Even Cork fans have to take a break and this man was enjoying his ice cream on Daunt Square, on Patrick Street, Cork back in 2006.
| Aperture | ƒ/10 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/200s |
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Robin on the Ground
A few weeks ago, I visited Blarney Castle to take some photos of the Autumn colours. Unfortunately the light was dull, and the ground was wet, but I had my tripod with me, so I set it up for some long exposure shots.
After a few minutes of that, I noticed a flicker out of the corner of my eye. I spotted a robin almost right in front of me! He was literally standing on the large log next to the mushrooms I was photographing. And of course, my camera settings were completely wrong to photograph him. In the 10 seconds it took me to swivel the camera around, fiddle with the settings and look up again, he was flying off to a nearby tree. This time I got a couple of shots of him, and then his friend approached and landed on the ground right by my feet! This time I was ready!
Why do settings change so much? In low light, you have to amplify the light hitting the camera sensor. Sort of like turning up the volume. You know how if you turn the volume up really high you’ll get distortion and crackling (and a headache and sore ears), the same thing happens with cameras. The best quality photo comes when the volume (called ISO for cameras) is turned down to a “normal value” but then it takes longer for the camera to “hear” an image. Damn, I’m straining an analogy here. For most cameras, that’s 100. This photo was taken at ISO 12800 and the only reason you don’t see lots of crackling (noise) is because of the magic of software called Topaz Photo AI. A previous ISO 100 image took a whole 1 second to make a photo. This robin photo was 1/160 of a second. He wasn’t going to hang around long!
Aperture ƒ/11 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 240mm ISO 65535 Shutter speed 1/160s -
Sparklers! 2 for €3!
A man selling sparklers on Henry Street, Dublin on Halloween this year. He promised that 2 for €3 was better than in the shops where they are 1 for €2, and he was right as we were in a Eurogiant later on!
We didn’t buy any sparklers. He had plenty left over when we passed him again.
Aperture ƒ/3.2 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 24mm ISO 5000 Shutter speed 1/500s -
On the bike in Girona
What I saw of the old part of Girona is one long pedestrianised road like you see this photo. It’s a long straight part here but then winds around to the area of the Cathedral. I did see a small van drive down there but they were at least careful. Pedestrians were number 1.
Other parts are not so nice. A three lane street leads out of the city towards Barcelona.
Aperture ƒ/8 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 35mm ISO 4000 Shutter speed 1/500s -
The Northside Water Tower
The “futuristic” water tower that sits on Kilmore Road Lower in Knocknaheeny is seen from Bell’s Field in this photo taken in July this year.
It was completed in 1972 and Councillor Gerald Yael Goldberg (1912-2003) described the water tower as ‘futuristic’ but predicted that it would ‘fit into the landscape’. I’m not so sure. It’s in such a prominent spot it can be seen as far away as Blarney.
Aperture ƒ/8 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 600mm ISO 1000 Shutter speed 1/1000s -
From North Side to County
A sight well known to anyone who lives in Cork City. The Spire of St. Anne’s Church, or Shandon Bells stands like a beacon. The Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne is just off shot to the right, out of this shot.
The County Hall can be seen far off in the distance out on the Carrigrohane Road. That building was once the tallest building in Ireland.
Look back further and you’ll see fields on the hills surrounding the city.
Aperture ƒ/6.3 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 150mm ISO 200 Shutter speed 1/160s -
On the Onyar River
The Onyar River flows through the city of Girona in Spain. Photographed in August when I was surprised to see any water at all considering the dreadful drought that hit Europe in the summer.
Colourful buildings line the banks of the river and the Cathedral can be seen in the background of a clear blue sky.
Aperture ƒ/8 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 35mm ISO 125 Shutter speed 1/500s -
Diego, king of the castle
Who rules this house? The animals do! Diego, our tiny chihuahua, sits in a bed sometimes claimed by one of our cats, Hoppy. She was very unhappy that Diego was in there. He’s the king of all he sees.
Isn’t he handsome in his new jacket? It’s lovely and warm and made with love by Jo!
Aperture ƒ/2.4 Camera SM-G998B Focal length 9mm ISO 640 Shutter speed 1/35s -
Herre’s the plane
From the Lee Fields, in August this year. A construction crane working on the student accommodation with an aeroplane that took off from Cork Airport high above it and rising fast, off somewhere, hopefully warm.
TIL I’ve been spelling aeroplane wrong for years.
Aperture ƒ/5 Camera ILCE-7M3 Focal length 67mm ISO 100 Shutter speed 1/400s
We Love WordPress (2006)
No Entry to Tuckey Street (2007)
Sheila (2008)
Naked in Ireland (2008)
Blarney on April 24, 2008 (2008)
Mustang (2009)
Folsom Street Fair Twelve (2015)
TTIP Protestor (2015)
From the Cork-Dublin Train (2016)
Pechiguera Lighthouse in BW (2017)
Posing with a dog (2018)
The Blue Pool (2022)
A Florida Dragonfly (2023)
Bored of Ducks (2024)
Red Cans and Boat Plans (2025)