Big brother is watching you

Big brother is watching you, wherever you go! CC TV cameras are sprouting up everywhere.

This one is just outside the AIB in Blarney. I happened to go to the AIB in Blackpool and counted at least 3 cameras near the entrance.

If you happen to use WordPress to power your blog, then grab Blog Voyeur and keep a seedy eye on your visitors.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

Blarney on a sunny winter day

This is the centre of Blarney village. It’s a lovely large green, enclosed on all sides by walls and with gates on the north and south sides.

Just goes to show, it’s not always raining in Ireland!

Aperture ƒ/11
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/320s

The Blarney Cat

Next time you’re in Blarney sit down on the benches next to Super Valu. Wait a few minutes and this cat will probably appear, especially in warm weather! 🙂

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Slow down in 2008

I’m going to slow down this year. I’ve been trying to keep up with everyone else, moving without thinking, on auto pilot sometimes.

I blog too fast. There! I’ve said it. I tried to post here, to Holy Shmoly!, to The Funny Video Blog every day but there’s only so much one man can do.

Instead, this blog will of course be updated every day, Holy Shmoly will be updated at most 3 times a week, and I’ll try to post one funny video a week.

Then I’ll have time to play with my son, watch him discover the world and enjoy the great times.

Ryan – thank you for the recommendation and a happy new year to you too!

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/10s

The road to Blarney Castle

This is the private road to the estate on which Blarney Castle sits.

As I was walking about one late winter afternoon I spotted the lovely light shining through the trees and just had to take a snap!

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 144mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s

January Sales

The Christmas rush is over. Sales have been bad for retailers as people suddenly realised, “Oh! The mortgage has to be paid!”

Anyway, I’m half-hoping I’ll be able to pick up a Nintendo Wii somewhere. I don’t suppose they’ll be on sale will they?

I celebrate 10 years online this year! Go me!

Check out Donal’s new photoblog, Pana Vision!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/100s

Brilliant Winter Leaves

Just over a month ago, some of the trees around here still had leaves. I took the camera with me one evening when we went for a walk around the park.

The leaves were a lovely bright and vibrant colour, but obviously this has been a little touched up in the GIMP afterwards! 🙂

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/20s

Housing market slow?

The Irish housing market is slowing down but sales are still being made.

A tiny house down the road from this one in Blarney sold a few weeks ago even though I’m sure you could hardly swing a cat in it …

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 800
Shutter speed 1/15s

Winter Leaves

It’s cold out there and the trees are almost bare. Some leaves still hang on however!

Aperture ƒ/4.5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/50s

Daffodils in the sky

Lovely bright daffodils to brighten up your gloomy November Monday morning!

This was taken way back on March 18th this year on the same day I shot these daffodils! The image has been sitting in my WIP folder for months but after my gimp lomo post I decided to post this in a larger format.

Post processing: Auto-levels, gimp lomo and save. Resized version has been sharpened and I could have done more with the dodge and burn tool to bring out the detail in the flowers but this will have to do.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 6mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/400s

The Irish Tricolour

The Irish Flag, or Tricolour hangs outside the Muskerry Arms Pub in Blarney. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ireland

The beautiful weather recently provided a perfect opportunity to shoot outside. Yay!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 40mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s