• Not Going Anywhere

    The wheels on an upside down container are useless, not touching anything. A drain pipe and the side of beer kegs are visible too in this gritty photo

    That container isn’t going anywhere fast. Yeah, weird subject for a photo but it was to the side of a pub. I’ve seen those containers used to carry glass bottles around but this one is past that now.


    Apertureƒ/1.8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO2000
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • Mind is like a garden

    Two women walk past the hoarding on Sullivan's Quay. The text "Mind is like a garden" is on the hoarding. The mural is visible on the house to the side of the site.

    The murals and graffiti on the hoarding on Sullivan’s Quay, Cork changes all the time and the evening I shot this it bore the text, “Mind is like a garden”. You can see a mural in the background that I posted yesterday, and two women walking past.


    Apertureƒ/8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO250
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • Fiery Red Hair

    The red hair of a mural on a wall. A "no parking" sign spoils the photo, but it's part of the scene.

    The fiery, red hair of the mural on Sullivan’s Quay contrasts with the blue and dark background of the picture. I like the “no parking” sign, even if it’s distracting. I like the way the shadow of the pole and sign lies on the wall, duplicating the solid in the 2D world of the wall.


    Apertureƒ/1.8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO100
    Shutter speed1/4000s

  • A Sunset ICM

    The colours of a sunset captured in the sweep of an ICM photo. Dark to bright orange and a bit of dark at the bottom where the roof of a house was.

    The colours of a sunset captured in the sweep of an ICM photo. Dark to bright orange and a bit of dark at the bottom where the roof of a house was.

    I wish Adobe would use their AI to do an automated spot healing tool. My sensor needs cleaning and there were lots of specks that needed to be cloned out in this photo. They can already highlight them. They just need to go that one final step…


    Apertureƒ/25
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length130mm
    ISO100
    Shutter speed1/2s

  • The source of inspiration

    A sticker on a poll shows a banana, a black and white design and the phrase, "... AND PROTECT US ALL FROM THE WIKDEDNESS OF THE LACK OF INSPIRATION"

    Sometimes it’s the simple things that inspire us, like a banana. And a yellow roadside bollard in the distance.


    Apertureƒ/1.8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO100
    Shutter speed1/1250s

  • A blue door and textures

    A blue door in a dilapidated building in need of repair. Masonry is crumbling and a nearby window has seen better days.

    A blue door spotted on my travels around Cork. The building is in need of repair, like many in Cork. That wall and window have definitely seen better days.


    Apertureƒ/8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO6400
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • Back to the Castle Retro Festival

    The Strictly Cash tribute band on stage. a double bass player and drummer in the background while the singer plays his guitar and sings

    Today we were treated to no less than 3 fabulous acts at the Back to the Castle Retro Festival at Mallow Castle in Co Cork.

    In order of appearance were Strictly Cash (Johnny Cash), Classic Beatles (Beatles), and Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen).

    The day was glorious, with the sun shining from a sky mostly devoid of clouds until later. In fact, it got so warm, I ran to the shade of nearby trees!

    The music was great, the atmosphere relaxed with people of all ages gathered to listen. It was a really nice way to spend an afternoon.


    Apertureƒ/1.8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO100
    Shutter speed1/400s

  • A mural on Tucky Street

    A brightly coloured mural showing a man running, a woman reading and Shandon Bells. A light is visible and a pub sign for Murphy's Stout

    Behind a closed gate, you’ll find a lovely mural on a wall in Tucky Street. Look more closely at the pillars beneath it, and you’ll see they belonged to the library a long time ago!


    Apertureƒ/8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO4000
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • No bikes for the rich

    In the window of a tax consultants office, who say they are "wealth advisers", there's a sign saying "No bicycle". The word "parking" is intentionally left out.

    A “NO BICYCLE PARKING” sign in the window of a tax consultants, warns young people they shouldn’t lock their bikes to the railing outside.

    Actually understandable, as there’s a school next door..


    Apertureƒ/4
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length75mm
    ISO100
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • Cork City Skyline

    Shannon Bells rises above the rooftops

    Instantly recognisable to anyone in Cork. Shandon Bells rises above the rooftops.


    Apertureƒ/8
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length150mm
    ISO2000
    Shutter speed1/320s

  • Qween at the Regatta

    Qween on stage in Cobh.

    Qween rocked Cobh on Sunday night, the last night of the Cobh People’s Regatta 2023. They’re an outstanding Queen tribute band, and they played all the hits, and soon had everyone singing along, dancing and cheering to the music. A short break in the middle of the set was required for the fireworks at 10pm, but the music started up shortly afterwards to the delight of everyone around.

    Alas, I had to leave then. I was up early the next morning, but I can’t wait to see them play again!


    Apertureƒ/5
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length58mm
    ISO5000
    Shutter speed1/500s

  • The fireworks of Cobh People’s Regatta 2023

    Fireworks light up the sky

    The Cobh People’s Regatta took place last weekend and the town was hopping. We enjoyed the live music, getting up close to the stage to watch Qween rock the place.

    Shortly after 10pm, the fireworks went off, and we rushed over to the water’s edge by the pier to watch the spectacle.

    I didn’t have time to set up my camera, tripod and remote release, so I watched the fireworks for a few moments, enjoying myself. Not content with being a passive watcher, I decided to have a go at shooting them handheld.

    The exposure time couldn’t be too long, or the photo would be very shaky, and the sensor had to be sensitive enough to capture the light of the explosions in the sky. I decided on the following settings:

    • 0.5 to 1 second exposure.
    • f/4 to f/6.3 aperture, depending on zoom.
    • ISO 400 ensures the sensor picks up the light.

    The fireworks were only just offshore, so maybe 200m away from me, and I found these settings worked really well! I kept one eye open and that helped me see what the camera was capturing and see what was about to happen. I shot handheld, so I was able to adapt more quickly to low or high fireworks and I really enjoyed the illumination!


    Apertureƒ/6.3
    CameraILCE-7M3
    Focal length128mm
    ISO400
    Shutter speed1/2s