Tag Archives: Canon 20D

Cork Before The Elysian

2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (1/3)
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (2/3)
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (3/3)

Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.

Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/320s

Eircom Phone Booths in Cork

A pair of Eircom phone booths on St. Patrick Street, Cork, pictured in 2005.

The phones were there until at least 2022, but Eir announced a few years ago that they’d be removing their public phone booths, so away they go.


Apertureƒ/13
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length55mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/320s

Trump Tower Construction by the River

Chicago in 2005 was a city in flux, and nowhere was that more obvious than at the Trump Tower construction site, right on the banks of the Chicago River. I was walking at the edge of the site and took a bunch of photos, some of which I’ve posted over the years.

What you see in front of you appears to be the open area next to the “new” tower. Over to the left is the Wrigley Building and looking at Google Street View gives a good view of what it looks like now, from across the river.

I haven’t been back to Chicago in twenty years. I’d love to see it again.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Greeting Visitors in the Shadow of the Wrigley Building

I last visited Chicago in 2005, when I took this photo of the Wrigley Building, and this “We’re glad you’re here!” banner.

Did you know the clock faces of the Wrigley Building are each almost 6m in diameter? The two towers of the building were completed just over 100 years ago!


Apertureƒ/9
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length53mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

The Duck Who Loved Cash

Twenty years ago today, I was walking up State Street in Chicago when I spotted a duck robbing an unsuspecting woman on the street. I was horrified and, of course, immediately took a photo of such a strange incident.

Turns out, it was some sort of advertising photoshoot for Western Union, but the original photo went viral, even appearing in newspapers.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length55mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Red Cans and Boat Plans

Twenty years ago, I visited Baltimore in Co Cork and photographed these people coming from a boat in the harbour. They were in great form, with smiles all around. 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length39mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/250s

Wild Atlantic Waves

Waves crash onto the beach and rocks of Couminole Beach, Co Kerry near full tide. A dangerous beach for swimming at the best of times, it would be foolhardy to go swimming there in conditions like this!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length20mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

Unexpected Stop on the Slea Head Drive

The Dingle Peninsula is pure magic, isn’t it? Beautiful scenery, wild oceans and if you’re unlucky, a traffic jam caused by a cow walking up the road.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length11mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

Red Brick and Stone

Following on from yesterday’s photo of Shandon Bells, here’s another one taken nine years earlier in 2007, on a day when it was about to rain, but the sun came out for one final glimpse of Cork before the wet enveloped the city.

You can see Shandon Bells, the North Cathedral, SS Peter & Paul’s Church and the presbytery attached to that church.

All taken from the roof of the car park on Grand Parade, but I think it’s blocked now. I’ll have a look this evening.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length144mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/250s

Stop Shell Hell in Mayo!

Remember the Shell to Sea protests that wanted to stop Shell from bringing natural gas from the Corrib Gas Field ashore. They wanted Shell to refine the gas at sea.

According to the Wikipedia page for the group, Shell exited the project in 2018.

This photo is from April 15th, 2006.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/200s

Let it snow in Arizona

Many years ago, on a cold January day in Arizona we came across a small yard where metal works were being sold. One of those was an unusual metal robot with a red and white hat on it’s head, saying “LET IT SNOW”.

It didn’t snow, but it was cold at night!


Apertureƒ/5.6
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length10mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/80s