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 
I love the defiance of genetics that a peacock represents. These are beautiful. Were the birds friendly?
Thank you! 🙂 Some birds were friendly and expected treats. Some just walked away without showing any interest. They live in the castle grounds for generations.
Have you seen the recent pictures floating around of peacocks flying? It was a great shot and I love the ones you have shared. Looks like you had a great trip.
Thank you, I did have a great trip 🙂
No I haven’t seen the images, but I will check out. I have never had the peacocks of Johnstown do something amazing:)
I love the stories behind your beautiful photographs! Thank you so much.
Thank you for your kind comment! Glad you read and find it amusing 🙂
I loved trees before I could read too! The animal that impressed me when I was a child was the cow. I couldn’t believe my eyes!!!
Thank you so much for your comment, Montserrat! The cows look very impressive for a little child, aren’t they. Their size, eyelashes, voice and everything. That was probably before you visited any Zoo:), the first huge and friendly animal in your life 🙂 My Grandma had two cows, and all the milking and the processing of the milk was fascinating for me too. I still remember the awe:)
Your pictures are just beautiful! Love your way of speaking about your childhood, and the links to your photographer eye of today.
Thank you for your kind comment. I started to realise lately that the childhood memories are more important than I thought 🙂
Fascinating and beautiful birds! The plumes on top the head are so unusual. I remember admiring Canadian geese while in flight, growing up on a lake in Michigan. The are like miniature airliners!
Thank you for your kind comment! Isn’t it amazing that a little boy’s mind makes the geese look like airliners, and it is what they still look like to the grown up you. 🙂
Beautiful peacocks and beautiful photos. It is a pleasure to visit here. 🙂
Thank you so much, Imelda! I know that the peacocks are considered a silly bird and everything, but I love them 🙂
Looks like it turned out to be a lovely day with lovely photos! Wonderful! Thanks for your photo tips! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by! The summer was very kind to us 🙂
Always a joy to view your pics, Inese. 🙂 Castles are so romantic.
My grandma loved Cardinals, and they are still dear to me.
Thank you for stopping by!
Isn’t it amazing how a little thing from your past clings to your memory and becomes dear 🙂
Lovely photos – peacocks are very fidgety creatures and tricky to photograph as a result. We used to often drive past a “pet” peacock in Surrey on the way to school which used to sit in a tree very close to a dual carriageway. The birds in Aus are pretty spectacular too ! Well done.
Thank you for your comment! Fidgety, that’s true. Faster than my shutter 🙂 May be it has something to do with their long neck: the muscles are getting tired.
Oh you have some amazing birds!
Thank you again!
Wow – Great shots of these colorful birds. I also like the bottom shot with the castle and the water in the foreground – Nice!
Thank you! Glad you like the birds 🙂
That peacock has some serious ‘tude. I wouldn’t want to run afoul of him. Did I really say that? LOL. Huge hugs!
LOL, thank you for reading! Hugs! 🙂
Gorgeous photos! You seem to have made a new friend with some French toast! Your detail shots of his feathers are amazing.
Thank you, Ann 🙂 Yes, bought another friend 😉
Great title, love the castle shots! I am fascinated by peacocks too and have a small zoo nearby with hundreds of them getting into everything high and low! Interesting that you created your own color scheme as a child since you only had black and white images. I’ve been into animals, etc… Since I was about 5 too. I find these images turn into my most interesting art works and about half the time I completely alter the coloration. It just depends on what the image “speaks to me” as I’m in the zone creating the portrait. Thanks for sharing!
Becca – thank you for your kind comment. I think that the purple and gold were the colors of something royal for me, and the pink is always a favorite of the girls 🙂
I would love to have a hundred of peacocks around, even that their voices are so loud. Instead, I have two herons fighting every night, and their voices sound even worse 🙂
Do you have a web page? I would love to see your art. I like the idea of altering colors.
Inese here you go: https://www.facebook.com/Swetankization
I already “liked” some page… Hope it was yours 🙂
Founded you, I don’t know what page but here is of Being Bettr: https://www.facebook.com/BeingBettr
https://www.facebook.com/iamswetank?ref=profile
Ohh yes, that was my profile page for business. You can find Being Bettr’s official page on my blog or search it for on facebook. Every new post is updated there. 🙂
I will tomorrow. It is a quarter past 1… Good night!
Good night!! Miss. Take a very good care of yourself!
Regards,
Swetank. 🙂
Very nice!!! I like the place and the pictures here.
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Oh my Gosh, great pictures thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Again, some really amazing pictures.
Thank you John! Glad you like what I do 🙂 I guess it is a bit boring – too many peacocks 🙂
No. Not boring. Art is never boring. I love your photo’s. The way capture an image is really beautiful.
You are way too kind. I actually told myself that three images would be enough, but it is not that easy to chose 3 from 300 😉
Great pictures, I always love what you have to share. By the way do you know Peacock is the national bird here in India?
Thank you! 🙂 I do know. Also I know about the white peacocks and reincarnations. Remarkable birds!
Reincarnation? Didn’t get that.
White peacock could be an incarnation of a person, and there are very interesting facts about the white peacocks behaving like that particular person. I have read many books about India’s spiritual heritage.
Ohh, yes absolutely agree that on that fact. It’s good to hear you had ready books on Indian Culture and Spiritual. Please feel free to share some knowledge on your blog. I will love to explore my culture. 🙂
Regards,
Be Bettr, Stay Bettr! 🙂
So so lovely, balm for the spirit
Thank you so much John! Glad you enjoy the trip 🙂