Friends together Friends talk and laugh on the street while busy shoppers pass on either side. Pictured on St. Patrick Street, Cork last October in front of Penneys. I love my wide angle lens!

Stepping out of the crowd A girl steps away from the maddening crowd on a busy street. This was a bit of an experiment for me. I blurred the background by making a duplicate layer, blurring, adding a layer mask and then revealing the girl through the layer mask. It’s not perfect, and in fact,…

Solitary figure A man bends over and adjusts his shopping bag outside Tesco shopping center on Paul St. I was waiting outside the shopping center and this scene enfolded in front of me. On a busy street people studiously ignore each other. Strangers pass by without a glance, busy with their own lives, friends gather…

Dog in a lampshade Poor Oscar. It’s not bad enough that he got the snip but he had to wear what looks to all the world like a lampshade for two weeks. This was only a week after he moved in with us last Summer and the poor fella was not impressed. Thankfully he got…

Jesus Christ Loves You A man stands alone amid the bustle of downtown San Francisco holding a sign proclaiming the message, “Jesus Christ Loves You”. This photo brings to mind the preacher in Chicago I photographed while on holiday there. I wonder if the man in San Francisco has the same colourful history. Happy Christmas…

Last minute shopping Today many major cities and towns around the world are going to be thronged with shoppers doing last minute shopping before Christmas Day. Traffic is going to crawl and frustrate and the crowds will be suffocating. I’m glad I’m staying at home. We may head out to the Lough later for a…

The Girls of Cork City Two girls standing at the edge of a crowd on Patrick’s Street, Cork. A quick search for irish cork girls hoops earrings led me to the answers.com page on scanger. Judging by the definition of both male and female clothing, there are plenty of them about! Stereotypical Appearance * Very…

Shopping Expressions Worried looks accompany the average male during the Christmas shopping season. While this was taken at the end of October I bet that young man is still walking around with the same harried look. My quest for a graphics tablet is complete. The Wacom Graphire4 arrived yesterday from Pixmania. As I promised to…

Oh those lines! Pedestrians gather at the traffic lights on Grand Parade and wait to cross a busy city-center street. Yes I got a few funny looks as I crouched down with my camera but I’m used to it by now! This was a construction site a few months ago but work is progressing well…

Port of Cork The Port of Cork seen from the hills on the north side of the city. Looks carefully and you can see several landmarks: The Elysian building site R&H Hall Cork Bonded Warehouses Holy Trinity Church And many more sights! I entered Little Communion Girl into the Photo Friday “Fresh” competition this morning….

Up up and away Yesterday the Elysian’s tower reached the 18th floor, 72m above sea level and one of the tallest buildings in the country. Apparently St Finbarre’s Cathedral is 75m to it’s central spire but there won’t be a 2400sq ft penthouse at the top of that! While we Irish congratulate ourselves on building…

The anxious look A young woman looks around anxiously in the crowd filled St. Patrick’s Street before she crosses at the traffic lights. I was standing on one of the new marble blocks shooting a scene across the road when I saw the gathering crowd below me at the traffic lights. I saw the glance…