FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFmhar: Autumn in the West of Ireland is a short film by Finn Mellon and Stanley Vaughton, capturing the mood and movement of Irelands west coast over the course of a week-long autumn mission. Accompanying the film, Finn offers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey, while Stanley discusses his creative background and passion for shooting on the water.FMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND Fmhar Finn Mellon: Fmhar meaning Autumn in the Irish Language, is a short windsurf film by Stanley Vaughton and myself. It is the result of a week long Irish trip for Stan, The forecast for our week was pretty bleak to say the least but we still got some fun sailing and nice weather. Thats kinda Ireland in a nutshell sometimes the forecast might not be great but you have to be there and in the right place you might still find some gold.Im lucky enough to of travelled a fair bit and been to a lot of the top windsurf destinations and Ireland definitely ranks right up there with the very best. Guess the saying Aint no place like home fits hah.I consider myself to be very lucky that I was born in Brandon Bay. I grew up by the sea, learnt to windsurf and surf as a teenager and it has most certainly shaped the person I am and the life I live today.I am very proud of where Im from and I love to show people around Ireland and all its beauty.If you would like to tour around Ireland with me you can on the Irish Wave Chasers CampsMore info https://www.finnmellon.com/irish-wave-chasers-weekWhich brings us back to our video. I would like to introduce Stan, the guy behind the lens.Stanley VaughtonStan is a French photographer, filmer and windsurfer. We got to know each other while working together teaching windsurfing in Greece. I have always admired Stans work and have wanted to go on a trip with him to make a windsurfing film. We first went to Tiree in 2024 to cover the event, that was fun however I hurt myself during that event so we never quite got to film the parts we wanted. Still had unfinished business, Which bought us together in Ireland.Hopefully this is only the first of the windsurf and travel films you see from us.So Stan, who are you and what do you do?Im a sports filmmaker, mainly focused on ocean and marine environments. I specialise in water-based filming, especially using camera housings to get as close to the action as possible. Over time, the more I worked in the water, the more I wanted to push into windsurfing, and thats really where Finn came in. Meeting Finn was a big part of that progression. His passion for the sport and his knowledge of the conditions made it possible for me to step further into wave sailing and keep developing my filming in that environment. I mainly focus on sport-driven content, especially around windsurfing and surfing, with a strong emphasis on being in the water and capturing things from that perspective.What got you into filming and photography?It started from being an athlete myself. Ive always wanted to try as many sports as possible and really be involved in them physically. Along the way, I naturally began filming my friends and taking photos during our trips and sessions. I realised I enjoyed capturing those moments just as much as living them. I started o filming more in the mountains, and then when windsurfing came into my life around 2014, I began to push both the sport and the filmmaking side together, to see how far I could take it.What struck you most about filming in Ireland compared to other locations?I started out filming in flat water conditions in places like Vasiliki in Greece, and then moved into wave sailing in South Wales. But Ireland felt like a completely different level. The swell, the power of the ocean, and just understanding how everything moves, it all demanded a lot more awareness and timing. The conditions arent easy either. You dont always get perfect weather, but when it does come together, its incredible. And because of that, you have to be fully ready, more focused, more intentional with how you approach each shot. Theres definitely more pressure, but also a lot more reward.How was your Ireland trip?It was an incredible experience. Ireland is just such a scenic place, especially when the conditions come together. Youve got amazing coastlines, small towns, wild beaches theres so much character everywhere you go. What made it even better was being there with Finn, he really knows the area, so we were able to move around and find the right spots. To have good conditions and be able to film a sport I love in a place like that, it was a pretty special trip.What was your favourite moment on the trip?One of my favourite moments was being in the water with my camera housing, filming Finn. Whether the conditions were challenging, strong wind, gusty, unpredictable, or just clean and easy, those moments in between are what really stayed with me. Its that feeling of being ready waiting for the next wave, positioning yourself, anticipating whats about to happen. Theres a kind of calm in it as well, just being out there, surrounded by the sea, with the quietness and the wildlife around you. You still have that adrenaline, but its controlled. Its just you, the water, and the moment youre preparing for. And what made Ireland special was how empty it felt. Finn was often the only one out, no crowds, no distractions. So for me, it became very simple: one subject, one environment, one moment to capture. And that made it really powerful.What was the hardest shot to get during the trip?There was a session near Brandon Bay where the swell was strong and the current made positioning really dicult. The clips from the first part of the video were from that session.When youre in the water and theres reef around you, its all about timing and placement, being in exactly the right spot as the wave comes through and as Finn hits it.That day, everything had to align, the wave, Finns line, and my position, and that made it really challenging. Its the kind of spot where experience really counts, so I think going back there in the future would make a big difference.How did the Irish light, weather, and landscapes influence your shooting style?The landscapes are unreal, but the weather and light are constantly changing, so it becomes a bit of a chase. We spent a lot of time driving, trying to find the right bay with the right wind and light. Its not just about where Finn can sail, its also about where I can actually film effectively, whether thats from the shore or in the water. But when it all lines up, when the sun breaks through the clouds, hits the hills and reflects on the water, its honestly one of the most beautiful environments Ive filmed in. There were moments in the water, just waiting for the next set, where I stopped and thought this place is unreal.Do you have any ambitions or future plans within the windsurfing world?Yeah, definitely! My main ambition is to keep pursuing my passion, especially in the world of camera housing footage, pushing myself to film in bigger waves, stronger swells, and different locations. The more experience I can gain in varied conditions, the better. Its something Im really looking forward to developing over time, because filming in the water like that is not only very technical, but also something I genuinely find exciting. From the moment I started using a housing, I felt like it was something I really wanted to pursue. In general, I just want to keep filming more and more, working with different riders who are truly passionate about windsurfing, and with brands that are constantly evolving and pushing the sport forward. What I find so interesting about the sport is that the deeper you go into it, the more technical it becomes, from board choice to sails, to how everything adapts to the conditions. And Id love to keep capturing that progression and see how the sport evolves over time. You can follow along with Stans work here on his instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stax.prod/The post FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.