Bantry Market’s Most Diverse Stall

Traditional Catholic culture meets modern Irish culture in this stall. A statue of Mary holds a Cork flag, the red and white instantly recognisable by anyone in the County.

There’s something for everyone at this stall.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1600s

A Bantry Market Character

People of all ages come to the market in Bantry, Co Cork, looking for bargains.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/500s

Istanbul Conversations

Two friends chatting on a street in Istanbul.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO320
Shutter speed1/500s

The Red Van Chronicles

A trader at the market in Bantry puts his stuff away at the end of the market day. During the day, stalls are set up around the main square (well, rectangle, technically) as well as in a nearby car park.

Yes, he was parked in an accessible parking spot, which made this more interesting, but the car park was full of traders that day, and nobody else was parking there.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

Trading Tales and Treasures

Two men enjoying a chat at the Bantry market almost exactly a year ago this week.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1000s

A Splash of Yellow and Red

A couple sitting at an outdoor table in a little café in Athens, Greece about a year ago. Their body language couldn’t be more different, and every time I look at this image, I wonder what they were talking about.

Their roles in this conversation are opposed. He appears relaxed and confident, while she is reserved, nervous, maybe defensive?


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/500s

Lifebuoy on Duty

It’s reassuring to see lifebuoys at the beach, especially when the sea is rough. Unfortunately, not every person in distress in the water can be saved, as has happened at this beach in Youghal in the past.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length106mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/500s

Tools, Trades, and a Cold Beer in Athens

While wandering around a market in Athens, I saw this man sitting on the ground outside his tool-filled shop. He seemed very relaxed and was chatting to a nearby man. I hope that beer was nice and cold as it was quite a warm day!

The Areti beer seen in the photo is a Greek pale lager produced by Zotos Ltd., known for its light body and low alcohol content (3.5% ABV), making it a popular choice for casual daytime drinking in Greece


Apertureƒ/1.7
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length6.3mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/500s

A Sunlit Stroll in Athens

It was a blisteringly hot day in Athens when we were walking around the ruins of the old city when I saw this woman in a bright yellow jumpsuit approach.

That yellow colour jumped out at me, but it was only later I noticed the man behind her carrying her bag. Is that a charging cable going from her phone to the bag? Nice to have someone else carry your bag on a hot day, with a battery for your phone too! 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/500s

A Visitor’s Perspective of the Hagia Sophia

Another tourist watches for a moment before taking her own photo with her phone, inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Non Muslims are restricted in where they can go now because it was turned back into a mosque again in 2020.

This was on the morning after I spent the day in bed recovering from food poisoning, so I didn’t take a whole lot of photos and had to go back to bed afterwards as I was so tired from the walk. This page has a number of photos showing what it’s like. Definitely try to avoid the busy times. It’s thronged with visitors.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO10000
Shutter speed1/60s

The Sandal Seller of Athens

Off Monastiraki Square, Athens, along a narrow street filled with small shops, I found a man leaning on the door of his shoe shop.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO800
Shutter speed1/500s

Streetwise Cat of Athens

A cat we found in Athens, just cleaning himself in the middle of a car park, without a care in the world on a warm May afternoon last year.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length240mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/1000s