As my ongoing effort to make my blog a bit more well-rounded (and generally to keep on top of it!) this year, I thought I'd share more personal project work and some more travel photography. 

You may have seen a few highlight photos from my trip to Dublin after wedding season last year over on my 'Behind The Curtain' blog post this month; I thought I'd share a bit more about my trip, what I enjoy shooting when exploring and visiting new places and some of my favourite photographs from my few days away.

After wedding season last year, I was itching to get out there and take some photographs for myself, and to try and give my mind a little break from beautiful wedding days and get out there with my camera to shoot something different. I visited Dublin for a few days at the end of September, and tried to cram in as much as possible in those few days - I enjoy the in-between districts and streets as much as the sights, and some of my favourite photos from my trip are from the little moments and details along the way.. 

We happened to be there when the 'March for Choice' was organised for, and at times it was a real mix of people standing for opposing sides on the streets handing out flyers, holding placards, marching, shouting.. There were signs on lamp-posts and stories in the leaflets, there really was an atmosphere that day in the city.

I love finding little details along the way that might go unnoticed unless you pause here and there. I love anything that points to where you are and is typical for the city or country..  and I have a little soft spot for tacky souvenirs and postcards too..

I asked around for recommendations of places not to be missed during my trip and I'm so glad I visited a few of the places suggested; I think a good mix of hanging out and not rushing around plus seeing a few of the sights makes the perfect trip away. 

I wasn't expecting to love the Guiness experience as much as I did - the building it's in is wonderful and an architecture geek's dream.. We also visited Kilmainham Gaol, the disused prison a few miles outside of the city. The tour was so interesting, and I loved a few of the details, such as prisoners engraving 'to let' and 'no surrender' above their prison cells. Other than that my friend and I made sure to explore Temple Bar and dance to live music (did you know that the drinks prices go up on the hour there? A waiter in a restaurant told us.. still, it was 100% worth paying a small fortune a round) and we ate amazing food around the city centre too. 

Dublin is a beautiful, not too sprawling to explore on foot, and full of friendly and funny people who will tell you stories and take the time to chat. The atmosphere is so welcoming, and it seems to be full of people who are up for a party into the small hours. Almost a stay-cation but not quite.. I'll one day be back, if only to dance to live music in Temple Bar.

I'm travelling to a good few new places this year for personal work and weddings - I'd love to know what sort of content you enjoy reading on here for travel posts. Do you like a mix of travel-write ups and photos? Or would you rather it was more photo-heavy? Where is on your travel bucket list?