2025 – Page 11 – In Photos dot Org

The Jerusalem Convent-Matemático Marzal Falla

If you visit Valencia during the first 19 days of the month of March you’ll be bombarded by the loud bangs of bangers going off, and fireworks every day. You’ll also come across elaborate Falla, or statues, dotted around the city.

In the past, they were built of papier mache, but these days the main construction material is styrofoam. On the 20th of the March, all the Fallas in the city are burnt to the ground, with only one item from each saved.

The best Falla in 2025 was the one built at Jerusalem Convent-Matemático Marzal, and luckily, I was staying about 100m away. In reality, that didn’t help much because the crowds visiting there during the day meant it was almost impossible to walk past it quickly. The only time the streets were nearly empty was at 5am one morning when I was going to take sunrise photos.

Here’s only a small selection of photos from that area. There’s more to come, mostly of crowded streets, but the Falla will feature again, probably.

Aperture	ƒ/2.4
Camera	Galaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length	7.9mm
ISO	50
Shutter speed	1/125s

The Valencia Mascletà

A vibrant display of coloured smoke—yellow, red, and blue—fills the sky during a pyrotechnic event in Valencia, Spain's Town Hall Square. Emergency workers in bright uniforms stand in the foreground as the spectacle unfolds against a backdrop of historic architecture, including the clock tower of the Town Hall. Signs for McDonald's and "FALLES" are visible on the street.

Smoke fills the sky during a pyrotechnic event in Valencia, Spain's Town Hall Square. Flashes of light from fireworks light up the smoke. Emergency workers in bright uniforms stand in the foreground as the spectacle unfolds against a backdrop of historic architecture, including the clock tower of the Town Hall. Signs for McDonald's and "FALLES" are visible on the street.

Wikipedia says, “A mascletà (pronounced in Valencian: [maskleˈta]) is a pyrotechnic event characterized by the achievement of a noisy and rhythmic composition that features, particularly during daytime, in street festivities; it is typical of the Valencian Community (Spain). It gets its name from the masclets (very loud firecrackers) that are tied by a wick to form a line or firework display. These are usually fastened at a medium height with ropes or raised by cannons.”

They are LOUD. The sound reverberates around the city centre, and you can feel it shake your body, and even into your legs. Quite an experience!

I did try to protect my ears, but it’s two days later, and there’s a remnant of the mascletà still ringing gently in my left ear since this morning when I woke up. Only time will tell if that is permanent.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	640
Shutter speed	1/1000s

Reflections on Wilton Terrace

A glass fronted building on Wilton Terrace is reflected in the waters of the canal in Dublin earlier this month. I thought it might be the Canadian Embassy, but Google Maps shows it’s a slightly different building.

Aperture	ƒ/2.2
Camera	Galaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length	2.2mm
ISO	1600
Shutter speed	1/8s

Nature’s Art: Fungi Patterns

I spotted this fascinating looking fungus growing out a dead tree trunk last weekend. I’d no idea what kind of fungi they were until an AI identified them as a Polypore.

This is a good sign, for that small forest I found them in, just outside Kenmare:

Polypores have been used as indicator species of healthy natural forests or old-growth forests in Europe. They are good indicators of invertebrate diversity on dead wood and include many endangered species. Polypores make good indicators because they are relatively easy to find – many species produce conspicuous and long-lasting fruiting bodies – and because they can be identified in the field.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	800
Shutter speed	1/500s

The Edge of the Lake

Another one from that walk in Kenmare a few days ago. I spotted this couple walking by with their dog, and then they stopped a distance away with the dog exploring the shallows. I love silhouettes, so this photo came to be.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	125
Shutter speed	1/500s

A bench by the Lake

A small bench is nestled among the trees in Kenmare, on the shores of Kenmare Bay. What caught my eye immediately were the three trees surrounding it. They frame the bench in a pleasing way, the bare branches providing a skeletal, natural, surrounding to the man made bench.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	94mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/200s

A Kenmare Robin

I spotted this little fella down in Kenmare, County Kerry the other day. A Robin, bold as brass, perched right there on a dead branch, posing like he owned the place.

He stayed there for a few minutes surveying the area, and let me get a little closer for a photo.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/500s

Kerry’s Quiet Corner

The bench here at the end of a spit of land near Kenmare, Co Kerry has a plaque that says:

HE NEVER LOOKS FOR PRAISES

HE WAS NEVER ONE TO BOAST

HE JUST GOES ON QUIETLY WORKING

FOR THOSE HE LOVES THE MOST

OUR DAD

The pillar has a plaque that has some writing I forgot to photograph, but the heading says, “Ode to Lem” which may be this song.

A lovely spot to contemplate the world.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/320s

Paws Up for Treats in Cork

I think there might have been something special in that paper bag and that husky wanted it. 🙂

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	125
Shutter speed	1/500s

A Slice of Life in Bantry

We visited Bantry recently, on Valentines Day, and the town was buzzing. The square was taken over by the market, which is always worth a wander around. As we ate our burritos, I spotted the sun hitting the street nearby, leaving one side in shadow, and also illuminating the countryside rising up out of the background.

It’s a busy scene, and the van in the foreground is distracting, but that’s life. Everything’s messy, and then we went for coffee and scones in the community café. Yum. 🙂

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	184mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/1250s

Qween at the Everyman

We went to see Qween perform in The Everyman theatre last night. Their performance had to be delayed because of one of the major winter storms a few weeks ago, but it was most certainly worth the wait!

They put on a great show, entertaining us all with the fabulous music of Queen, the greatest band in the world.

Definitely, if they are performing near you, go see them!

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	144mm
ISO	6400
Shutter speed	1/320s

Dogs and their Humans

We were in Youghal recently on a cold and blustery afternoon, and so were lots of others with their dogs. Not in this photos is Diego, but he was keeping a close eye on the other dogs!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	800
Shutter speed	1/500s