I was there too
A drain pipe comes down the wall, taking corners in strict lines, while the thin branches of a bush cling to the smooth surface. The branches look like they want to smother or envelop the wall, but the branches are bare. The wall is smooth. All dead.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 108mm |
| ISO | 5000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
I was surprised to see the Masonic Square and Compass logo on a weathered door in Kinsale a few weeks ago. Luckily there’s no public park next door where they can buy a plot of land to extend the building for €1 like they did in Cork City.
CORK city councillors have voted to dispose of a section of land in Bishop Lucey Park to the Freemasons to allow for an extension of the Freemasons’ Hall on Tuckey St.
The area of ground, approximately 53.6m², will be disposed to Craft Properties Limited – the legal entity for The Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster Freemasons – for the sum of €1, plus costs of €1,500 plus VAT.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/125s |
Looking up from the rocks in Ballycotton I spotted this house and magnificent clouds overhead. The wind was blowing hard up there high in the sky and the clouds moved visibly as I watched.
It didn’t take me long to realise I needed to photograph it!
| Aperture | ƒ/13 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 41mm |
| ISO | 50 |
| Shutter speed | 10s |
In the midst of a mellow July evening, I met with members of Blarney Photography Club at Bell’s Field, a blissful backdrop boasting breathtaking views of the north side of Cork City. From my lens, I looked upon The Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne, majestically standing on Cathedral Road, and The Church of the Ascension, nestled amidst the cityscape.
My eyes drank in the details of countless cosy homes while cars careened along the winding road below, adding a dynamic dash to my dreamy, detailed composition. It was an awe-inspiring moment, an alliterative adventure accentuating the essence of Cork City in one captivating click.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 240mm |
| ISO | 12800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/200s |
I had a fantastic time in Munich with my team recently. We explored the city and enjoyed its sights and sounds. But the most surprising and thrilling thing I saw was in the city park.
As we walked along a path, I heard a roaring sound of water. I peeked through the trees and saw two men in wetsuits carrying surfboards. They were heading back up the banks of the River Isar, where a crowd awaited them. I ran to the riverbank and witnessed a spectacular scene: surfers riding a fast and furious wave in the middle of the city! I quickly grabbed my camera, and snapped some remarkable shots of this incredible spectacle.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 112mm |
| ISO | 12800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
She needed a break. Hours of non-stop work had taken a toll on her, typing away on her laptop, answering emails, making calls, and dealing with deadlines. She felt like she was drowning in work and stress. Grabbing her jacket and her cigarettes, she headed to the front of the building, where there was a large window that faced the street.
A cigarette was lit, and she took a long drag, exhaling slowly. The nicotine calmed her nerves and relaxed her muscles. Leaning against the wall, she looked at the window. Next to her stood a mannequin, dressed in a short denim dress. It was part of a display for a clothing store on the ground floor.
The mannequin made her frown. It looked so casual and carefree, so different from how she felt. What would it be like to be a mannequin, to have no worries or responsibilities, to just stand there and look cute? She imagined swapping places with it, wearing its dress and shoes, posing in the window. Would anyone notice?
Another drag of her cigarette was taken and she flicked the ash. A man walked by on the street and stopped to look at the window. He seemed to be staring at her. A surge of self-consciousness and embarrassment filled her. She quickly looked away and pretended to be interested in something else.
She glanced back at the mannequin. It was still looking at the window, unfazed by the attention. Its smug expression seemed to mock her. A pang of envy and resentment hit her. She wished she could be as cool and confident as it was. She wished she could have its life.
Her cigarette was finished, and she threw it in the dustbin. She straightened her jacket and her hair and headed back to her office. She had work to do. She couldn’t afford to waste time fantasizing about being someone else.
She walked past the window and gave the mannequin one last look. It was still looking at the window, oblivious to her existence.
She sighed and walked on.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 500 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
