You’ve seen the postcards. Those impossibly green cliffs, the jagged Skellig islands poking out of a misty Atlantic, and sheep that look like they’ve been professionally groomed for a photoshoot. But honestly, getting those iconic ring of kerry pictures is a lot harder than just pointing your iPhone out a car window. If you pull over at every tour bus stop, you’re basically just taking the same photo as four million other people.
It’s about the light. And the timing. And knowing which gate to climb over (politely, of course).
The Ring of Kerry is a 179-kilometer loop of pure, unadulterated drama. But most people drive it clockwise or counter-clockwise in a single day and wonder why their photos look flat. You have to understand that the Iveragh Peninsula is a moody beast. One minute it's "the soft day" (that's Irish for "it's pouring rain, deal with it") and the next, the sun hits the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and everything turns into a cinematic masterpiece.
The Viewpoints Everyone Misses
Everyone stops at Ladies View. It’s gorgeous, sure. Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting loved it back in 1861, which is how it got the name. But if you want a shot that doesn't have a souvenir shop in the background, you’ve got to push further.
Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs on Valentia Island is where the real scale happens. It’s one of the few places you can drive (or hike if you're feeling energetic) to a 360-degree summit. From up there, you can see the Dingle Peninsula to the north and the Skelligs to the south. Most people stick to the main N71 road and completely miss Valentia. Don't be that person. The cliffs here are actually higher than the Cliffs of Moher in some spots, and they’re way less crowded.
Then there's the Coomakista Viewpoint. It’s right on the main road between Waterville and Caherdaniel. It’s blustery as hell. You’ll probably lose your hat. But the way the road curves against the Atlantic with Deenish and Scariff Islands in the distance? That’s the "big" Irish landscape shot you’re looking for.
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Why Your Beach Photos Look Boring
Let's talk about Derrynane Beach. It's often voted one of the best beaches in the world, and for good reason. It’s got this white sand that looks like it belongs in the Caribbean, not the North Atlantic.
If you just stand on the sand and take a photo of the water, it looks like... well, water.
- The Pro Move: Walk across the sand at low tide to Abbey Island. There are 6th-century ruins there.
- Framing: Use the ancient stone arches of the abbey to frame the turquoise water.
- Foreground: Look for the yellow gorse bushes or the dark, jagged rocks to give the photo some depth.
Dealing with the "Irish Grey"
Ireland is famous for its 50 shades of grey sky. A lot of photographers get frustrated when the sun doesn't come out, but honestly, overcast light is your best friend for certain ring of kerry pictures.
Flat light is perfect for Muckross Abbey. That 15th-century Franciscan friary has a massive, ancient yew tree right in the middle of its cloister. If it's a bright, sunny day, the shadows inside the stone corridors are too harsh. On a cloudy day? The light is soft, even, and haunting. It makes the moss on the stones look neon green.
Expert Tip: If the sky is a flat, boring white, just cut it out of the frame. Focus on the textures—the cracked stone, the lichen, the reflection of Ross Castle in Lough Leane.
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The Secret of the Skellig Ring
Most tour buses are too big to handle the Skellig Ring, which is a detour off the main Ring of Kerry near Portmagee. This is where you find the Kerry Cliffs.
They’re privately owned, so you’ll have to pay a few Euros to get in, but it’s worth it. You’re standing on the edge of Europe, looking directly at Skellig Michael. That’s the "Star Wars island" where Luke Skywalker was hiding. Capturing a clear shot of the Skelligs is the holy grail of Kerry photography. They’re often shrouded in mist, which looks cool and "moody," but if you want that crisp silhouette, you need to be there in the late afternoon when the sun is behind you, hitting the rocks.
Gear: What Actually Matters
You don't need a $10,000 setup. You really don't. But you do need a few specific things to survive the elements while chasing ring of kerry pictures.
- A Polarizing Filter: This isn't just for making the sky blue. In Kerry, it’s for cutting the glare off the wet rocks and making the greens "pop."
- A Microfiber Cloth: You will get sea spray or rain on your lens. Every five minutes. Bring more cloths than you think you need.
- A Sturdy Tripod: The wind at Moll’s Gap or Coomanaspig Pass can be brutal. A flimsy travel tripod will vibrate, and your long exposures of waterfalls like Torc Waterfall will be a blurry mess.
Timing Your Drive
Most people start in Killarney and go "the long way" around.
Go the opposite way. If you drive the Ring of Kerry "backwards" (clockwise), you’ll be driving against the flow of the tour buses. This means you won't get stuck behind a line of coaches when you're trying to reach a specific spot for the golden hour light.
Speaking of golden hour, in the summer, the sun doesn't set until nearly 10:00 PM. This gives you a massive window to play with. The light at 9:00 PM at Ballinskelligs Castle (a 16th-century McCarthy tower right on the beach) is transformative. The stone turns orange, the shadows stretch across the sand, and the tourists have all gone back to their hotels for Guinness and stew.
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The Human Element
Don't just take pictures of rocks. The Ring of Kerry is full of "characters." The colorful shopfronts in Sneem or the statue of Charlie Chaplin in Waterville (he used to holiday there every year) add a bit of life to your gallery.
And then there are the sheep. They are the unofficial owners of the road. Use a telephoto lens to get a close-up of a sheep with a mountain backdrop. It’s a cliché for a reason—it works.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re serious about coming home with professional-grade images, don't try to do the whole loop in one day. It’s exhausting and you’ll miss the best light.
- Stay in Portmagee or Waterville: This puts you right in the middle of the best coastal scenery for sunrise and sunset.
- Check the "Met Éireann" App: It’s the local weather service. It’s much more accurate for the weird micro-climates of the Kerry mountains than the generic weather app on your phone.
- Look for the Brown Signs: Some of the best "discovery points" aren't on the main GPS route. If you see a brown sign pointing toward a "Ring Fort" or a "Hidden Pier," take it.
Photography in Kerry isn't about the gear you have; it's about your patience with the weather. When that one break in the clouds happens and a sunbeam hits the Gap of Dunloe, you’ll realize why this little corner of Ireland is the most photographed place in the country.
Now, pack your rain gear, charge your batteries, and go find a spot that isn't on a postcard yet.