: Horizontal means horizontal. Keep your camera straight. Of course you can straighten your images with the editing software, but sometimes it means losing the details that are important for your composition.
Have a great week!
Making memories 
The peacocks are so beautiful. I love the close up you took of the feathers. I made it bigger on my cell phone to see the colors. So pretty.
Annie ❤
Thank you Annie! They are so curious and fun to watch.
Hope you are having a great weekend!
Hugs! Inese
Wonderful peacocks,
Strutting proudly in the sun,
Color for the eyes.
Thank you! The plumage is still growing, but beautiful anyway.
These pictures are wonderful. I remember having a peacock sounding out and I thought it was a baby crying. Love the castle too.
Thank you! They do have funny voices 🙂
Beautiful images; the peacocks are a treasure.
Thank you for commenting! I love them too 🙂
Thanks for your visits.You have a wonderful blog.
Ireland is a beautiful country that I hope to know one day.
Cordial greetings.
Thank you Antonio!
Have a wonderful week!
Very regal 🙂
Just beautiful!! Both the peacocks and the castle would absolutely make my day if I was there. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for stopping by! I hope to go there again, for the foliage photography:)
They are magnificent- those peacocks! I can picture little Inese on her grandfathers farm, dreaming of the brilliant birds. What a wonderful story ❤️
Thank you Alisa! I used to dream a lot at that age. Just a couple of months later I read Johnny Weissmuller’s story and dreamed about saving his life. That dream was a complete fiasco – I never learned to swim. 😉
Wow, what an imagination! Haha
Love those close ups Inese, so iridescent and colourful. I think the animals that most inspired me as a child were horses – I read all sorts of horsey things, including books about looking after horses, though there was never any chance I’d be able to afford a horse of my own 🙂
Thank you for reading, Andrea! Horses are very special, and once you get to know them you get to love them forever 🙂 You probably learned to ride too 🙂
I didn’t Inese, horse-riding lessons were too expensive then – though I did get the chance to try out riding a pony a couple of times 🙂
You are right, it is a very expensive hobby… I used to go to the hippodrome and help them exercise the horses, for free! Happy days! 🙂
Me too, I loved your background story of these beautiful photos. It must have been a special time, to experience it in person. Maybe someday, I will have a chance to visit here too 🙂 Wish you a great day, and great weekend!
Warm wishes,
Takami 🙂
Thank you Takami, I wish you many wonderful jorneys 🙂
Have a great weekend you too!
Inese
Dear Inese, Those peacocks are “royal”…
I wonder if they live in the castles!? 🙂 …
Seriously my friend you are an amazing lady.
Stunning gallery ❤
Best wishes and hugs to you, Aquileana 😀
Thank you my friend 🙂 You are too kind.
Have a great upcoming weekend!
This was interesting, I didn´t know you had a book out and you said this was your hobby? I knew you where a liar.
The castles they just come out from some kind of magical dream it seems and the peacocks…those are some bright bright beautiful colours. Maybe even made you squint when you took those pictures. What I want to know is if that first picture of the peacock seems she or he is trying to say something, what would he or she be saying…
Another thing, how in the world do you take the pictures of these animals that by nature animals move, how in the world do you always manage to take a picture of them while they are static. How long do you wait for the right shot, you must have quite some patience. Either that or you shoot an anesthetic dart into them.
Thank you for stopping by! I guess you have many old castles in Spain. We have them mostly in ruins, but this one is in a good form. I agree that the peacocks walking around the castle look like a dream 🙂
I set up my camera for freezing the movement. Fast shutter speed. You are right, the birds don’t know how to stay still unless they sleep. Also I talk to them, and they listen and don’t move too much 🙂
The peacock was asking for another french toast, that’s it 🙂
I knew you where bribing that bird….beautiful pictures as always.
Ah, that’s life. No bribe no enthusiasm 😉
Such beautiful photos of both the castle and the peacocks! I would love to visit that castle! And I love the colors of the peacock. They’re just strikingly beautiful! 🙂
Thank you for reading! Glad I gave you an idea about visiting :).
I have to read about the peacocks, when exactly they are at their best.
Something about the peacock is so shockingly beautiful and sensual, and some of these photos bring out their colors so vividly and in detail. Lovely! thank you for sharing them 🙂
Thank you for reading! I would love to see them in full plumage. It will grow by November I guess.
oh, nice… love to see those when you take them someday 🙂
Hopefully I make it there 🙂
Impressive photos! I love peacocks and I know it’s not easy to take their photos :D..You captured the details very well!
Thank you Indah! You are right they don’t stay still:)
😀 had experience waiting for a peacock to trust me to take her picture..oh my, the waiting..and my photos were still not good. Yours are truly excellent!
Oh you too kind. I was talking with them to gain attention. And It is only 1% of all the shots I made:)
This looks well worth a visit if I ever get back to Ireland! Thanks for sharing it!
Glad to give you some good ideas 🙂 There are more places worth to see in this area. Like JFK homestead and
arboretum.