Riders of The Dark Hedges
When I was doing a shoot of two of the Curvy Riders Motorcycle Club at Castlefield in Manchester I mentioned I was going to Ireland to photograph a wedding and planned to go back to a road known as ‘The Dark Hedges’ which was used as a location for the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’ and I asked them if they knew of anyone in Northern Ireland who would be interested in bringing a bike along for a photo shoot. The word went out and a lady known as Mary Doll contacted me and said she would be interested in bringing her bike along. Somehow the word of the shoot spread rapidly and before I knew it there were well over twenty ladies and their bikes meeting up with me at ‘The Dark Hedges’.
When I arrived I started to walk down the road with my camera to check out the best location and there were five guys with their bikes standing around who asked if I had come along for the shoot. I said they didn’t look like ladies (could have been a really stupid comment to make 😀) but they said they had only been joking when I explained about the planned shoot I had arranged with the girls and their bikes and they decided to wait around (naturally) to see what 20+ lady bikers were going to do. I asked them if I could take some shots of them riding along ‘The Dark Hedges’ whilst waiting for the girls and so began the day’s shooting. One of the lads had a Harley and a wonderful character look and I knew straight-away I had to take a couple of just him and his bike.
When the girls started to arrive I had to think quickly how I was going to do the shoot and decided to try and have them riding in groups of three at a time. The word cats and herding came to mind 😀 as we tried to organise who was going to ride with whom and then off they set. The road is a normal thoroughfare and a tourist trap so we had to be careful not to annoy the hell out of others using it as well. It all went brilliantly and the girls were fantastic. Most of them decided to ride without helmets as they weren’t going to ride too fast and I think it worked really well as it added to the look of ‘Freedom on a bike’ that I was after. Two of the girls had brought along their trikes and one of them had a seat on the back. So I climbed on board and photographed the group as they rode up and down the road. When the shoot was over the best bit began as everyone headed off in convoy to one of the girls’ house for tea and cake. I only wished I had taken a camera into the car with me as it was an incredible site as we drove up and down the hills in a huge snaking line down the long straight roads of the Antrim Glens. The weather was glorious and the company was great. All in all a fantastic day and I was thrilled with the results. I hope the girls (and the lads) are as well 😀😀
To see all the images from the shoot click here
13 comments on "Riders of The Dark Hedges – Ireland"
Was excellent to bump into you at the Dark Hedges, great photo’s and great conversations too!… Drew Wilson (Guy with the blue and white helmet on the Suzuki 1250 Bandit)
Thanks Drew. I had a fantastic time. I’m glad you liked the images
brilliant photos ray great day out
Thanks Lynda. I had a great time. Which rider were you?
i was one of the 3 cruisers .I was on the right side.Brilliant photo love it
Thanks Lynda. I had a great time with a lovely group of people
Great pics, Ray. I asked for 2 NI ladies, look at the turn-out! I love the power of social media
Thanks Debbie. I couldn’t believe the numbers. The girls are going to turn the meet into a regular thing. Anything for tea and cake
I’m really looking forward to the shoot on Sunday (more cake hopefully!!)
Wow those trees are amazing they look fab in the pics. The riders looked brill too both male and female well done to all involved
These photo r fantastic well done everyone
Thanks Caroline. It was a great day
Are u there again this yr as l think the girls are doing it again ?????
Hi Tim
I hope to get over to NI sometime this year but I’m not sure when. I’m still recovering from my shoots in America and Australia!! lol