Wicklow Photography Scores High In Love Your Coast Contest

Helen Black took first in the 'Source to Sea' category with her photograph "Let there be Light", taken at Glendasan Love Your Coast Contest

An Taisce’s Clean Coasts winning photographs for 2025's Love Your Coast photography competition saw the natural beauty of Wicklow captured in all its glory.

Seven images in total taken across Wicklow took prized positions or made it to the top 10 in the shortlist across the five categories.

This includes Helen Black who came first place in the 'Source to Sea' category with her photograph "Let there be Light", taken at Glendasan in Co. Wicklow, capturing a misty morning sunrise over the beautiful National Park. Helen said of her entry:

I have been photographing Wicklow for many years; it is just so beautiful. I am really interested in shooting fog and mist for the wonderful atmosphere they create so I am always checking the weather forecast. That morning, I set out in darkness from Dublin to get there for dawn. I got so excited when I saw the conditions, set up my camera and waited for the light to break. What a spectacle, what a treat, nature is truly amazing.”

Arklow photographer Christopher Howes took second place in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast' category with his photograph taken in Wicklow Town.

"Sealed with a Kiss" captures a tender moment between a seal pup and their mother at Brides Head in Wicklow.

Christopher said it was captured despite poor conditions at the time.

''The weather wasn't the best but in a way it helped me so I wouldn't get a lot of highlights blown out with the seal pup. It took a long day but to capture this beautiful moment was well worth the time.''

Wicklow photographer Aoife Hester also took third place in the 'Source to Sea' category with their image "Mirror Lough" capturing the stillness of Kylemore Lough in Connemara.

“On the last day of a trip to Connemara, we passed Kylemore Lough by chance and were amazed by the mirror-like stillness of the water. The reflection was so perfect it looked like an optical illusion,” Aoife commented.  

Other shortlisted photos from Wicklow included: Adrian Fingleton's photo "Milky Way" taken at Brittas Bay in Wicklow, secured him a spot as a finalist in the 'Coastal Landscape' category; Adrian Hendroff was a finalist in the Source to Sea Category with "Lower Lake Aurora" taken at Glendalough; Zoe Lynch's photo "Beyond the Wall" at Lough Tay in county Wicklow was a finalist in the 'Source to Sea' category; Barry Murphy’s photo "Beautiful Autumn Waterfall" taken in Glenmalure also a finalist in the ‘Source to Sea’ category; and "Star Fisher" by Christopher Howes taken in Arklow Town a finalist in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ category.

This year, Dublin photographer Maria Quigley’s photograph, "Embrace the Water", was named the overall winner of the Clean Coasts 2025 Love Your Coast photography competition. With her photo also taking first place in the new ‘Connecting with the Coast’ category. 

The photo dreamily illustrates the subject Bobby, in the golden soft morning light during his daily swim. Maria explained the process of capturing her photo

“I took this photo on January 9th 2025, when the sea was 7°C and ice covered the slipway. Bobby, swims daily in the morning time all year-round, usually at Coliemore Harbour, his favourite spot. He says that missing a swim ruins his day. I was lucky to take the photo as the sun was rising at that time.”