An Irish Tale
travel light in ireland
SIGMA fp L and 35mm + 65mm f2 I Series
Ph. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino
Brief introduction: I've been trying to reduce the weight of my photographic backpack for some time, but I never wanted to resign myself to quality compromises. If I have a lens or a camera body that is significantly better than another, I can never leave it at home.
This year I decided to change my approach, and trusting in the quality of the products that SIGMA has been giving me in recent times, I tried to push myself on a short journey focusing exclusively on one camera body and two extremely compact lenses: SIGMA fp L and the new SIGMA 35mm f2 and 65mm f2 from the I series.
Briefly: it was a turning point.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
I have already told you about the SIGMA fp L camera body in this previous article, while I spend 2 words on the lenses of the new I series: they are sensational, extremely compact, with an all-metal construction (including the lampshade and the magnetic lens cap!). Even if not forging the ART brand, they represent in my opinion the clearest and most sensational step forward in the construction of photographic lenses for many years to date.
A brief foray into Northern Ireland, towards the extraordinary Giant's Causeway, made up of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption.
According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant.
Bad weather makes the Irish landscape even more beautiful. The shades of green seem to find their sap in the leaden sky.
Playing with the depth of field and close focus distance of the two little SIGMAs to capture the essence of an Irish rainy day.
The quality of I series lenses paired with SIGMA fp L is inversely proportional to their weight and size.
Standing proud and alone, this magnificent sea stack is the crown of Downpatrick Head. Also the unusual carpet of soft grass bubbles surrounding the promontory is almost as extraordinary.
Wandering through the various landscape of Connemara National Park.
Then head south, towards the famous and unmissable Cliffs of Moher
The I series lens are so well built and they really fit the fp L like a glove.
We continue to travel the wonderful Irish coast towards Portmagee, where we embark for Skellig Michael Island
Little Skellig is famed for the largest breeding colony of Gannets birds in Ireland and among the largest in the world, that make for an awe-inspiring sight from a boat.
Once we land on Skellig Michael, we can explore the green landscape, scattered with sharp and pointed rocks, just like the profile of Little Skellig island, always visible offshore.
There is an old Irish monastery on the remote Skellig Michael island, in the middle of the wild Atlantic Ocean.
Skellig Michael was included on the UNESCO world Heritage list in 1996, and since 2015 it was used as a filming location for Star Wars, as the Skywalker's shelter.
Once back on dry land, we resume our journey counterclockwise and proceed towards Cork.
a short stop in the picturesque seaside town of Cohb is one of the few detours from nature we allow ourselves, before heading to Dublin.
A look at the fascinating old library at Trinity College is the last stop of our irish week on the road.
A pleasant and interesting week strolling around the emerald island was the perfect opportunity to fully appreciate the versatility and quality of these new sigma lenses. Needless to hide it, the I Series was born and conceived to be the perfect companion of SIGMA fp L: it reflects its mission: quality and portability at the highest level possible, without any compromise on quality.
For my part, I am extremely satisfied and can't wait to try out the latest releases of this extraordinary series as well.
Thanks to SIGMA Italia
Francesco Riccardo Iacomino
Thank you!