The changing face of Cork City

O’Flynn Butchers used to operate from this shop until very recently. With the influx of immigrants into Ireland, North Main Street has become a lot more interesting with shops dedicated to the cuisine of other cultures!

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/125s

Cork St Patrick’s Festival Market

One side of Academy Street was taken up by a long line of stalls populated by an international host of sellers! There were biscuits and cakes from Brittany, soaps and wooden toys from France, clothes and trinkets from Peru and lots more.

I took a few shots of this scene but I like this one because the famous tower of St. Anne’s Church, or Shandon Bells as it’s more commonly known is visible in the top right. Nobody could mistake it for anywhere but Cork. That Barry’s Tea sign is a pretty big give away too of course!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 106mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/160s

Fixing up the Apple Store

Workers pictured in the Apple Store Magnificent Mile, Chicago.
The top of the image is the front and side of the store. This is the store in which I was asked not take photos in 2003!

Small Figures

Small figures run for cover to get out of the downpour.
You’ll be glad to hear that this is the last of my shots from this square for the time being!

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/40s

Crown Fountain in Millenium Park Chicago

This is one of the Crown Fountains in Millennium Park, Chicago. The red glow in this photo is from that large image! It’s actually a video, the person pictured smiles and changes expression every few seconds, and the face changes on a regular basis.
I didn’t know this was here at all, but it made up for the fact that The Bean was closed for renovation when we visited. I was really looking forward to that. We’ll have to visit Chicago again!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 55mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Fade to white

A building on South Wabash, Chicago. I was on my way to Central Camera and just loved the leading lines when I looked up!
I debated with myself about removing the building on the right but left it in for context. Wabash runs parallel with State Street but is much narrower and the L runs down it covering the middle of the street. The first time you hear the train pass overhead you will look up!

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/250s

From Madison to Sears

I worked in the heart of the financial district of Chicago in the summer of 2003. Each morning I took the brown line of the L to Washington/Wells and walked the two blocks to the building where I worked.
This is the view only a few blocks away. You can see the Sears Tower near the end of this street!

In other news, this blog has been shortlisted in the best photoblog category. I have been shortlisted in the “Best Contribution to the Irish Bloggersphere” category too! Thank you all who voted. It’s up to the judges now. See you at the awards on March 11th!

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/125s

Queen’s Old Castle

After yesterday’s shot I decided to take a photo of the Virgin Megastore which now occupies the site of the old Queen’s Old Castle Shopping Center. Off to the left is the entrance to Argos. No misleading titles today!
Shot was taken with the camera lying on the ground and I can tell you I got some funny stares from people.

Aperture ƒ/18
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 2s

Something blue

Cork is a city of contradictions. The old mixed with the new. Modern office blocks sit alongside grand old limestone buildings.
In other parts of the city it’s harder to tell which is which. New apartment blocks sit abused and unmaintained next to the older parts of the city which look nicer and more inviting in comparison.
This door belongs to an old building in the Middle Parish.

Aperture ƒ/3.5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/50s