Alcatraz Tower and Prison The prison tower and buildings of Alcatraz provide a stark welcome for visitors to the former penitentiary. Despite my close investigation, the tower in this picture was off limits. Pity, because I bet there’d be a great view from up there!

Alcatraz Cell Painting Could these be the paint and artwork of Doc, a character in the film Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood? This was only one of a number of cells with personal belongings in them.

Tourists on the tram Tourists on a tram in Chinatown, San Francisco. I got lots of smiles and waves from the passengers when they saw my camera pointed at them!

The couch on the street A couch rests against a pole on a street junction in San Francisco. That’s a novel way of getting rid of unwanted furniture but I wonder who’ll pick it up? For all I know, it could still be there with a family of squirrels living in it. The same happens…

Unhappy Child A small girl walks mournfully into the shopping center on Paul Street clutching her “BT Kids” balloon, probably handed to her by this lady.

Alone in the park A dog, a tree and a park bench in the Lee Fields, Cork. I took Oscar, our shitzu, for a short walk at the Lee Fields a while back and made this image during what was a fairly uneventful walk. Neither of us was in the mood for a walk but…

Leading lines and bright lights Studs on the ground lead down to the traffic lights on the South Mall, Cork. In this long exposure shot a couple of cars passed by providing a nice light trail in the background. The twinkling of the street lighting is from the narrow aperture. Setting the aperture as small…

The witch and the balloons A witch hands out balloons to young kids outside Brown Thomas on a late October Saturday. Just out of frame of this shot is a woman who has asked for a balloon. The witch explains that the balloons are just for the kids.. I wonder why? More on this later.

King of my world A child is carried atop his parent’s shoulders on St. Patrick’s Street, Cork a few weeks ago. I really like this shot, for what reason, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the brightness and flowery design of the clothing worn by parent and child compared to the passers by. I’m sure both…

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…