In Photos dot Org

Irish Terrier Practises Street Yoga

Was it yoga, or was there another dog just out of frame and this Irish Terrier wanted to be friends?

Irish Terriers are one of the oldest terrier breeds and are nicknamed “daredevils” because of their famously spirited and fearless temperament. During World War I, Irish Terriers were used as messenger dogs in the trenches, carrying communications between units under incredibly dangerous conditions. They were so effective and brave that they earned widespread admiration. One officer wrote that they were “extraordinarily intelligent, faithful, and honest, and a man who has one of them as a companion will never lack a true friend.” That stretching behaviour you see in the photo? It’s actually a natural “play bow”. Dogs use it not just to stretch their muscles but also as a social signal to other dogs (and sometimes humans) that they’re feeling playful and want to engage. So this little terrier might just be inviting passersby on Oliver Plunkett Street to join in the fun!

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	160mm
ISO	1000
Shutter speed	1/500s

Where Water Meets Light

The sun had set behind the distant hills and the exposure times went up when I took this photo, but that’s what I wanted as the sea was rough and I wanted to make it silky smooth and misty at Owenahincha Beach last August.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	50
Shutter speed	8s

When Recycling Gets Serious

This small garden caught my eye. It would be a nice space if not for the obligatory bins that every household must have. The left wall is a lovely deep blue, matching the colours of the flowers there.

Aperture	ƒ/7.1
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	6400
Shutter speed	1/125s

The Summercove Hills

Parking up by Charles Fort is always easier than trying to get through Summercover near Kinsale. The road is very narrow and steep, both ways, if you’re trying to the to the Bulman Bar.

Those yellow diamond-shaped road signs are actually part of Ireland’s relatively recent road signage system. Before the 1970s, Ireland used the older British-style circular and triangular signs, but when the country adopted the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, they switched to these diamond-shaped warning signs, making Ireland one of the few English-speaking countries to use this continental European style. The “10%” gradient warning means the road drops 10 metres for every 100 metres travelled horizontally, which is steep enough that most driving instructors would consider it “character building” for learner drivers!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	110mm
ISO	2000
Shutter speed	1/250s

Silhouettes Under the Bridge

A man and a woman look along the shoreline of the Thames in London, probably for old pieces of pipe which are common along there.

Above us was the modern Blackfriars Railway Bridge, and of course off in the distance is the London skyline.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	33mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/320s

Juggling Knives in London

I love that this street entertainer is wearing such bright and distinctive clothes but I wish his knives were brightly coloured. Still, the reaction of (some) people was worth it even if the background is too busy to see the knives properly.

Knives. He’s juggling knives over the head of a tourist lying on the ground. That could have ended badly, but people who perform in Covent Square are really good.

Street performers must audition for their spots in Covent Square through a formal licensing system managed by the local authority. Performers are allocated specific time slots and locations, with the most desirable pitches going to those who demonstrate the highest skill levels and ability to manage crowds safely. The system was introduced to maintain quality and safety standards after the area’s transformation from a working market to a major tourist destination in the 1980s.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	101mm
ISO	1600
Shutter speed	1/500s

Storm Light Over Owenahincha

Waves broke on the rocks at the edge of Owenahincha Beach a month ago.

Aperture	ƒ/7.1
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1.3s

A Milkcap in the Galtees

We took ourselves to Kings Yard near the Galtees today, and walked up a nearby trail next to a river. It was lovely there, so quiet except for the sound of the rushing water! There weren’t many mushrooms around yet but we spotted a bunch of them near the end of our walk and I was delighted to get a few photos of them!

Did you know, false saffron milkcaps are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with tree roots, particularly spruces and firs? The mushroom helps trees absorb nutrients from the soil while receiving sugars in return. This partnership is so specific that finding these mushrooms often indicates the presence of healthy coniferous woodland ecosystems, making them useful indicators of forest health.

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	90mm
ISO	4000
Shutter speed	1/200s

Showdown The ELO Experience at Cyprus Avenue

Two musicians from The ELO Experience performing under intense green stage lighting, bassist on left singing into microphone and guitarist on right, both backlit by dramatic concert lighting beams

The ELO Experience band on stage with spectacular yellow sunburst lighting effect radiating from centre, three guitarists in foreground with Sonor drum kit visible behind, creating dynamic concert atmosphere

Full band shot of The ELO Experience with multi-coloured stage lighting in purple, blue, yellow and red, showing complete lineup of musicians with guitars, bass, keyboards and drums at Cyprus Avenue venue

The ELO Experience played in Cyprus Avenue in Cork last night and they were fabulous, playing many deep cuts as well as The Electric Light Orchestra’s greatest hits. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the night and they announced their next gig there in May next year!

Aperture	ƒ/1.8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	75mm
ISO	1250
Shutter speed	1/125s

London’s Most Pampered Pooch

I love this little dog’s pet carrier, but every little dog wants to walk and smell the world around them. When they get tired it’s time for a rest and this dog is spoiled with that pet carrier. As they should be. 🙂

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	240mm
ISO	1250
Shutter speed	1/500s

Casting Lines in Cobh

On a warm August day in 2005, you’d find plenty of lads fishing in Cobh, including this bunch who were brave enough to fish from a crumbling pier.

Another photo from that evening shows a disturbance in the water at the mouth of Cobh harbour, where I presume sprat are desperately trying to get away from mackerel and other fish. I wonder if that still happens?

Aperture	ƒ/5
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	180mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/80s

A colourful sunrise

It was one of those mornings where the sun shone on the clouds from below the horizon and filled the sky with fiery colours!

I’ve been working on a WordPress plugin called Cloud Cover Forecast. It will show you the low, mid, and high clouds for a particular location in a block on your site. It’s inspired by Clear Outside. If you have a blog, take it for a whirl and let me know if it works for you! It’s not on WordPress.org yet, so you’ll have to install it manually by uploading the zip file.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	41mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/100s