Live from WordCamp 2007

Here we are once again, blogging live from WordCamp 2007 in San Francisco. There’s Matt setting up the projector screen, Barry sorting through some notes and Michael Adams in the baseball cap. Check out my WordCamp 2007 set on Flickr for more photos from the weekend.

Shot handheld at ISO 800 in low light.

Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 800
Shutter speed 1/6s

The dog and his bone

Oscar, our pet Shih Tzu, pictured with a bone shaped biscuit treat. Actually he doesn’t like them much. He prefers Markies, but they’re bought now so he’ll finish them! 🙂

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

A rainy day on the street

It’s raining in Cork, possibly. The weather has been all upside down this summer. By the time you see this on my photoblog, I’ll be on my way to San Francisco. Check my Flickr stream for tomorrow’s pic 🙂

I couldn’t run my future posting script because Flickr changed their filename naming scheming to protect original images. Good move, but it’s annoying if you blog the original sized ones!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/320s

Blitz in Cork

A modified car sits parked in front of the Carroll’s Quay car park in Cork. The distinctive logo on the wing reminds me of the Transformers.

Maybe the driver is a fan?

The Erinville Maternity Hospital, Cork

The Erinville Hospital in Cork is one of the old maternity hospitals that were shutdown earlier this year and facilities moved to the Cork University Maternity Hospital.

My wife Jacinta and I made the short journey here from Blarney many times during her pregnancy, sometimes at ungodly hours in the morning but staff were always helpful, kind and sympathetic.

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Gateway to old homes

If you walk along the Mardyke in Cork you’re sure to have spotted this green area nestled in off the main road. Does anyone know anything about it?

PS. Here is where this is. Google Maps don’t have it on their map, but you can make out the green area in the center of the map above. The Flickr/Yahoo map does better, naming this green area Alverna. Cool

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Inside the Cork University Maternity Hospital

The (still) new Cork University Maternity Hospital or CUMH is shaped like a triangle with a central area that will eventually be planted with grass, flowers and vegetation. For now it’s boring bland grey.

To the right and left you can see balconies. The one of the right adjoins the hospital cafe. Unfortunately it’s so expensive it’s better to make the journey across to Wilton Shopping Center or to one of the many restaurants in the area. The other balcony is unused but I’m sure the hospital bosses will figure out some way of using it. The tower in the center is the stairwell and elevator shafts for the building and they lead onto the main concourse and entrance.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 5s

Kissing on the street

A young couple hug and kiss in front of the Crawford College of Art in Cork. This was shot on St. Patrick’s Day, and the crowd behind are waiting for a face painter!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Capoeira Girls

Two girls show off their Capoeira moves in Fitzgerald’s Park accompanied by music played on the berimbau and atabaque. The fighting is very exciting to watch as participants leap from the ground, and seem to defy gravity on occasion!

From the Wikipedia page on Capoeira:

Capoeira is a Brazilian fight-dance, game, and martial art created by enslaved Africans during the 19th Century Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle.

Party in the park

The Capoeira Club on Douglas Street held a day out for the kids just over a week ago in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork. Unfortunately we arrived just as everything was wrapping up but I got a couple of shots off.

There was a great party atmosphere. Parents were there with kids, people sitting around, chatting, singing and dancing, and even a couple of dogs including Oscar! Next time we’ll try to make it earlier. Thanks Sharon for telling me it was on! See Mel in the background?

Unfortunately the light wasn’t the best and with fast moving legs, arms and bodies I was never going to fully freeze the action. More to come over the next few days.

Aperture ƒ/5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/500s